Potato Leek Gratin Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

JMR

I've found the easiest way to clean leeks is to slice of roots end, split them down the middle, stand in a tall jug, run water over them til jug is full and water looks clear. Allow to stand in the water and any dirt usually sinks to the bottom of the jug.

Tessa

I make this in layers -- half the potatoes, leeks, half the Gruyere, potatoes, pour cream, then the rest of the Gruyere. This is a very good dish!

Bohemian

One clove of garlic? As Lynne Rossetto Kasper would say, "Why bother"? I'd up it to 4-6 cloves. Richard Olney, in recipes such as Gratin Dauphinois, would also use a cut clove of garlic when he started the recipe to rub down the interior of the gratin dish, and then let it dry there as he continued on.

Terri

Smelled delicious in the oven. Looked less than delicious coming out. Love at first bite. I used a truly fat clove of a garlic, and I regret nothing.

Marty O'C.

Obvious first adjustment is to triple the garlic. Better if you use the 3 leeks that are normally bundled so at the market. Fresh thyme: inconvenient and can overpower. Use a dash of dried oregano and rosemary instead so the taste of leeks is more face forward. Double the shredded gruyere topping and finish at 400-425 for a crisper brown crust, ease in cutting, and the serving of tight, coherent portions, Layering the Gruyere amidst the potatoes can result in a runnier dish needing a soup spoon

Becky Swaffield

I have made this with chicken broth instead of cream. It's delicious and less rich. I also add parsley, but then I add it to everything.

Etta Abrahams

At the risk of being voted off the island (Manhattan Island, that is) I confess that, out of gruyere and 20 miles from the nearest civilized supermarket, I used cheddar, and it was wonderful. I kept the leeks on top, as the recipe called for, omitted the nutmeg because it's really not suited to cheddar, and used half and half instead of whipping cream--and 3 fat garlic cloves. Fantastic both in looks and flavor--the leeks were positively creamy, the sliced potatoes a slightly firm surprise.

Elizabeth

I cooked it as stated a day ahead of the dinner party, it was refrigerated overnight and then warmed as the rack of lamb cooked at 400-450, for 20 minutes. It was fabulous with each person wanting the recipe.

Miriam R.

Like Tessa, I baked this as a layered dish. I doubled the recipe so the layers were nicely defined. I love leeks and used 3 lg leeks rather than two per recipe. I also increased the amount of cream by half, and the amt of butter by half for each recipe. It is an excellent recipe, although it would be too time labor intensive without the use of a mandoline. (I use a handheld one that cost very little but works wonders in prepping a dish such as this one.)

Patricia

If you divide this dish into 8 servings, there would be 285 cal, 8.8 gm protein, 16.8 gm carbs, 1.4 gm dietary fiber and 20.8 gm fat per serving. This is, therefore, one serving of carbohydrates for a diabetic.

It would be REALLY helpful if this food section includes the nutrients , as a guide to healthy eating. There are MANY diabetics. Others watch their caloric intake, total fat consumption, gluten content, etc. Not everyone has the time to sit and calculate the nutrients for each recipe.

Kara C

Hands down best gratin I’ve had. Made for a dinner party to rave reviews. None of the issues of other recipes (too runny, too bland, etc.). Used 2 lbs Yukon, 3 garlic cloves, 3 leeks and a handful more of gruyere. Everything else according to recipe. Cooked first segment day ahead then refrigerated and finished next day uncovered with the roast. Very forgiving recipe—you can’t go wrong.

Cathy

Add additional leek/Triple the Garlic. Start with leeks - longer saute to golden. Layer the Potatoes/Leek/Cheese. Prep is at least an hour. Bake first segment of 40 min the day or morning before, to simplify cooking for the main meal.

VinXpert

Step 1 states to thinly slice the washed and halved leeks crosswise. You'll end up with thin half moon slices.

Ellen

Excellent! Didn't peel potatoes and needed about 20-30 minutes baking time so that potatoes were done. This is a winner.

