Gratin dauphinois facts for kids
Gratin dauphinois
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| Course | alone or as accompaniment |
| Place of origin | France |
| Region or state | Dauphiné |
| Main ingredients | potatoes, milk and cream |
Gratin dauphinois is a yummy French dish. It's made from thinly sliced potatoes baked in milk or cream. This special way of cooking is called the gratin technique. The dish comes from the Dauphiné region in south-eastern France.
You might hear it called by other names too. Some of these are pommes de terre dauphinoise or potatoes à la dauphinoise. In America, it's often known as potatoes au gratin.
Contents
The Story Behind Gratin Dauphinois
When Was Gratin Dauphinois First Made?
The first time anyone wrote about Gratin dauphinois was a long time ago. It was on July 12, 1788. This was just before the French Revolution!
Who Enjoyed This Dish First?
The dish was served at a special dinner. The host was Charles-Henri, the Duke of Clermont-Tonnerre. He was also a Lieutenant-General for the Dauphiné region. This meant he was a very important military and government leader there.
He served the dish to local officials from the town of Gap. Today, Gap is in a part of France called Hautes-Alpes.
How to Make Gratin Dauphinois
Simple Ingredients for Gratin Dauphinois
Gratin dauphinois is made with a few simple ingredients. You need thinly sliced raw potatoes. You also need milk or cream. Sometimes, people add Gruyère cheese. The dish is cooked in a baking dish that's been rubbed with garlic and buttered.
Steps to Prepare Gratin Dauphinois
First, the potatoes are peeled. Then, they are sliced very thinly, about the thickness of a coin. People often use a special tool called a mandoline for this.
Next, the potato slices are layered in a shallow baking dish. This dish can be made of earthenware or glass. Finally, it's cooked in a slow oven. For the last 10 minutes, the oven heat is turned up. This helps the top get nice and golden.
Cheese or No Cheese?
Some people who love this dish say that real Gratin dauphinois should not have cheese. They say if you add cheese, it becomes a different dish called gratin savoyard.
However, many famous chefs disagree! Chefs like Auguste Escoffier and Robert Carrier have recipes that include cheese and even eggs. So, it seems like adding cheese is okay for many people!
What Makes It Different?
Gratin dauphinois is special because it uses raw potatoes. Other similar dishes, like regular gratin potatoes, often use potatoes that have been boiled first. It's also very different from another French potato dish called pommes dauphine.
See also
In Spanish: Gratin dauphinois para niños
