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Au Gratin Potatoes

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Au gratin potatoes are a commonly prepared side dish that is frequently served along with beef, chicken or any other main course meat.  The dish comprises thin slices of au gratin potatoes that layered with spices, milk, and cheese and then place in the oven to bake until golden brown.  A number of individuals are of the belief that augratin potatoes have their origin in France and they are derived from a dish that is called gratin Dauphinois for the region of France known as Dauphine.  Recipes for au gratin potato in US cookbooks go back to as early as 1894 and several US recipes mention the meal as scalloped potatoes.

Gratin is a word passed on by the French from gratter, which is defined as ‘to scrape.’  It is in reference to the scraps that are rich in flavor which left over on a pan bottom subsequent to the consumption of a baked dish.  Gratin dishes endeavor to recreate the delicious scraps a baked dish by using cheese, breadcrumbs, cream or butter.  This method of cooking could be applied to a number of different kinds of meals, including potatoes.

More often than not, Gratin dishes require a gratin pan, which is essentially a pan that is shallow and can be used safely in the oven.  The pans are frequently placed directly on the table in order that guests could serve themselves.  Quite a few gratin pans are rather decorative and they are typically made from ceramics or other materials that provide them with an appearance that is attractive.

Ingredients and recipes utilized for au gratin potatoes can widely differ by personal preferences and regions.  All of them start with the base of potatoes that are sliced thinly and layered in a gratin pan.  Crumbled or grated cheese is then added to the mix, together with butter, cream or milk.  A number of chefs use salt and pepper to flavor au gratin potatoes, whereas others include bacon in order to get a rich, meaty flavor.  Conventional recipes frequently include onions and garlic and most versions of the meal have a top layer that is made from breadcrumbs, eggs and cheese.

In view of the fact that there is a high concentration of cream, cheese, milk and butter found in au gratin potatoes dishes, it is absolutely no big surprise that this delicious dish is extremely high in calories and fat.  Similar to other dishes that are high in fat, au gratin potatoes ought to be consumed in moderation as a part of a meal that is well balanced.

 

Cheesy Potatoes

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The potato is considered by some to be the ultimate solution to side dish blues – it’s the jack-of-all-trade tuber that can be integrated into the main course, side dish or even desserts!  You can have it mashed, fried, hashed or even boiled and yet you can still enjoy the smooth, starchy texture that blends well with the flavors and spices you place with it.  Still, one of the most after-sought recipes when it comes to potatoes is definitely the wide selection of recipes for cheesy potatoes.

There are lots of ways to prepare a nice cheesy potato recipe.  Here are some of the most delicious ones that can truly spark the gastronomic interest of your visitors and loved ones.

Creamy Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

With less than an hour of preparation, you can come up with a creamy cheesy mashed potato recipe distinct for its evaporated milk and shredded cheddar cheese.  The ingredients are easy to find – evaporated milk, cheddar cheese, butter, peeled and cut potatoes and a little bit of chopped green onions, parsley and crumbled bacon for added visual effect.

Cheesy Hash Browns

For those cooks who want something cheesy and irresistible, then this infamous potluck casserole is enough to floor your visitors with its yummy delights.  The recipe may be complicated, but it’s still doable.  If you want to prepare the recipe in an easy manner, then you can just buy one package of the frozen hash brown potatoes that are available in the market these days.

Simply Au Gratin Potatoes

Do you want to prepare those potatoes in less than 15 minutes?  Then this Simply Au Gratin Potatoes is perfect anytime of the day, notably in breakfast, brunch and dinner meals.  A time-saving favorite, you do not need to skip a delightful meal when you can prepare one in such a short time.

With all these great recipes for cheesy potatoes, you will never run short of potato cooking ideas!

 

Baked Potato Recipes

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A simple potato can be turned into countless delightful meals, but only if you know how to go about it.  While there are delicious options such as Au Gratin potatoes available; simpler options for you are, of course, to make a baked potato recipe out of it, as this ultimately brings out the agreeable texture that’s inherent in potatoes.  The thing is there are many baked potato recipes out there for you to try out.

To make your culinary life easier, we have found some of the best baked potato recipe ideas that you may want to try out and explore.  The complete procedures, including the list of ingredients and how to go about it, can be easily accessed online.  The following below are just summaries and overviews of what the recipes are all about.

