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Potato and Parmesan Gratin

Tortino di patate

This dish—which may be the ideal marriage of potatoes and cheese—shows that luxury ingredients like Parmigiano-Reggiano are often at their best when presented in the most straightforward way.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    2 1/2 hr

  • Yield

    Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

4

lb medium boiling potatoes

1

1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt

1

cup heavy cream

1

cup whole milk

3

tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

7

oz finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (3 1/2 cups)

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.

    Step 2

    Peel potatoes and cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices with a knife or an adjustable-blade slicer, spreading slices out on a large kitchen towel. Sprinkle with sea salt (1 1/2 teaspoons).

    Step 3

    Stir together cream and milk.

    Step 4

    Dot bottom of a 3-quart shallow baking dish (13 by 9 inches) with half of butter and pour in 1/3 cup cream mixture. Without rinsing or drying potatoes, divide into 5 piles. Layer potatoes in baking dish, 1 pile per layer, spreading 1/3 cup cream mixture and one fourth of cheese between layers. Drizzle remaining cream mixture over potatoes and dot with remaining butter.

    Step 5

    Bake, uncovered, until potatoes are very tender and top is browned, about 2 hours. Let stand at room temperature 10 minutes before serving.