When it comes to potato side dishes, this has to be one of my all-time favorites. Its richness comes from the cream, earthiness from the mushrooms, and saltiness from the Parmesan cheese. All these flavor profiles make it the perfect accompaniment to a lean piece of venison.
2 1/2poundsYukon Gold potatoes,cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
1cupheavy whipping cream
1cupfreshly grated Parmesan cheese
1tablespoonchopped fresh thyme
1tablespoonchopped fresh rosemary
Kosher salt and black pepper
12ouncessautéed wild mushrooms, chopped
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Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Sauté your wild mushrooms to your liking and set aside.
Brush a 13x9x2-baking dish with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
Arrange a layer of about 1/3 of the potatoes, slightly overlapping (like fallen dominos) in the dish. Season the potato layer lightly with salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary.
Pour 1/4 cup of cream over the potato layer, then sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese on top. Add the sauteed mushrooms on top in an even layer. Sprinkle a little more cheese on top of the mushroom.
Repeat layering 1/3 of potatoes, seasoning lightly with salt, pepper, herbs, 1/4 cup cream, and 1/4 cup cheese two more times.
Bake uncovered until potatoes are fork tender, for about 40 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and top the potatoes one final time with 1/4 cup cream and 1/4 cup cheese. Bake for 15-20 later until the top has browned nicely.
NOTES
Slice the potatoes evenly. Cut them about 1/8 inch thick so the gratin cooks through at the same rate and the layers stay even.
Cook the mushrooms first. Sauté the mushrooms before you start layering so they do not add extra moisture to the dish.
Season each potato layer. Add the salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary as you build the gratin so the potatoes are seasoned all the way through, not just on top.
Layer the potatoes loosely. Overlap them like fallen dominoes rather than packing them tight so the cream can move through the dish and the potatoes cook evenly.
Bake it uncovered first. Bake until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 40 minutes, before adding the last cream and cheese.
Finish with cream and cheese. Add the final 1/4 cup of cream and 1/4 cup of Parmesan near the end, then bake 15 to 20 minutes more until the top is browned.