Maple Scalloped Candy Potatoes

Maple scalloped candy potatoes are a type of facet dishes that turns heads when it hits the desk. Seems to be gourmand, tastes wonderful, and it’s nonetheless straightforward 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 sides of the candy potatoes flip golden, and the entire pan turns into fully irresistible.

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

Why My Recipe

• Candy and creamy and flavorful due to actual maple syrup, cinnamon, and cream.
• Seems to be fancy however is tremendous easy to make with easy-to-find elements.
• No shortcuts or canned soup right here simply actual entire meals goodness from begin to end

This recipe is all about conserving 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 sort), cinnamon, and a contact of nutmeg. It’s straightforward 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 type 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 quicker, however a pointy knife works too.
• Salted Butter: Should you’re utilizing unsalted butter, simply add an additional pinch of salt to the sauce.
• All-Goal Flour: Helps thicken the sauce.
• Heavy Cream: You should use half-and-half in a pinch, however the sauce will probably be thinner.
• Complete Milk: Balances out the richness of the cream. Keep away from utilizing skim or low-fat milk for greatest 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 little thing brown and bubble up fantastically.
• Chopped Pecans (non-obligatory): Provides somewhat crunch and a toasty, nutty taste.
• Recent Thyme Leaves (non-obligatory): These are principally for garnish, however they add a pop of colour and somewhat 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, straightforward to make use of, and provides you tremendous constant outcomes.

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

A meals processor with a slicing blade is one other nice choice. It does all of the give you the results you want and is particularly 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 executed. Simply make do with what you’ve.

Variations and Add-ins

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

For a extra savory herby taste, sprinkle in some contemporary 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 needless to say cheese will brown quicker, so chances are you’ll 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 straightforward to adapt for any pan. In the case of casserole dishes (not rectangular), you’ll want a 3-quart dish. Simply test for doneness by inserting a knife into the middle. It ought to slide in simply with no resistance.

For a smaller batch, you possibly can halve the recipe and bake it in an 8×8 or 9×9-inch dish. Control it close to the top of baking since thinner layers might prepare dinner a bit quicker.

Pecans and Thyme Elective

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

Should 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 somewhat extra gourmand.

Why Dot With Butter

Dotting the highest with butter may appear to be a small step, but it surely performs an essential function 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, due to the milk solids and sugars naturally current in butter. This provides the dish a extra golden colour and a littl further taste.

Make Forward Directions

This can be a implausible dish to make forward, particularly through the holidays. To prep upfront, assemble your entire 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 throughout.

Serving Recommendations

This dish matches proper into any vacation feast, but it surely’s simply as at house 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.