Lunch / Dinner
Ham & Potato Gratin
When it comes to gratin, the potential for variety is practically endless — but sometimes sticking to the classics is the best way to go. Referring more to a technique than a particular set of ingredients, a gratin is any dish that’s topped with cheese or bread crumbs and baked until brown and crisp on top. And no matter what’s inside, there’s no doubt that crispy top is the best part. Gratins are usually baked in shallow dishes, to increase the surface area — that way, there’s plenty of the prized cheesy crust to go around.
Ham and potatoes are probably one of the trustiest culinary combos. Add strong-flavored cheeses like Cheddar and Parmesan and a creamy sauce, and you have all the makings of a comfort food classic. The only thing better than the accessible ingredients, comfort food factor, and hearty texture is the fact that it’s all cooked together in one pot, and then moved to the oven — no multitasking required.
Ingredients
SAUTÉ:
ADD:
TOSS:
Test Kitchen Tip
For more manageable bites, halve the potatoes lengthwise before slicing them, either by hand or on a mandoline, to form half moon-shaped slices.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425° and coat a 9?13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
Sauté garlic, scallion whites, and thyme in oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until scallions soften, about 3 minutes.
Add milk, cream, and Dijon. Stir in potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer potatoes, covered, about 8 minutes. Stir in scallion greens, parsley, and ham; season with salt and pepper.
Toss together Cheddar, Parmesan, and flour. Stir half the cheese mixture into potatoes. Pour gratin into prepared dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese mixture.
Coat a piece of foil with nonstick spray and tightly cover the dish; bake 1 hour. Remove foil and broil gratin until browned and bubbly, about 3 minutes. Let gratin rest 20 minutes before serving.
So the potato slices are of uniform thickness and cook consistently, use a mandoline to quickly slice them.
Toss the cheese with flour, then stir it into the sauce to thicken. Reserve half the mixture for the topping.
Coat the underside of the foil with nonstick spray, so the cheese doesn’t stick to it when removed.
Nutritional Facts
Nutritional Facts
Per serving
Calories: 482
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g 36%
Saturated Fat 13g 65%
Cholesterol 96mg 32%
Sodium 988mg 41%
Carbs 41g 13%
Fiber 4g 16%
Protein 24g
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.