Bear

To get the true golden color for the leeks, I sautéed them for another 10-15 minutes. So to keep things on schedule, I recommend starting with the leek sautéing and then do the potato slicing and layering while the leeks are still warming up.

Dessy

Made this last night for my hubby's bday. Doubled recipe, we had 12 people.Stupendous!!Served it with Beef Wellington. Great success!! thank you

JoJo

Excellent! Didn't peel the potatoes, used 1/2 and 1/2 rather than cream, and used pancetta instead of butter...everything is better with pancetta. Easy and absolutely perfection of flavors.

BFF

If you like potato slices of varying thickness, cut by hand.

Tim

This dish is a hit with my friends, and I love it as well. It's quite rich, so I'll reserve the recipe for gatherings and special occasions.

Jennifer A.

Increase garlic to 3-4 cloves

Pamela Breckenridge

Now I know how to use up those leeks and potatoes! What an amazing winter warmer! So easy to make and so tasty. Great on its own or with other dishes. I wouldn't change the ingredients or the cooking instructions in any way.

Kathleen

Made as directed other than more garlic, and half stock/cream. High caloric deliciousness, as expected. I found the leeks to be too gloppy on top. Next time I will put some in with potatoes and leave some on top as directed. Bake without the cheese, uncover after 20-25 min, to try to crisp up the top a little , bake another 10 or so. then melt the cheese on in the last 10 min

Mahalo

This was with out a shadow of a doubt an excellent choice. I listened to the comments and put more garlic in between the layers of potatoes. Also took the leeks and spread them through the many layers of cheesy potato goodness. Shared it with some seasoned Foodie friends and posted it on my social media account. Requests for the recipe came from family and friends across the country.

potato leek gratin

Cook 15 minutes longer

Jayne M. Weiske

Layered potatoes, leeks and cheeseDoubled the leeks and sauced until almost caramelized Increased cheese significantly- at least doubleFinished the dish at 425 for 15-20 min for a crisp browned top

David

This was excellent. It’s perplexing though, how the author thinks leeks can be rendered tender and golden in 5 minutes. It takes a good 20 minutes, and that’s on a medium flame. I used about 1.5c shredded Gruyere, and it would have benefited from even more. I would also add an extra 0.5c of cream; 1c isn’t enough to seep through the leeks into the potatoes. Alternating multiple layers of potatoes and leeks would make this even better (the potatoes are a bit isolated). Cooking time is spot on.

Lauren

Is this just as good if I make a day ahead? Looking to prep this today to lessen my load tomorrow!

Pamela Breckenridge

Yes, it keeps very well in the fridge for a few days and can easily be warmed through in the oven or a microwave.

Ann F

I doubled the recipe and the potatoes came out crunchy. Next time I’ll increase the cooking time significantly - like, to 90 minutes. I think if it’s covered for most of the cooking time it will not overcook.

JamieSF

I have made scalloped potatoes layering cheeses and béchamel sauce. I didn't think it would be all that different from making this so I did layer in the cheese and cream at each layer because this method had been successful in past:the gratin did come out really soupy, did not hold a form: it looked terrible! I parcooked it the day before for 40 minutes and then refrigerated to finish cooking next day for another 40 minutes: not cooked through- awful. Follow recipe & don't parcook.

Marina

This is AMAZING! My family are big foodies, and the dish was the talk of the night. I used the combined advice of increasing the heat to 425 the last 20 minutes, using 2 lb of potatos (to be a little less soupy) and maybe a handful more of cheese, and it was perfection.

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Potato Leek Gratin Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do I get the most out of my leeks? ›

Getting the Most out of Leeks
  1. Cut leek diagonally from point where leaves start to darken to middle of dark green portion.
  2. Peek inside to determine where light green turns dark. Cut diagonally again, preserving light portion.
  3. Repeat twice to create pointed shape with pale leaves.

What is the cooking technique of gratin? ›

Derived from the French verb gratiner — to broil — gratin is a process that involves topping a dish with either cheese or buttery breadcrumbs and baking or broiling until crispy. While potatoes au gratin is most traditional, the contents beneath the golden crust can vary widely.

