Food Recipes Side Dishes Potato Dishes Upgrade Your Next Potato Gratin With Tart Apples, Sweet Shallots, and a Hot, Herb-Infused Cream 3.7 (3) 2 Reviews Sweet and tangy apples, buttery potatoes, and sweet shallot team up in these creamy au gratin potatoes. By Justin Chapple Justin Chapple Justin Chapple is a chef, recipe developer, food writer, video host, and cookbook author. In addition, he is the culinary director-at-large of Food & Wine and host of their video series, Mad Genius Tips, for which he was nominated twice for a prestigious James Bead Award. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 4, 2023 Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Recipes published by Food & Wine are rigorously tested by the culinary professionals at the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios in order to empower home cooks to enjoy being in the kitchen and preparing meals they will love. Our expert culinary team tests and retests each recipe using equipment and ingredients found in home kitchens to ensure that every recipe is delicious and works for cooks at home every single time. Meet the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Rate PRINT Share Photo: Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Active Time: 1 hr 15 mins Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins Yield: 6 to 8 servings In this sophisticated yet comforting gratin, tangy Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples, shallots, and potatoes are baked under a golden brown crust dusted with fennel pollen. This gratin is equally at home served with a roast bird (it would make a handsome addition to a Thanksgiving spread) or as a side to a pan-seared, butter-basted steak. Leftovers would make a delicious lunch or light dinner alongside a leafy, lightly dressed salad with a fried egg on top and a scatter of crisped lardons. Frequently asked questions What is a gratin? The French term gratin traditionally refers to any dish that is topped with cheese or a mix of breadcrumbs and butter, then prepared under a broiler so that the top becomes browned and crisp. (The term au gratin also refers to dishes that use that preparation). These creamy au gratin potatoes include neither cheese nor breadcrumbs, instead leaning on a thyme- and rosemary-infused heavy cream for its richness and browning. Do I need to soak the potato and apple slices? Soaking potato and apple slices in water can help prevent them from oxidizing and browning. In this recipe, because they’ll be baking and browning under a rich blanket of infused heavy cream, there’s no need to soak them first. What kind of apples should I use in this gratin? Apples that have a dense flesh and firm shape hold up well when cooked and are best for baking in this gratin. Granny Smith, Mutsu, and Gala are widely available baking apples. Heirloom varieties that hold their shape well include Cox’s Orange Pippin, Northern Spy, and Jonathan. Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Using a mandoline ensures thin, even slices, allowing the apples and potatoes to retain some of their integrity as they slowly bake in the creamy sauce. While a mandoline is ideal for uniformity, carefully slicing your produce by hand with a sharp knife can work just as well. Fennel pollen, which has a citrus- and anise-like flavor and is harvested from fennel frond blossoms, can be found at most specialty grocery stores or online at bonafurtuna.com. Suggested pairing An orchard-fruity, full-bodied Rhône white, such as a Delas Frères Saint-Esprit Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc, complements these rich, creamy au gratin potatoes. Ingredients Softened unsalted butter, for greasing 1 3/4 cups heavy cream 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided 1 1/8 teaspoons black pepper, divided 1/2 teaspoon fennel pollen (such as Bona Furtuna), plus more for garnish 3 medium garlic cloves, crushed 1 thyme sprig, plus fresh thyme leaves for garnish 1 rosemary sprig 3 (5- to 6-ounce) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices (about 2 1/2 cups) 3 large shallots, thinly sliced lengthwise (about 2 cups) 1 large Pink Lady apple (unpeeled), cored and sliced lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices (about 2 cups) 1 large Granny Smith apple (unpeeled), cored and sliced lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices (about 2 cups) Directions Preheat oven to 425°F with rack 7 to 8 inches from heat. Generously grease a broiler-safe 3- to 3 1/2-quart ceramic baking dish or gratin dish with butter. Combine cream, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, fennel pollen, garlic, thyme sprig, and rosemary sprig in a medium saucepan. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 15 minutes. Remove and discard garlic and herb sprigs. Set aside. Layer potato, shallot, and apple slices alternately in upright rows in prepared pan. Pour infused cream evenly over top; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Bake gratin in preheated oven until cream bubbles and potatoes, shallots, and apples are tender but not mushy, about 40 minutes. Increase oven temperature to broil; broil until top is lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 10 minutes. Garnish gratin with additional fennel pollen and thyme leaves. Serve hot. Originally appeared in Food & Wine magazine, November 2023 Rate It Print