Thyme~Shallot~Gruyère Scalloped Potatoes

For many, it is impossible to imagine an Easter celebration without scalloped potatoes.  For me, they always evoke fond memories of my beloved mother-in-law Louise, who always made them at Easter.  Traditional recipes call for milk, cheddar, dots of butter throughout and  flour for thickening.  I brought a French twist and updated the classic with some shallots and thyme, cream instead of milk,  flour and butter, and nutty gruyère cheese for its great flavor and meltability.   Fair warning:  this dish Is just so good, it  just might upstage the ham!

THYME~SHALLOT~SCALLOPED POTATOES

• Servings: 10
• Time: 1hr 15 min
• Difficulty: moderate
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2 shallots, diced

1 T butter

1 T fresh thyme leaves

2 t sea or kosher salt

1/2 t finely ground pepper

3 1/2 lbs of Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced into rounds, using a mandoline

3 c grated gruyère cheese

3 c heavy cream

chopped chives for serving

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Generously butter a 9 X 13 inch baking dish. In a frying pan, melt 1 T butter and sauté the shallots until translucent.  Remove from heat and reserve for assembly.  Mix the salt and pepper together.

ASSEMBLY:

For ease of layering, you will visually divide the ingredients as follows:  the potatoes in 3, the cheese in 3, the salt and pepper in 3 and the shallots and thyme in  2.  On the bottom of the baking dish, place one layer of potatoes.  Top with shallots, thyme, salt and pepper.  Repeat.  Finish with a top layer of potatoes, salt and pepper and the final portion of gruyère cheese.  Heat the cream in a medium saucepan until warmed through.  Pour the cream evenly over the whole thing.  Cover tightly with foil and bake on a sheet pan for 1 hour, on a middle rack.  Remove the foil and bake another half hour until bubbly and golden.  Sprinkle with chopped chives and rest 5-10 minutes before serving.

Use a mandoline to get thin potato slices.

The first layer of seasoned potatoes

The final layer of gruyère, ready to go into the oven.

The ooey~gooey golden dish ready to wow with a sprinkling of chives

Happy Easter!

Looking for other Easter recipes?  Check out Glorious Pizza Gaina:
here

and Sublime Rolled and Herb-Stuffed Lamb Roast:
here