Why are my au gratin potatoes watery? ›

If you used a pre-prepped potato from the refrigerator section instead of slicing your own, they can have preservatives that make them a bit watery. If you stored your potatoes in water to prevent discoloring, be sure to drain them well and pat them dry before adding to your casserole.

Why do you soak leeks in water? ›

However, washing leeks is particularly essential because they get LOTS of dirt and grit stuck in them during the growing process. Fortunately, a quick slice and swish in a bowl of water easily helps all that dirt fall out of your leeks and into the bottom of the bowl.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook leeks? ›

Season leeks with soy, maple, sesame oil, and mirin. Top with sliced garlic and a few knobs of butter around the outside of the pan. Add just enough stock to cover leeks halfway, bring to a boil and pop into over to roast until caramelized and tender when pierced with a knife.

Are leeks good for you? ›

They are high in vitamin K, which is important for blood clotting and bone health. They also contain vitamins A and C, which are important for a healthy immune system and skin. Leeks are also a good source of folate, a B-vitamin that's essential for cell growth and development.

How do you cut leeks for sauce? ›

Slice off the tough green top. Slice the leek in half lengthwise. Place both halves cut side down, then use a circular motion to cut the leek into thin half moons. Clean the leeks; leeks generally have quite a bit of sand and dirt between the layers.

How much leek do you use? ›

Cut off the dark green tops of the leek, reserving on the body of the leek as much of the dark green as you want. We like the taste (it's basically just a big onion green), so we typically keep about 2 to 3 inches or so of the dark green part with the body of the leeks.

How deep should a gratin dish be? ›

Butter a gratin dish (which should be long and large and about 5 cm (2 in) deep) and sprinkle 2 chopped garlic slices on the bottom, a pinch of salt and pepper and more nutmeg.

Why did my potato gratin curdle? ›

The curdling is caused by high heat, which is hard to avoid in an oven. So to keep the sauce together, tackle it before the dish goes in the oven. Instead of simply layering grated cheese and milk or cream with the potatoes, you need to make a smooth cheese sauce.

What makes a gratin a gratin? ›

What Does “Au Gratin” Mean? A “gratin” is any dish that is topped with cheese or breadcrumbs mixed with butter, then heated in the oven or under the broiler until brown and crispy, according to The Food Lover's Companion. The term au gratin or gratinée just refers to anything prepared in that manner.

Why did my au gratin potatoes turn GREY? ›

This process, which is called oxidation, happens because potatoes are a naturally starchy vegetable. And when exposed to oxygen, starches turn gray, brown, or even black. An oxidized potato is completely safe to eat. The process doesn't affect the flavor or texture of the vegetable.

What pan is best for au gratin potatoes? ›

By opting to make them in a sheet pan, rather than in a baking dish, the potatoes get perfectly crisp and come out of the oven with a beautiful, golden, cheesy crust.

Can I slice potatoes ahead of time for gratin? ›

If you're here, you'll probably be glad to know that yes, you can peel and cut potatoes the day before you plan to serve them — and that it's super easy!

Should I cut the tops off my leeks? ›

Most people automatically cut off and discard the. tops of leeks, but the darker green leaves just need a. little extra cooking time.

Can I freeze leeks? ›

To freeze: Leeks can be frozen! Simply slice and freeze them on a tray, before popping into a sealed container. To defrost: When you take food or drink out of the freezer, it's important to defrost it safely. Don't defrost at room temperature.

How do you grow thick leeks? ›

Leeks thrive in traditional garden beds, raised beds, or even in tall containers, so choose whatever works best for you. Space leeks 6 inches apart when planting. Leeks need two things to thrive: lots of nitrogen and consistent soil moisture. If possible, add compost to the leek bed the season prior to planting.

Do you trim leeks like onions? ›

All that to say: Trim your leeks however you want!

If you prefer the softer, more delicate white and light green parts of a leek, trim all the dark green pieces away. If you like the hearty texture and slightly more bitter flavor of the dark green pieces, keep them all in the mix!

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