Potato Taco Lasagna

Who would have thought that you can combine potatoes, tacos and lasagna to whip up a very delicious meal?  The potato taco lasagna recipe is your quintessential lasagna recipe, with a twist of Mexican culinary flair.  The recipe can only take you for an hour, and it’s perfect for days when you want to try something different for snacks or dinner.

Southwestern Ham and Cheese Party Potatoes

A party can never go without good food, and if you want something new, unique and remarkable, then you may want to try your hand in preparing Southwestern Ham and Cheese Party Potatoes. It will only take you an hour to prepare this.

Cheeseburger Potato Casserole

In as short time as 15 minutes, you can prepare this Cheeseburger Potato Casserole that’s highly recommended for a hearty family meal.

Cheesy Hash Browns

Cheesy Hash Browns recipe is the most popular baked potato recipe that you could ever come across it.  So much culinary variation has been done on this recipe but it all boils down to a one single idea – that this potluck casserole can be your luck if you want to impress visitors and friends!

 

Fingerling Potatoes

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A small, stubby, finger-shaped type of potato – this is clearly how you will be able to distinguish a fingerling potato from the other types of potatoes sold in stores.  Fingerling potatoes are petit and slender in terms of quality and texture.  You find them used in many French cuisines, added into the luxury hodgepodge of gastronomic delights that make for tasty and delicious meals.

To know more on how fingerling potatoes have conquered the palate of many foodies, here are some interesting facts and information that you may want to know about them.

A fingerling potato has that earthy flavor when it is cooked, soft and almost chewy to the mouth.  Smooth and pleasant to eat, a fingerling potato has a fine texture.

Like any other types of potatoes, a fingerling potato is rich in carbohydrates.  You can substitute an entire meal of rice or bread for a fingerling potato meal because the carbohydrate content of this vegetable will be enough to get you through the day.

Most meals that involve this kind of potato are stewed, boiled, roasted or grilled.  Fingerling potato soup is well loved too. Fine restaurants have their own specialties as to how they incorporated this key ingredient to their main course meals.  But in most cases, they are used as side dish or in a salad, whether roasted or grilled.

Some of the recipes that you may try to whip up that have fingerling potato as a central ingredient can be found on the internet.  These include the conventional fingerling potato soup, fingerling potatoes braised with smoked paprika and many more.

This type of potato is also celebrated among various cuisines exclusive for vegetarians.  Some chefs even make use of this type of spud when preparing au gratin potatoes.

The quintessential recipes that you can find involving fingerling potato is endless.  Just be creative about how the way you cook and prepare the meals.  And most importantly, choose high quality potatoes, and everything will follow.

 

Scalloped Potatoes

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If it’s a recipe that involves scalloped potatoes that you are looking for, then you have come to the right place.  Meals involving potatoes – even those that are not considered to be the main course meals, like a side dish or salad – too often favor practicality, at a foodie’s expense.  Still, you can’t deny that scalloped potatoes are gastronomic delights, and if you want to enjoy a satisfying meal then you only have to visit and ask the nearest chef to prepare it for you.

Still, if you want to prepare scalloped potatoes on your own then it’s not at all complex to come up with a good dish – and even easier if you have basic experience when it comes to culinary cuisines and baking.  This recipe involves layering thinly sliced potatoes on a shallow casserole dish, and adding ingredients such as paisley, onions, cheese, some cream and milk to power the flavor up before you bake it inside the oven.  It’s best to cover the casserole dish with a piece of aluminum foil to even out the heat and thus ensure that the augratin potatoes dish will be cooked evenly and fully.

The specific ingredients and the procedures are all over the internet but basically the process itself constitutes those that are mentioned above.  If you want some variations out of the ordinary potato dish, then there are recipes for cheddar scalloped potatoes, scalloped potatoes with ham, scalloped potatoes with ramps and leeks, and many more.  The variation in recipes is due to the fact that some ingredients may be highlighted (aside from the potato as the central ingredient) – like ham or leek, for instance.

You can also redefine the conventional scalloped recipe so as to make it more personalized and more attuned to your own gastronomic appeal.   This is a great option if your family has specific dietary needs.