Nothing says comfort food like old-fashion scalloped potatoes with its creamy sauce and rich, buttery texture. Scalloped potatoes are just thinly sliced red or yellow potatoes, with or without the skin, in a rich cream sauce and baked in the oven until golden brown and delicious. It's a warm, inviting dish that can be served as a main course or as a side, and it pairs great with pork, beef, or chicken.
Ingredients:
¼ cup butter
1 large onion diced
2 cloves of garlic minced
¼ cup flour
2 cups milk
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
3 pounds white potatoes sliced about ⅛ inch thick
1/4 cup diced scallions
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350˚F. To make the sauce, melt the butter, and cook the onion and garlic over medium low heat until the onions are softened. Add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Combine milk and broth. Add a small amount at a time whisking to thicken. The mixture will become very thick. Continue adding a little bit of liquid at a time whisking until smooth. Once all of the liquid has been added, bring to a boil over medium heat while continuing to whisk the mixture. Stir in salt and pepper, and let it boil for 1 minute.
Assembly:
Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place ⅓ of the potatoes in the bottom and season with salt and pepper. Pour ⅓ of the cream sauce sauce over top. Repeat layers ending with the cream sauce. Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Sprinkle the diced green scallions over the top of the baking dish. Uncover and bake for an additional 35-45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the potatoes are tender. Broil for 3-4 minutes to obtain a golden, caramelized top. Allow the dish to rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Optional Ideas:
Bacon: pre-cook and crumble bacon. Sprinkle over the top of the dish before the final baking period to add an extra layer of flavor.
Feta Cheese: after the first 45 minutes baking, sprinkle feta cheese or goat cheese over the top of the dish and continue to bake for the last 35-45 minutes until golden brown.
Sriracha Chili Sauce: if you like things spicy, add a teaspoon of hot chili sauce to the mixture before pouring it over the sliced potatoes, bringing up the heat and giving the recipe a kick.
