Smashed Potato Tomato Gratin Recipes

SMASHED POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Cut the potatoes into quarters and place in a large saucepan with the garlic cloves. Fill the pot with water and season generously with salt. Taste the water, it should taste salty. Bring the pot to a boil over medium heat and cook the potatoes until they are fork tender. (A fork, not a knife should slide in and out easily.)
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• When the potatoes are tender, drain the water from them and return the potatoes and garlic to the pan. Add the milk and sour cream. Using a potato masher or big spoon, gently mash the potatoes. Stir in the Cheddar, then taste and season with salt, if needed. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish. Combine the panko, grated Parmesan and the cayenne in a small bowl. Sprinkle it over the top of the potato mixture and bake until hot all the way through and is crispy and brown on top, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped chives and serve.

PROVENCAL TOMATO POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.
• Brush a shallow baking pan (1/2 to 1 inch deep) with 2 tablespoons oil. Arrange tomato slices in 1 layer in baking pan and sprinkle with a scant 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Roast tomatoes until just tender (not falling apart), about 20 minutes.
• While tomatoes roast, cut potatoes crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and toss with 5 tablespoons oil in a large bowl.
• Remove tomatoes from oven and put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven. Arrange potato slices in 1 layer in 2 shallow baking pans (1/2 to 1 inch deep) and sprinkle each pan with a scant 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Roast potatoes, switching position of pans halfway through roasting, until tender, about 16 minutes total.
• While potatoes roast, mince garlic and mash to a paste with a pinch of salt using a large heavy knife. Transfer paste to a bowl and stir in bread crumbs, basil, thyme, remaining 3 tablespoons oil, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Preheat broiler.
• Arrange tomatoes and potatoes in 1 layer in gratin dish, alternating slices and overlapping them, and spoon any juices from tomatoes into dish. Sprinkle top with bread crumbs and broil 5 to 7 inches from heat, checking frequently after 1 minute (crumbs can brown quickly), until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

POTATO-TOMATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat a large saute pan or Dutch oven over high heat for 2 minutes. Swirl in 3 tablespoons olive oil, and then add the onions, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Cook 6 minutes, stirring often, and then turn the heat down to medium. Add the butter, and cook 15 minutes, stirring and scraping with a wooden spoon, until the onions start to caramelize. Turn the heat down to low and continue cooking for about 10 minutes, stirring often, until the onions are a deep golden brown. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
• Use a mandoline to slice the potatoes into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Toss them with the cream, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and some pepper.
• Cut the tomatoes into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange them on a plate and season with 1 teaspoon salt and some pepper.
• Place half the caramelized onions in an even layer in a 9-by-9-inch (or equivalent) gratin or baking dish. Arrange one layer of alternating potatoes and tomatoes on top of the onion layer. Layer a couple of slices of cheese and scatter some olives over the cheese. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the cream from the potatoes and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with 1 teaspoon salt, a healthy pinch of pepper, 1/2 teaspoon thyme and half the basil.
• Scatter the rest of the caramelized onions over the potatoes and tomatoes. Arrange another layer of potatoes, tomatoes and cheese on top; make this layer pretty, because it will be the top of your gratin. Pour the remaining cream from the potatoes and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over the potatoes and tomatoes. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt, a pinch of pepper, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon thyme, olives and basil. Press the vegetables down with your fingers. The cream and oil will come up through the layers and coat the vegetables evenly.
• Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake until the potatoes are tender when pierced, about 2 hours. Remove the gratin from the oven and uncover it, being careful of the steam.
• Turn the oven up to 450 degrees F and return the gratin, uncovered, to the oven. Cook until the juices have thickened and the top is nice and golden brown (as in "gratineed"), another 25 to 30 minutes.

SMASHED-POTATO TOMATO GRATIN

Steps:

• In a 4-quart heavy kettle cover potatoes with salted cold water by 2 inches and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes. While potatoes are simmering, in a small saucepan heat milk with 6 tablespoons butter over moderate heat until butter is melted. Remove pan from heat and keep mixture warm, covered. Pit olives and separately chop olives and scallions. In a colander drain potatoes and when just cool enough to handle, peel. Coarsely smash potatoes with a potato masher and gently fold in milk mixture, olives, scallions, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. and butter a 3-quart gratin dish (about 15 by 10 by 2 inches).
• Mince garlic and chop parsley. In a nonstick skillet heat remaining 2 tablespoons butter over moderate heat until foam subsides and cook garlic, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add bread crumbs and cook, stirring, until golden. Transfer mixture to a bowl and cool. Stir in parsley and Parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
• Cut tomatoes into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Spread potatoes in gratin dish and top with tomatoes, overlapping them to completely cover potatoes. Sprinkle crumb mixture over tomatoes and bake gratin in middle of oven until top is golden brown and tomatoes are tender, about 25 minutes. Gratin may be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, before being chilled, covered. Reheat gratin, uncovered.

MASHED POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly butter 2-quart casserole. Pour broth into 2-quart saucepan. Add potatoes; stir in 1 teaspoon salt. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender. Place colander over medium bowl; drain potatoes, reserving broth.
• Rinse and dry saucepan. In saucepan, cook 2 tablespoons of the butter and the garlic over low heat 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Return potatoes to saucepan with butter and garlic; mash with potato masher.
• Add 1 cup of the reserved broth to potatoes; mix until smooth. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 1/4 cup of the cheese. Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon potato mixture into casserole. Top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese and the bread crumbs.
• Bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

POTATO, TOMATO AND ONION GRATIN

Steps:

• Bring pot of water to boil. Add tomatoes and blanch 10 seconds. Drain tomatoes. Peel, core and slice tomatoes. (Can be made 6 hours ahead; cover and chill).
• Preheat oven to 400°F
• Arrange half the potatoes in a shallow baking dish (15 cup capacity). Season with salt and pepper. Top with half the onions and half the tomatoes. Sprinkle with half the garlic and half the thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat layering with remaining potatoes, onions, tomatoes, garlic and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Pour wine and olive oil over. Bake until potatoes are tender and almost all the liquid evaporates, about 90 minutes.
• Melt butter in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add breadcrumbs and saute until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over gratin. Cool 10 minutes and serve.

