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.

Tony if FL.

Leeks always seem to be holding a lot of soil. I take them completely apart and put them into a salad spinner. Then I fill the spinner with water and work the leeks to release all the dirt and sand. I do this at least twice, or until I am getting no dirt settling out. Then I spin them.

Sally

Use only Yukon gold. Use deep enough dish, leave one inch for bubbling. Cook for 60 covered, then add extra cheese and 40 uncovered.

Steven L

Utterly delicious. I added some lemon juice into the cream and the slight tang was nice. Substituted dried thyme in lieu of fresh and added extra garlic. Will definitely make again!

Sally

Do not overheat cream. I used half and half and it curdled

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.

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Potato Leek Gratin Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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

I recommend trimming off at least half of the uppermost dark green leek pieces: At the very top, they're pretty leathery and just not that tasty. But the lowest inch or two of dark green pieces - right where the dark green meets the white portion of the vegetable - are much more tender and easier to cook with!

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? ›

Some potatoes, like Yukon Gold, have more water in them. Try letting the dish rest for 10 minutes or so to let the water get absorbed and let the sauce thicken. Try cooking your recipe longer. Try uncovering the dish in the oven for the last 10 minutes or so.

How long should leeks be cooked? ›

To cook: Leeks can be boiled, braised or steamed. Sliced leeks should be cooked for 5-7 minutes until tender but still firm. Whole small leeks should be cooked for 10-15 minutes until tender but still firm, top with a cheese sauce and then brown under a preheated grill for 5 minutes or until golden.

What part of the leek should you use? ›

Mostly just the white and light green parts are eaten, though the darker green parts have plenty of flavor and can either be cooked longer to tenderize them, or used when making homemade soup stock.

When should you not eat leeks? ›

Avoid leeks with cuts or bruises. The dark green tops of leeks should look fresh. Avoid leeks with yellowing or wilting tops. Choose smaller, younger leeks when you want to eat them uncooked.

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.

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 does gratin mean in French? ›

The phrase au gratin literally means "by grating" in French, or "with a crust," from the verb gratter, "to scrape, scratch, or grate." Definitions of au gratin. adjective. cooked while covered with browned breadcrumbs (and sometimes cheese) synonyms: cooked.

Why did my au gratin potatoes turn GREY? ›

Once they have been peeled and cut, raw potatoes will turn brown quickly. 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.

Why should the potato slices for the gratin not be soaked in water before adding to the cream? ›

I don't recommend soaking the potatoes in water ahead of time for our potatoes au gratin (as some recipes call for). Soaking them will cause them to lose some of their starch, which helps to keep this dish creamy.

How to thicken au gratin potatoes? ›

Flour: All-purpose flour helps thicken the sauce as the scalloped potatoes bake. You'll sprinkle flour over each layer of potatoes so the sauce thickens evenly. Butter: A generous amount of butter distributed on each layer of potatoes adds richness.

Do you have to soak leeks before cooking? ›

To be properly cleaned before cooking, leeks must be topped and tailed (roots discarded, dark-green parts removed), and the white and light-green parts sliced thin and left to swim in a water bath so as to encourage the removal of any clinging dirt.

Can leeks be cut ahead of time? ›

Transfer the cut leeks into a large bowl of clean water. Then break them up with your fingers so that any small hidden pieces of dirt can dislodge. Rinse and drain the leeks one final time. Use immediately, or transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

How do you shred leeks into long strips? ›

Method for Trimming leeks into a julienne:

Cut the leek into 6/7 cm long pieces. Use a knife to incise the pieces lengthwise up to the middle. Open the leek, turn it over and lay it flat on the chopping board. Mince it into thin strips.

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