Dauphinoise Potatoes Recipe

Dreamy Dauphinoise Potatoes Recipe: A Cozy French Classic

Creamy, rich dauphinoise potatoes have been my secret weapon in impressing dinner guests for years.

Layered slices of potato mingle with garlic-infused cream, creating a luxurious side dish that feels both rustic and elegant.

French culinary traditions shine through in this classic preparation.

Delicate potato layers become tender and golden under a gentle bake.

Each forkful promises a decadent experience that melts in your mouth.

Cheese adds a delightful crispy top that provides irresistible texture and depth.

Let this recipe transport you to a cozy kitchen in the french countryside.

Top Reasons To Enjoy Rick Stein Dauphinoise Potatoes

  • Savor Creamy Comfort: Indulge in a luxurious potato dish that wraps you in rich, velvety goodness with every heavenly bite.
  • Master Impressive Cooking: Achieve restaurant-quality results with simple techniques that make you look like a professional chef without breaking a sweat.
  • Crowd-Pleasing Potential: Perfect for family gatherings, holiday dinners, or when you want to elevate a simple meal into something extraordinary that everyone will love.
  • Minimal Ingredient Magic: Create a stunning side dish using just a few basic pantry staples, transforming humble potatoes into a show-stopping culinary masterpiece.

What You’ll Need For Rick Stein Dauphinoise Potatoes

Main Ingredients:
  • Potatoes: Starchy, creamy potatoes that create the base of this classic French dish.
  • Heavy Cream: Provides rich, luxurious texture and depth of flavor to the potatoes.
  • Milk: Helps to create a smooth, creamy sauce for the potato layers.
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
  • Salt, Black Pepper: Essential for bringing out the natural flavors of the potatoes and cream.
  • Nutmeg: Adds a warm, subtle spice that complements the creamy potato dish.
  • Bay Leaf: Infuses a delicate herbal note into the cream mixture.
Preparation Ingredients:
  • Butter: Used to grease the baking dish and add extra richness.
  • Garlic Paste: Provides a subtle, aromatic flavor to the dish's base.

Simple Steps For Rick Stein Dauphinoise Potatoes

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven

Fire up your oven to a cozy 170°C (Gas Mark 3). Grab a baking dish and lovingly coat its interior with a slick of butter and a generous smear of garlic paste, creating a delicious foundation for your potato masterpiece.

Step 2: Create a Dreamy Cream Base

Gently heat a luxurious mixture of cream and milk, allowing a bay leaf to dance and infuse its subtle flavor. Once the liquid is warmly blended, pluck out the bay leaf and set the creamy mixture aside.

Step 3: Build Layers of Potato Perfection

Slice potatoes into thin, elegant rounds. Begin constructing your potato layers in the prepared dish, sprinkling each layer with a pinch of salt and a whisper of black pepper. Create a beautiful landscape of potato slices that will transform into a creamy, golden delight.

Step 4: Dress with Cream and Spice

Pour the silky cream mixture evenly over the potato layers, ensuring every slice gets a loving coating. Grate fresh nutmeg across the top, adding a warm, aromatic touch that will make your kitchen smell incredible.

Step 5: Bake to Golden Gorgeousness

Slide the dish into the preheated oven and let the magic happen. Bake for 45-60 minutes until the top turns a beautiful golden brown and the edges bubble with creamy excitement. The potatoes will become tender, rich, and absolutely irresistible.

Rick Stein Dauphinoise Potatoes Cooking Tips

  • Slice Potatoes Thin: Use a mandoline or sharp knife to create uniform, paper-thin potato slices for even cooking and a silky texture.
  • Layer Carefully: Arrange potato slices in neat, slightly overlapping rows to ensure consistent cooking and an attractive presentation.
  • Infuse Flavor Smartly: Rub the baking dish with garlic paste before adding potatoes to impart a subtle, aromatic garlic essence throughout the dish.
  • Prevent Burning: Cover with foil if the top browns too quickly, allowing the potatoes to cook through without excessive charring.
  • Dairy-Free Alternative: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or vegetable broth for a lighter, vegan-friendly version that still delivers rich flavor.

Easy Spins On Rick Stein Dauphinoise Potatoes

  • Vegan Creamy Potato Gratin: Replace cream with coconut milk, use nutritional yeast instead of cheese, and swap butter for olive oil.
  • Low-Carb Cauliflower Alternative: Substitute potatoes with thinly sliced cauliflower, keeping the same creamy sauce and seasonings.
  • Herb-Infused Potato Bake: Add fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage to the cream mixture for an aromatic herb-packed version.
  • Gluten-Free Cheesy Version: Use gluten-free flour if thickening sauce, and add grated gruyère or parmesan for extra flavor complexity.

Good Matches For Rick Stein Dauphinoise Potatoes

  • Elevate Creamy Companions: Pair this rich, indulgent potato dish with a crisp, acidic white wine like Chablis to cut through the creamy texture.
  • Protein Perfect Match: Serve alongside roasted lamb or herb-crusted beef tenderloin to complement the potatoes' luxurious, velvety character.
  • Veggie Harmony: Roasted green vegetables like asparagus or Brussels sprouts add a fresh, slightly charred contrast to the smooth potato gratin.
  • Wine and Dine Delight: Choose a light-bodied Pinot Noir with subtle earthiness that won't overpower the delicate potato and cream flavors.

