Gratin Dauphinois
Grandpa's potato and cheese gratin
This is a simple and hearty French recipe, comfort food at its best! It is a traditional recipe from the old Dauphiné region, which is now the French Alps. We called it Grandpa's Potato and Cheese Gratin, well because Grandpa makes it and he makes it the best because he is from the Alps.
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Baking
Cheese
Potatoes
Gratin
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Ingredients
Steps to make it
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Side Dish
Recipe Cuisine:
French
Servings:
5 people
Preparation Time:
30 minutes
Cooking Time:
Step by Step Recipe Instruction Video:
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds (900g) of potatoes (preferably Yukon Gold or Russet)
- 1 cup (240ml) of milk
- 1 oz (30 ml) of creme fraiche or light sour cream
- 2 onions
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 cup (100g) grated Gruyère or Emmental cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Nutmeg (optional)
Steps to make it:
© Copyrigh 2026 Laki Maikaʻi. All rights reserved.
In a small pot, brown the chopped onions and add some milk and garlic. Let simmer for a few minutes then set aside for now.
Peel the potatoes and slice them very thin. You can use a food processor to cut thin slices of potatoes. These must be firm potatoes.
Take a large baking dish and rub it with garlic, then spread a thin layer of creme fraiche. Add a layer of potatoes, sprinkle some salt and pepper, and a little bit of nutmeg, and spread another thin layer of sour cream. Repeat until you have 4 to 5 layers at most. It is better to use a wide dish and spread the potatoes, piling them too thick will take longer to cook.
Pour the onion and milk mix you had set aside evenly on the dish, and sprinkle some shredded Compté cheese on top.
© Copyrigh 2026 Laki Maikaʻi. All rights reserved.
Bake in the oven to 400° Fahrenheit (200° Celsius) for about 1 hour. It is better to cook the dish longer at a lower temperature to let the potatoes soak in the cream. Cover with aluminum foil for the first 45 minutes so that the cheese doesn’t burn.
Enjoy as a side dish with meat or fish and another vegetable such as Leeks with Creamy Orange zest sauce.
© Copyrigh 2026 Laki Maikaʻi. All rights reserved.
© Copyrigh 2026 Laki Maikaʻi. All rights reserved.
© Copyrigh 2026 Laki Maikaʻi. All rights reserved.
© Copyrigh 2026 Laki Maikaʻi. All rights reserved.
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Nutritional information provided is an estimate only. Please consult the labels of ingredients you use for more accurate results. Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels.
