Maple Scalloped Candy Potatoes

Maple scalloped candy potatoes are a kind of facet dishes that turns heads when it hits the desk. Seems gourmand, tastes wonderful, and it’s nonetheless simple to make. Skinny slices of candy potatoes are layered and baked in a creamy maple sauce with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. Because it bakes, the sauce bubbles and thickens, the perimeters of the candy potatoes flip golden, and the entire pan turns into utterly irresistible.

For a fast model of the standard, strive my weeknight scalloped potato recipe.

This recipe is all about holding issues easy with out giving up taste. I skip the canned soup and make a fast cream sauce from scratch, utilizing maple syrup (the true variety), cinnamon, and a contact of nutmeg. It’s simple to prep forward of time, and the leftovers (in case you have any) are simply pretty much as good the following day. It’s a kind of sides that makes you need to return for seconds, and possibly even thirds!

Ingredient Notes

• Candy Potatoes: Search for medium-sized candy potatoes with the orange flesh. Slice them about 1/8-inch thick for even cooking. A mandoline makes this a lot sooner, however a pointy knife works too.
• Salted Butter: In the event you’re utilizing unsalted butter, simply add an additional pinch of salt to the sauce.
• All-Function Flour: Helps thicken the sauce.
• Heavy Cream: You should use half-and-half in a pinch, however the sauce can be thinner.
• Entire Milk: Balances out the richness of the cream. Keep away from utilizing skim or low-fat milk for finest outcomes.
• Pure Maple Syrup: Use actual maple syrup, not pancake syrup. Pancake syrup is much too candy.
• Floor Cinnamon and Nutmeg: Only a pinch of every provides taste with out overpowering the dish.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the sweetness of the maple.
• Salted Butter (for topping): Dotting the highest with a couple of items of butter helps every thing brown and bubble up superbly.
• Chopped Pecans (non-obligatory): Provides slightly crunch and a toasty, nutty taste.
• Contemporary Thyme Leaves (non-obligatory): These are principally for garnish, however they add a pop of shade and slightly earthy taste that goes very well with the maple.

Slicing Candy Potatoes

It’s essential that your candy potato slices are all roughly the identical thickness. Your objective is slices about 1/8-inch thick.

A mandoline slicer is a favourite software for this. It’s quick, simple to make use of, and provides you tremendous constant outcomes.

A sharp knife works nice too. It takes slightly extra time, however so long as you slice rigorously and purpose for a similar thickness, you’ll be simply high quality.

A meals processor with a slicing blade is one other nice possibility. It does all of the be just right for you and is very useful in the event you’re making an enormous batch.

In case your field cheese grater has a slicer facet, that may work simply high quality. It’s not fairly as exact, but it surely’ll nonetheless get the job completed. Simply make do with what you will have.

Variations and Add-ins

There’s nonetheless room to make this recipe your individual. Nothing sophisticated, however choices to change issues up.

For a extra savory herby taste, sprinkle in some recent chopped rosemary or sage with the cream sauce.

You may additionally sprinkle a little bit of shredded gruyère or parmesan cheese excessive for a salty, tacky end. Simply remember that cheese will brown sooner, so you might need to loosely tent with foil close to the top of baking.

Baking Dish Measurement Choices

This recipe is written for the standard 9×13-inch baking dish, but it surely’s simple to adapt for any pan. Relating to casserole dishes (not rectangular), you’ll want a 3-quart dish. Simply verify for doneness by inserting a knife into the middle. It ought to slide in simply with no resistance.

For a smaller batch, you may halve the recipe and bake it in an 8×8 or 9×9-inch dish. Keep watch over it close to the top of baking since thinner layers might cook dinner a bit sooner.

Pecans and Thyme Non-obligatory

The chopped pecans and recent thyme on high are utterly non-obligatory, however they do up the flamboyant issue. The pecans give slightly crunch and a nutty distinction to the creamy potatoes, whereas the thyme provides the herby taste that balances the sweetness.

In the event you’re serving this for a extra informal meal, be happy to depart them off. However in the event you’re making this for a vacation or need to fancy it up a bit, these last touches make it really feel slightly extra gourmand.

Why Dot With Butter

Dotting the highest with butter may appear to be a small step, but it surely performs an essential position in how the dish bakes. Because the butter melts, it helps forestall the highest layer of candy potatoes from drying out by including moisture and fats.

It additionally promotes even browning and caramelization on the floor, because of the milk solids and sugars naturally current in butter. This offers the dish a extra golden shade and a littl additional taste.

Make Forward Directions

This can be a improbable dish to make forward, particularly in the course of the holidays. To prep prematurely, assemble the whole dish as directed, however cease earlier than baking. Cowl tightly with foil and refrigerate for as much as 24 hours.

While you’re able to bake, let the dish sit out at room temperature for about half-hour whereas the oven preheats. Bake as directed, including an additional 5 to 10 minutes if wanted to make sure it’s heated right through.

Serving Recommendations

This dish matches proper into any vacation feast, but it surely’s simply as at dwelling on our Sunday dinner desk. Serve it alongside roasted turkey, glazed ham, or a juicy pork loin.

It additionally goes nicely with easy vegetable sides like inexperienced beans, Brussels sprouts, or an arugula salad. Add a basket of heat brioche rolls or cornbread and also you’ve obtained a meal that’s able to impress.