Storing And Warming Up Rick Stein Dauphinoise Potatoes

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3-4 days, ensuring the potatoes remain covered to prevent drying out.
  • Wrap tightly in freezer-safe container or heavy-duty aluminum foil. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Potatoes might slightly change texture but will still taste delicious.
  • Preheat oven to 180C. Cover dish with foil to prevent further browning. Warm for 15-20 minutes until heated through, removing foil last 5 minutes to crisp top.
  • Place portion on microwave-safe plate. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring gently between each to distribute heat evenly.

Rick Stein Dauphinoise Potatoes FAQ Guide

  • What are the key ingredients for authentic Dauphinoise Potatoes?

Fresh potatoes, heavy cream, whole milk, garlic, bay leaves, and nutmeg are essential for creating the classic French dish with rich, creamy texture.

  • Why is slicing potatoes thinly important?

Thin, uniform potato slices ensure even cooking, better absorption of cream mixture, and a smooth, layered consistency that defines the classic Dauphinoise technique.

  • Can I make this dish ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare Dauphinoise Potatoes in advance and refrigerate before baking. Just bring to room temperature and bake when ready to serve, which makes it perfect for dinner parties or meal planning.

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Dauphinoise Potatoes Recipe

Dauphinoise Potatoes Recipe


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4.5 from 34 reviews

  • Total Time: 55-70 mins
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Creamy, layered Dauphinoise Potatoes bring French countryside comfort to your dining table. Sliced potatoes nestled in rich cream and cheese create a luxurious side dish that will delight you with its elegant simplicity.


Ingredients

Scale

Potatoes and Dairy:

  • 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) waxy potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 350 milliliters (11.8 fluid ounces) whole milk
  • 350 milliliters (11.8 fluid ounces) double cream
  • 50 grams (1.8 ounces) butter

Herbs and Aromatics:

  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

Seasonings:

  • Nutmeg
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare a creamy potato base by gently warming dairy mixture with aromatic herbs, creating a rich foundation for layering.
  2. Thoroughly butter a ceramic baking dish, rubbing garlic across surface to infuse subtle flavor and prevent sticking.
  3. Slice potatoes uniformly to ensure consistent cooking, creating neat, overlapping layers within the prepared dish.
  4. Season each potato layer generously with salt and freshly ground pepper, distributing flavor evenly throughout the casserole.
  5. Slowly pour heated cream mixture over potato layers, allowing liquid to seep between potato slices and saturate the entire dish.
  6. Delicately sprinkle freshly grated nutmeg across the surface, adding a warm, subtle spice note to the creamy preparation.
  7. Position dish in preheated oven at 170°C, allowing potatoes to transform into a golden, bubbling masterpiece with crisp edges and tender center.
  8. Bake approximately 45-50 minutes until top develops a rich, caramelized crust and potatoes become completely tender when pierced with a knife.

Notes

  • Select starchy potatoes like Maris Piper or King Edward for the creamiest texture and best absorption of rich cream mixture.
  • Use a mandoline slicer for consistently thin, uniform potato slices that cook evenly and look professionally prepared.
  • Rinse potato slices in cold water before layering to remove excess starch, ensuring a cleaner and more refined final dish.
  • For a lighter version, substitute half the cream with milk or use a low-fat alternative without compromising the luxurious taste and creamy consistency.
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 45-60 mins
  • Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Lunch
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 477
  • Sugar: 4 g
  • Sodium: 190 mg
  • Fat: 38 g
  • Saturated Fat: 24 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 32 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 6 g
  • Cholesterol: 120 mg
Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson

Founder & Recipe Developer

Expertise

  • Creating single-serving recipes tailored for individuals, small households, or meal preppers
  • Culinary arts with a focus on clean plating and natural styling for food photography
  • Working with fermented ingredients and dairy-based cooking techniques
  • Designing seasonal menus that use fresh, locally sourced produce

Education

Cascade Culinary Institute – Bend, OR

  • Program: Culinary Arts Certificate
  • Focus: Gained hands-on experience in professional kitchens, learning advanced recipe development, seasonal ingredient sourcing, and simple, beautiful food presentation.

ServSafe Food Handler Certification – Portland, OR

  • Program: Food Safety Certification
    Focus: Certified in core food safety and hygiene principles for both home and professional kitchens, with emphasis on ingredient handling, kitchen cleanliness, and safe preparation methods.

Mike’s kitchen journey began with a single goal: to make everyday meals feel like something worth celebrating.
After earning his Certificate in Culinary Arts from Cascade Culinary Institute, he spent years working with local farmers and small kitchens across Oregon, learning the beauty of seasonal, small-batch cooking.
Mike’s approach is simple, cook with what’s fresh, keep it approachable, and always leave room for a little creativity. When he’s not testing yogurt marinades or designing single-serving meals, you’ll find him hiking trails or hunting down the best berries at local markets.

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