PRETTY DARN QUICK POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Butter an 8x8-inch baking dish.
• Fit a food processor with shredding disk and use it to shred cheese. Transfer to a small bowl. Fit processor with slicing disk and use it to slice potatoes.
• Put potatoes in a large saucepan with half-and-half, garlic, salt, and nutmeg; stir gently to combine. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Cook at a gentle boil, stirring often with a heat-safe spatula to prevent sticking, until half-and-half has reduced and thickly coats potatoes, about 8 minutes.
• Spoon into prepared baking dish. Smooth top and sprinkle evenly with cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven until potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife and top is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

MOM'S SCALLOPED POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole dish with 2 tablespoons butter and set aside.
• Peel potatoes and cut at a 45-degree angle into 1/4-inch thick round slices.
• Arrange 1/3 of the potato slices in an even layer in the bottom of the prepared dish. Season the layer very generously with salt, and sparingly with the freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne, if using. Top evenly with 1/3 of the Cheddar cheese. Repeat this process two more times for a total of three layers of potatoes, except for the last third of the cheese. Slowly and carefully pour in the milk, without upsetting the layers. The milk should almost, but not quite, cover the potatoes.
• Top with remaining Cheddar cheese and place the casserole dish on a sheet pan to catch any drips.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until potatoes are tender and the top is well browned and bubbling, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

GOLDEN MASHED POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large pot, bring potatoes to a boil in salted water over high. Reduce heat to a rapid simmer and cook until potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, about 12 minutes. Drain, return to pot, and mash. Add 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter and stir until melted. Stir in half-and-half and sour cream and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a shallow 2-quart baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons melted butter and mustard; add breadcrumbs and stir until coated. Sprinkle over potatoes and bake until breadcrumbs are golden brown, about 20 minutes.

POTATOES AND TOMATOES AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Grill bacon until crisp and crumble.
• Preheat oven to 375F and butter an earthenware dish.
• Combine cheese and breadcrumbs, parsley, chives and season (I often add a minced clove of garlic, too).
• First put a layer using 1/2 of the potatoes, then 1/3 of the tomatoes, sprinkle with 1/2 of cheese and 1/2 of bacon; repeat layering one more time in the same manner; finally, top with remaining tomatoes; drizzle cream over.
• Bake 40-45 minutes, until tender and browned.

MASHED-POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a shallow, 1 1/2-quart baking dish. In a large pot, cover potatoes with water by 1 inch; add 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer until easily pierced with a paring knife, about 20 minutes. Drain. Wipe pan; return potatoes.
• Add butter; mash with a potato masher until creamy. Cool slightly. Fold in egg yolks, milk, 1 1/4 cups cheese, and 2 teaspoons salt. Spread in prepared dish.
• Top with remaining cheese. Bake until golden brown in spots, rotating dish halfway through, about 30 minutes.

JULIA CHILD'S PROVENçAL POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees and place a rack at the middle level. In a large saucepan, combine onions and 2 tablespoons olive oil and stir to coat over low heat. Sprinkle lightly with salt. At a gentle simmer, cook uncovered until onions are softened and lightly golden, 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. Do not brown; lower the heat if necessary. When done, fold in tomatoes just until heated through. Set aside.
• In a small food processor or a mortar, add the anchovies - anywhere from 6 to 12 fillets, depending on their size and your taste. Add garlic, herbs and a dozen grinds of pepper. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil (or use the oil from the anchovy can, if you like). Crush or pulse together into a chunky paste, thinning with oil as needed to make a loose, fluid mixture.
• In a medium-size baking dish, spread a quarter of the onion-tomato mixture. On top, arrange half the potato slices, then half the anchovy mixture. Add half the remaining onion-tomato mixture. Build one more layer with remaining potato slices, anchovy mixture and onion-tomato mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top and drizzle with olive oil.
• If the dish is very full, place on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake, uncovered, until potatoes are tender and have absorbed all of the juices in the bottom of the dish, 40 to 50 minutes. Test by tasting a bit of potato; it should be soft all the way through, with no raw taste. If the top is browning too fast, cover very loosely with a sheet of foil. If the top is not brown enough when the potatoes are cooked, broil briefly until deliciously glazed.
• Serve gratin hot or warm. Can be cooled and reheated later the same day, but do not refrigerate.

POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Pour half of the heavy cream and half of the milk into a shallow skillet. Stir in the garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and the bay leaf. Slice the potatoes into disks about 1/8 inch thick and place in the pan. Barely cover the potatoes with the remaining cream and milk.
• Place the potatoes over medium-low heat and simmer for 1 hour. To avoid curdling, do not let the mixture boil, and do not allow the potatoes to stick to the bottom of the pan -- they will scorch. The potatoes can be prepared ahead of time to this point and kept at room temperature.
• Thirty minutes before serving, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Transfer the potato mixture into a shallow baking pan and shake to distribute evenly. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the potatoes, place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Serve with a veal chop, a steak or any other roasted meat.