Mini Potato Gratins

I'mPat's Note:

From Australian Super Food Ideas. A very tasty potato dish. Have included cooking time for boiling potatoes and making sauce and oven time. I think you could make this ahead and keep in the refrigerator but would have to take out for at least 30 minutes before cooking and would cook at a slightly lower temperature for longer to ensure it heats all the way through. NOTE 28 May'10 - Tasty cheese = cheddar, usually a young one; my personal preference is a sharp or aged vintage one depending what I have on hand but all will work well but just give a different depth of flavour. Also a sprinkle of paprika on top (or mixed with breadcrumbs does not go wrong - not unusual for me to do on a cheesy topped dish).

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 4.0 gratins

• 800 g potatoes (peeled)
• 50 g butter
• 2 spring onions (scallions, finely sliced or 1 small brown onion, finely chopped)
• 2 garlic cloves (crushed or minced)
• 2 tablespoons plain flour
• 1 cup milk (warmed)
• 2 teaspoons coarse grain mustard
• 1 teaspoon thyme leaves (fresh and chopped)
• 1 cup tasty cheese (grated)
• ¼ cup dried breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 175C/350F (160C/320F fan forced).
2. Cook potatoes, uncovered, in a large pot/saucepan of boiling, salted water for 10 to 12 minutes or until just fork tender.
3. Set aside for 5 minutes and then cut into small cubes and transfer to a bowl.
4. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat and add spring onion or (onion) and garlic and cook until just tender (1 minute for spring and about 2 for onion).
5. Add flour and continue to stir for a minute.
6. Add milk and whisk (balloon whisk) and whisk until smooth and then continue to stir with a wooden spoon until sauce thickens and then remove from heat.
7. Add mustard and thyme and season with salt and pepper, stirring to combine.
8. Now add milk mix to the potatoes and gently mix together.
9. Spoon potatoes into four 1 cup capacity ovenproof dishes or ramekins.
10. Divide the cheese and then the breadcrumbs equally over the top of the potatoes.
11. Place dishes on a baking tray.
12. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until cheese melts and breadcrumbs are golden.
13. Stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Reviews

[duonyte]

This turns out good even if you are multitasking and screw up - I was potato-light, and endedup with too much sauce for the potatoes - if you could really have too much of this delicious sauce. I followed a suggestion of a reviewer, and cubed my potatoes first, then zapped in the microwave to the proper doneness. Used a combo of fresh and dried thyme, as the thyme has partially died back. Used a white cheddar instead of tasty cheese, which I believe is a velveeta-type of cheese, in any event, not sold in the US. I halved the recipe and cooked this in a 2 cup ramekin, and it was perfect. Well, the crumbs did not quite brown enough, as the excess sauce was bubbling up, but not the recipe's fault. A lovely side.

[Hanka]

Very nice potato dish. Coarse grain mustard gives it nice kick. I didn't have fresh thyme so I used just a pinch of dry thyme and used low fat milk. I baked it in casserole dish for 30 minutes. Served with grilled chicken breast. This would be nice with pasta as well. Thank you for recipe will make it again!

[katew]

I made one big gratin and it is gorgeous. I diced my potatoes and left skin on. Also I doubled the amount of mustard and used skim milk.. I just had a sample before heading off to the gym and it is soooo tasty.