Potato Gratin Recipe with Herbs and Shallots

Potato Gratin with Herbs and Shallots

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Inspired by a potato gratin served at Restaurant Daniel in New York City, this gratin achieves a creamy texture without any dairy and gets its flavor from reduced chicken stock, thyme, and rosemary.

By Garrett Weber-Gale

Updated on April 11, 2024

Active Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs

Yield:

This dairy-free take on traditional potato gratin was inspired by one served at Daniel Boulud’s Restaurant Daniel. Create an impressive potato gratin by layering thin-sliced potatoes in the base of a cake pan to form a beautiful spiral potato cake. Cook shallots, thyme, and rosemary in olive oil to add an aromatic dimension that complements the herby essences. You’ll combine the infused oil with chicken stock and reduce it to intensify all those savory flavors. The stock is brushed on the potatoes during the layering process to ensure that the flavor is baked into every part of the gratin.

Use a mandoline to make perfect thin-sliced potatoes, or a sharp knife will work as well. A quick visit to the broiler to crisp up those edges offers a textural moment against the tender potatoes.

Healthy Potato Gratin with Herbs — © Jonny Valiant

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Ingredients

1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the cake pan
1 large shallot, minced (about 1/3 cup)
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped thyme
1/2 teaspoon chopped rosemary
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 pounds medium red potatoes, very thinly sliced
Salt
Freshly ground pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400° and oil an 8-inch round cake pan, preferably of dark metal. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and oil the paper.
In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil. Add the shallot and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the thyme and rosemary and cook for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cook over moderately high heat until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 25 minutes.
Arrange an overlapping layer of potato slices in the cake pan. Season lightly with salt and pepper and spoon a small amount of the reduced broth on top. Repeat the layering with the remaining potatoes and reduced broth, seasoning each layer lightly. Pour any remaining broth on top. Cover the pan with a sheet of oiled parchment paper, press the potatoes into the pan, then cover with a sheet of foil.
Bake the gratin in the center of the oven until the potatoes are very tender, about 1 hour. Remove the foil and paper and bake until the top is dry, about 10 minutes longer.
Remove the gratin from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, place the baking rack 6 inches from the broiler’s heat source. Turn the broiler to high. Invert the gratin onto a heatproof plate. Carefully remove the parchment round. Broil the gratin 6 inches from the heat until the surface is lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.