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Scalloped Potatoes with Root Vegetables

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on November 11, 2011

Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Scalloped Potatoes with Root Vegetables

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves 1 ¼ teaspoons table salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 8 ounces celery root (about ½ medium), peeled and sliced ⅛ inch thick8 ounces parsnips (about 2 medium), peeled and sliced ⅛ inch thick1 cup low-sodium chicken broth 1 cup heavy cream 2 bay leaves 1 ½ pounds russet potatoes (about 2 large), peeled and sliced ⅛-inch thick (see photos below)4 ounces grated cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup)

Before You Begin

The quickest way to slice the vegetables is in a food processor fitted with an 1/8-inch slicing blade. If the potatoes are too long to fit into the feed tube, halve them crosswise and put them in the feed tube cut-side down so that they sit on a flat surface. If the potato slices discolor as they sit, put them in a bowl and toss with a couple tablespoons of the cream and chicken broth. If you like, use Parmesan instead of cheddar.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Melt butter in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until foaming subsides. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add celery root, parsnips, chicken broth, cream, and bay leaves and bring to simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add potatoes, bring mixture back to simmer, cover, and cook until potatoes are almost tender (paring knife can be slipped into and out of potato slice with some resistance), about 10 minutes. Discard bay leaves.
  3. Transfer mixture to 8-inch-square baking dish (or other 1 1/2-quart gratin dish) and press into an even layer; sprinkle evenly with cheese. Bake until cream is bubbling around edges and top is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.
  4. to make ahead

  5. Once the scalloped vegetables have been transferred to the baking dish and pressed into an even layer in step 3, they can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, add the cheese, cover with foil, and bake in a 400-degree oven until the mixture is hot and bubbling, about 45 minutes. Remove the foil and cook until the cheddar begins to brown, about 30 minutes longer. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Scalloped Potatoes with Root Vegetables

Scalloped Potatoes with Root Vegetables

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 ¼ teaspoons table salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
8 ounces celery root (about ½ medium), peeled and sliced ⅛ inch thick
8 ounces parsnips (about 2 medium), peeled and sliced ⅛ inch thick
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
2 bay leaves
1 ½ pounds russet potatoes (about 2 large), peeled and sliced ⅛-inch thick (see photos below)
4 ounces grated cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 ¼ teaspoons table salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
8 ounces celery root (about ½ medium), peeled and sliced ⅛ inch thick
8 ounces parsnips (about 2 medium), peeled and sliced ⅛ inch thick
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
2 bay leaves
1 ½ pounds russet potatoes (about 2 large), peeled and sliced ⅛-inch thick (see photos below)
4 ounces grated cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 ¼ teaspoons table salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
8 ounces celery root (about ½ medium), peeled and sliced ⅛ inch thick
8 ounces parsnips (about 2 medium), peeled and sliced ⅛ inch thick
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
2 bay leaves
1 ½ pounds russet potatoes (about 2 large), peeled and sliced ⅛-inch thick (see photos below)
4 ounces grated cheddar cheese, shredded (1 cup)

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted a lighter, quicker scalloped potato recipe for weeknight dinners. Although we used traditional russet potatoes to form tight, cohesive layers, we used a 50:50 ratio of canned chicken broth and heavy cream to offset the heaviness of the dish. We parboiled the sliced potatoes in the chicken broth–heavy cream mixture on top of the stove, then poured the whole mixture into a casserole dish and finished it in the oven.

Before You Begin

The quickest way to slice the vegetables is in a food processor fitted with an 1/8-inch slicing blade. If the potatoes are too long to fit into the feed tube, halve them crosswise and put them in the feed tube cut-side down so that they sit on a flat surface. If the potato slices discolor as they sit, put them in a bowl and toss with a couple tablespoons of the cream and chicken broth. If you like, use Parmesan instead of cheddar.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Melt butter in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until foaming subsides. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add celery root, parsnips, chicken broth, cream, and bay leaves and bring to simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add potatoes, bring mixture back to simmer, cover, and cook until potatoes are almost tender (paring knife can be slipped into and out of potato slice with some resistance), about 10 minutes. Discard bay leaves.
  3. Transfer mixture to 8-inch-square baking dish (or other 1 1/2-quart gratin dish) and press into an even layer; sprinkle evenly with cheese. Bake until cream is bubbling around edges and top is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.
  4. to make ahead

  5. Once the scalloped vegetables have been transferred to the baking dish and pressed into an even layer in step 3, they can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, add the cheese, cover with foil, and bake in a 400-degree oven until the mixture is hot and bubbling, about 45 minutes. Remove the foil and cook until the cheddar begins to brown, about 30 minutes longer. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

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