au gratin potatoes, very easy

Name: Au Gratin Potatoes, Very Easy
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 large potatoes, russets work well here; 1 medium onion; 2 tablespoon(s) butter, please don't subsitute; 2 tablespoon(s) all purpose flour; 2 cup(s) whole milk (yes you can use reduced calorie, but it is not as good); 1/2 teaspoon(s) each salt and pepper , or to taste; 1 teaspoon(s) dry mustard ( this is optional, like this in the cheese version); 8 ounce(s) grated cheese, i like sharp cheddar, but any combo you like is just fine; 1/4 teaspoon(s) paprika, for garnish

(7 RATINGS)

199 Pinches 12 Photos

Jane Whittaker

Massena (now in FL), NY

Updated on Oct 21, 2011

This is a good beginners recipe. The white sauce is the beginning of literally hundreds of recipes, when you add the cheese to it you have a cheese sauce that also doubles as a sauce for mac and cheese. You can put literally any combination of cheeses, I have seen professional chefs put 4 and 5 different cheeses in their sauce. I usualy just use cheddar, but everyone has their own favorites. I like the addition of mustard if it is a cheese sauce, for just a white sauce you could leave it out.

Rate

prep time 20 Min

cook time 40 Min

method Bake

yield 8 to 10

Ingredients

3 large potatoes, russets work well here
1 medium onion
2 tablespoons butter, please don't subsitute
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 cups whole milk (yes you can use reduced calorie, but it is not as good)
1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper , or to taste
1 teaspoon dry mustard ( this is optional, like this in the cheese version)
8 ounces grated cheese, i like sharp cheddar, but any combo you like is just fine
1/4 teaspoon paprika, for garnish

How To Make au gratin potatoes, very easy

Step 1

Peel the potatoes and onions. Slice both potatoes and onions in half lengthwise and slice thinly, you want the slices to look like half moons.

Step 2

Put the potatoes and onions in a sauce pan, cover with cold water, and cook until fork tender. You don't want the potatoes mushy, after all you are going to bake them too.
Step 3

Pour potatoes and onions into a drainer.
Step 4

Meanwhile while the potatoes and onions cook make your sauce.
Step 5

Melt the butter, and stir in the flour with a spatula. A spatula for a cream sauce makes a lot of sense and is more efficient than a spoon. Continue stiring to make a paste, let cook a minute to cook out the flour taste. Add the salt, pepper, and mustard.
Step 6

Stir in the milk a little at a time. stirring to make smooth. Continue to cook until the sauce starts to bubble and thicken. Watch it keep stirring, and don't walk away. Congradulations beginner!!!! You have just made a white sauce, one of the mother sauces. You will never know how thick your sauce is until it comes to a boil.
Step 7

Now stir in the cheese, take off heat and continue to stir until the cheese melts. Now you have a cheese sauce. This is also the sauce for mac and cheese
Step 8

Spray a 8x8 inch casserole or gratin dish. Put half your potatoes in, cover with half the cheese sauce, put in the rest of the potatoes and pour the rest of the sauce over.
Step 9

Sprinkle with paprika, just for color.
Step 10

Bake in a pre heated 350° oven for 45 minutes or until bubbly and browned
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