Layered Baked Potatoes with Browned Edges

Layered Baked Potatoes with Browned Edges

Fancy a warm, soul-warming meal on a cold night? Look no further! This bubbly scalloped potato casserole, aka potatoes au gratin, will do the trick. Start by warming up the sauce and potatoes on the stove. Layer those beauties in the dish, smother them with cheese, and bake until golden brown. Pair this delight with glazed ham or a juicy steak for a rich, comforting feast.

If you've got a mandoline, now's the time to use it - thin, uniform slices of potato, here we come! And the best part? You can prep the dish ahead of time. Pop it in the fridge, cover it up, and simply reheat when you're ready.

RECIPE

• Servings: 8
• Difficulty: Easy
• Time: 2 hours

Ingredients

• 4 cups (1 quart) half-and-half
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 4 pounds russet potatoes
• 2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese (about 5 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick), cut into 8 pieces, plus more for coating the baking dish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 13x9-inch baking dish.
2. In a large pot, heat the half-and-half, garlic, salt, pepper, and thyme. Add the peeled, sliced potatoes. Bring the mix to a simmer, gently folding the potatoes into the sauce, about 20 minutes.
3. Transfer half of the potatoes to the prepared baking dish and layer with half of the cheese. Add the remaining potatoes, pour the half-and-half mixture over them, and top with the remaining cheese and butter pieces.
4. Bake uncovered until the potatoes are tender and the top is browned, about 1 hour. If the top starts to burn, cover with foil. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Tasty Companions for Your Scalloped Potatoes

Make your meal unforgettable by pairing scalloped potatoes with these tantalizing dishes:

Glazed Ham Recipes

1. Honey-Glazed Ham: A classic combo, glazed ham provides a nice sweet counterpoint to the savory potatoes. Drizzle a spiral-cut ham with a honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and spices mixture during the last 20 minutes of baking.
2. Mustard-Glazed Ham: Craving a tangier version? Mix mustard with honey for the glaze.

Steak Recipes

1. Pan-Seared Steak with Garlic Butter: Pair this rich, creamy dish with a juicy, buttery steak for a flavor explosion.
   • Ingredients: Steak (such as ribeye), butter, garlic, parsley.
   • Instructions: Season the steak, sear in a skillet with garlic butter, and serve with parsley.
2. Steak au Poivre: Impress your dinner guests with this peppercorn-crusted steak.
   • Use peppercorns and coriander seeds to coat the steak, then sear and finish in the oven.

Additional Side Dishes

1. Roasted Green Beans: Tossed with garlic or roasted with olive oil and salt, these nutritious veggies offer a lovely contrast to the heavy potatoes.
2. Caramelized Onions: Sweet and caramelized, these bring depth to your meal.
   • Cook onions over low heat until tender and caramelized.
3. Green Salad: Pair a light, fresh salad with a vinaigrette dressing for a perfect contrast to the rich, hearty potatoes and main dishes.
4. Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts: A tasty vegetable option to balance the meal.
   • Coat sprouts with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper, then roast to perfection.

These dishes offer a variety of flavors and textures that complement scalloped potatoes beautifully, taking your meal to the next level!

Glazed Ham and Pan-Seared Steak Recipes

Honey-Glazed Ham

```markdown

• 1 (4-6 pound) spiral-cut ham
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
2. In a saucepan, combine honey, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, ground cloves, and cinnamon. Heat until sugar dissolves.
3. Brush the glaze over the ham during the last 20 minutes of baking.
4. Bake for about 15 minutes per pound or until glazed and caramelized.```

Pan-Seared Steak with Garlic Butter

```markdown

• 2 ribeye steaks (1 inch thick)
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste

1. Season the steak with salt and pepper.
2. In a skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat.
3. Add garlic and cook untilfragrant.
4. Sear the steaks until browned on both sides and cooked to desired doneness (about 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare).
5. Remove from heat and top with remaining butter and parsley.```

Enjoy this delightful blend of flavors for a satisfying meal that'll have you coming back for more!

• Based on the provided scalloped potato recipe from aussiedlerbote, you may find that a serving of nutritious green beans complements the meal well, providing a fresh contrast to the rich, warming potatoes.
• To enhance the comforting feel of your dish, you might consider serving the scalloped potatoes with a portion ofGlazed Ham Recipes, such as Honey-Glazed Ham or Mustard-Glazed Ham, for a sweet and savory combination.
• If you're aiming for a more robust meal, consider baking the scalloped potatoes at the suggested temperature (350°F) and pairing them with Pan-Seared Steak with Garlic Butter, as per the given instructions, for a satisfying, flavorful feast.

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