Gratin Dauphinois (Scalloped Potatoes)

This gluten-free gratin dauphinois recipe is based on Julia Child’s recipe for French scalloped potatoes, and is made with milk and freshly grated cheese.

I know what you’re thinking.

You’re asking yourself, “What in the world is gratin dauphinois?”

Oh, and also– “Where has it been all my life?”

Gratin dauphinois is a type of scalloped potato dish, and it’s one of my absolute favorite French side dishes.

This recipe is modified from Julia Child’s version of gratin dauphinois, using her techniques, but with a few extra flavors added.

Want more Julia-inspired French recipes? Try these: basic French crêpes and fish meunière (fish in butter sauce)

Is gratin dauphinois the same as potatoes au gratin?

Not technically, but you might see the terms used interchangeably.

Traditionally, the potatoes in gratin dauphinois are sliced and placed in a dish raw with cream and/or milk. Then the potatoes are cooked in the dairy.

Since the potatoes are added to the dairy while they’re still raw, the starch mixes with the dairy and forms a gluten-free, rich, and creamy sauce— no flour or thickeners needed.

In contrast, potatoes au gratin traditionally uses sliced potatoes that are boiled in water, drained, and then cooked again with dairy.

Au gratin recipes often include a flour roux to help thicken the milk.

Confusingly, both gratin dauphinois and au gratin are often called scalloped potatoes.

Do I Really Need a Cast-Iron Pan for This Recipe?

Not technically, but you do need a pan that is both stovetop and oven safe.

Cast-iron pans are generally the easiest and most affordable option for an oven-safe pan, and since they retain heat well, your potatoes will cook evenly.

I use this Lodge 10″ cast iron skillet to make gratin dauphinois.

Gratin dauphinois step 1: slice the potatoes

Start with two pounds of Russet (or Idaho) potatoes. Peel and thinly slice the potatoes.

I prefer to use a sharp chef’s knife to slice potatoes (this is my favorite knife), but if you have a mandolin (like this OXO mandolin), you’ll be able to cut your potatoes more quickly.

Safety tip: Mandolins are EXTREMELY sharp and can be fairly dangerous to unprotected fingers. Make sure to wear a cut-resistant glove while using a mandolin.

Layer the Potatoes

Add the potatoes concentrically to the pan.

This part does not have to look perfect– I just happen to think it’s kind of fun to swirl the potatoes into pretty layers.

If layering potatoes stresses you out, remember that you’ll be adding cheese, and the cheese will cover any potato layering that didn’t go as planned.

Add the Milk + Cream

Next, you’ll heat a small pan with milk, cream, garlic, herbs and spices.

Pour the warm milk over the potatoes.

Par-Boil the Potatoes in the Dairy

Place the pan on the stovetop, and bring the milk to a simmer.

Add Cheese to the gratin dauphinois

Traditionally, gratin dauphinois doesn’t have cheese.

But I say– go ahead and add it anyway!

Freshly grate some cheese– my favorites in gratin dauphinois are smoked Gruyère or blue cheese, but you could also use Parmesan– and layer it on top of the potatoes.

Cheese Shopping Tip: I used Red Apple brand smoked Gruyère in this recipe. It’s a fairly easy-to-find cheese, even if you live far away from a gourmet grocer.

Bake until golden

Slide the potatoes into the oven, and bake until the cheese is golden and gorgeous.

Serve these potatoes while they’re warm (or reheat them in the oven later), and– as Julia would say– bon appetit!

Want more Julia Child? Snag my favorite Julia book– Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom.

Print Recipe

5 from 9 votes

Gratin Dauphinois (Scalloped Potatoes)

This gluten-free gratin dauphinois recipe is based on Julia Child's recipe for French scalloped potatoes, and is made with milk and freshly grated cheese.

Author: Sarah Trenalone

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time35 mins

Total Time55 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: French

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 195kcal

Freezer Friendly?

No

Will It Keep?

1 Day

Equipment

• 10″ cast iron skillet

Ingredients

• 1 TB butter
• 1 clove garlic, finely diced
• 1 sprig rosemary, removed from stem + roughly chopped
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 3/4 cup whole milk, plus more if needed
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 2 lbs Russet (Idaho) potatoes, peeled + thinly sliced
• 2 tsp sea salt
• 1 oz Parmesan, freshly grated
• 2 oz Gruyere (traditional or smoked) or blue cheese, freshly grated or crumbled Swiss cheese or extra Parmesan would also work well

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Add the butter to a 10" cast-iron pan, and slide it in the oven until the butter melts. Remove the pan, and butter the bottom and sides of the pan. (Pay extra attention to the sides of the pan, which may not be well-seasoned.)

  Tip: An 11" or 12" cast-iron pan will also work, but the potatoes may cook more quickly. Any medium-large pan that is both stove-top and oven-safe will work.
• Add garlic, rosemary, paprika, milk, and cream to a small saucepan and heat until warm. Keep milk warm while preparing the potatoes.
• Layer potatoes concentrically in the pan. Sprinkle with salt.
  
• Pour the warm milk mixture over the potatoes, and press down gently on the potatoes with the back of a spoon to ensure that the milk goes between all the potatoes.

  The liquid should be 3/4 of the way up the potatoes. If it's not, add a little more milk.
  
• Heat the potatoes on the stove top over medium heat, bring to a simmer, and continue to simmer for two minutes.
  
• Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the potatoes, and slide into the oven.
  
• Bake 25 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbly and the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
  
• Serve Immediately:

  Let the cheese cool slightly, and serve these while they're still hot!

  Make Ahead + Refrigerate:

  Make these potatoes up to one day ahead. Tent with foil, and reheat at 350°F for 20 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 195kcal (10%) | Carbohydrates: 22g (7%) | Protein: 7g (14%) | Fat: 9g (14%) | Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) | Cholesterol: 30mg (10%) | Sodium: 694mg (30%) | Potassium: 522mg (15%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 2g (2%) | Vitamin A: 445IU (9%) | Vitamin C: 7mg (8%) | Calcium: 161mg (16%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)

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