Gratin Dauphinois

Gratin Dauphinois is a classic French potato side dish made up of thinly sliced potatoes, heavy cream, and a hint of Gruyere cheese baked in the oven until golden and potatoes are cooked through for an hour.

I shared this recipe for Gratin Dauphinois back in 2012 when I partnered with Magimix by Robot-Coupe to review the Magimix 4000 food processor. I was elated with joy. Before receiving this brilliant piece of machinery I used an old, handy-me down food processor that was barely chugging. It was on its last leg. So this review came at a welcomed time.

The first recipe I made using my new Magimix by Robot-Coupe was Gratin Dauphinois. This recipe is similar to Scalloped Potatoes; however, you cook the potatoes raw instead of par-boiled potatoes. I share all the steps below, so that anyone can make this french potato dish.

Gratin Dauphinois Ingredients

• Potatoes – After all this is the star of the dish. You want to use Russet Potatoes and take the time to peel the potatoes.
• Gruyere cheese – Unlike Potatoes Au Gratin or Scalloped potatoes this dish does not require copious amounts of cheese. Instead, a mere 5 ounces goes a long way.
• Heavy whipping cream – A little goes a long way.
• Butter – You can use either salted or unsalted although whenever cooking I try to aim for unsalted butter.
• Milk – For this very rich french layered potato recipe whole milk is best.
• Garlic – One clove of garlic and grated is all you need to add a little flavor to the cream mixture.
• Seasonings – Nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste
• Parsley – A little fresh or dried parsley for garnish adds a little color to the dish.

Two Ways to Slice Potatoes

Magimix Food Processor

I instantly fell in love with this machine, and so did my neighbor as she watched me grate soft cheese and thinly slice potatoes. It’s not noisy at all. I was able to talk over it without raising my voice. Then again, my husband pointed out that I talk loud to begin with! Even my husband commented how quiet this food processor was compared to my previous one.

I will warn you… this piece of machinery is HEAVY. I can see many good workouts in the future lifting it, but to me its totally worth it. It also comes with a storage container to store all of the blades. A nice perk that I welcome. The only downfall is that it doesn’t lock. So you have to keep it secure on a shelf, and if you have little ones make sure to keep it out of their reach. 

Magimix also has a 30 year warranty on all Food Processor motors. Its hard for me to imagine having anything for more than 30 years, so I love that they have a 30-year guarantee. I know that this food processor will be by my side in the kitchen for at least the next 30 years if not longer. Not pictured is the trio of nested bowls. Yes, as in multiple size bowls in one food processor.

Features

• Small bowl is perfect for mincing herbs, chopping nuts, blending a sauce or making baby food. It can also be used directly in the large bowl without the medium bowl in place.
• Medium bowl is ideal for slicing and grating.
• Large bowl handles prep jobs like whisking egg whites, mixing batters, kneading dough and slicing or grating a large batch of vegetables.

For this recipe you will use the 2-mm slicing disc to cut thin potatoes in seconds.

Where can you buy a Magimix Food Processor?

You can not find the Magimix brand on Amazon. The only place you can buy it is at Williams Sonoma. This is not an affiliate link, just simply a link so you know where to find it–meaning I will not make ANY money sharing this link with you.

Mandolin Slicer

If you don’t have a fancy food processor you can also use a Mandolin to get paper thin even slices. I don’t have a traditional Mandoline Slicer. I was always intimidated by the blades, and frankly just didn’t have any more kitchen space to store it. Instead, I have a Hand-Held Mandoline Slicer which I use ALL THE TIME. Totally worth the $16 because you will find yourself using it often, like me.

How to Make Gratin Dauphinois

Using the Magimix grate the cheese using the 2-mm grating disc and set aside. Or you can buy pre-grated Gruyere cheese from the grocery store. You can find this in the specialty cheese section of your local grocery store! You will spend a little more money, but it saves time!

Peel and wash the potatoes, and dry well.

Using the 2-mm slicing disc, cut the potatoes into thin slices.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Peel the garlic and cut in half. Rub a square glass dish with the garlic, followed by butter.

Cover the bottom of the dish with a layer of sliced potatoes. Add some of the cheese, salt and pepper, and 1 tablespoon of heavy whipping cream. Repeat until you have used up all the ingredients (I had about 5 layers).

In a separate bowl stir nutmeg into the milk and pour over the layered potatoes. Then top with the remaining cheese.

Place the glass dish on a baking sheet, and bake for 1 hour or until liquid has absorbed and the top is golden brown. Serve immediately and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

FAQs

Here are a few of the frequently asked questions that others have asked when making this recipe.

Tips & Tricks

Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks when making French potatoes.

• Even Slices – It is so important that your potatoes are evenly sliced for accurate cooking time. The thinner the better which is why it’s good to use a 2-mm slicing disc on a food processor or a mandolin at the thinnest setting.
• Best potatoes for Gratin Dauphinois – You must use Russet Potatoes for this recipe. You could also use Idaho Potatoes if you can’t find Russets. Red potatoes are too starchy and waxy and will not yield the same results.
• Time Saver – To save time you can purchase grated Gruyere cheese.

Food Processor Recipes

Here are a few more of my favorite recipes that require the use of a food processor!

• Slow Cooker Ham with Apple Sauce
• Homemade Salsa Recipe
• Artichoke Dip
• Peach Purée
• Instant Pot Apple Sauce

Main dishes that pair well with Gratin Dauphinois

• Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
• Slow Cooker Maple Glazed Ham
• Cornflake Baked Chicken
• Red Wine Vinegar and Olive Oil Steaks
• Grilled Sweet French Chicken

If you make this recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a ⭐ star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!

Don’t forget to FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, and subscribe to my email list!