I fell for a photo this week. It was on marthastewart.com and it looked like an accordion, or maybe a Slinky, of thinly sliced, crisped potatoes and my brain computed this as CHIPS. POTATO CHIPS MASQUERADING AS GROWN-UP SIDE DISH. MUST MAKE POTATO CHIP CASSEROLE (I was kind of like this dog here) and although further investigation of the recipe unveiled no actual use of potato chips, creamed canned soup or anything also that would really allow it to be titled a Potato Chip Casserole, it was too late and I was making it anyway.
Plus, I was looking for a gratin alternative for potatoes for my family’s Seder on Monday night and this fit the bill perfectly. It’s not that I don’t like, nay love, any excuse to drown potatoes in cream and butter and swaddle them in a blistered cheese lid, but given that there was already going to be a spread, it didn’t seem necessary that the potatoes be so over-the-top.
If you have a mandoline, the prep on this is remarkably simple. Even the seemingly fussy parts — wedging thinly sliced shallots between potatoes — take only minutes. The baking time, however, is epic, close to two hours. I should have paid better attention in physics because for the life of me I couldn’t figure out how something the depth and thickness of a baked potato could take nearly twice as long to bake but advise you not to skimp if you want your dish cooked through.
The results are stunning, and it tastes, just as I had hoped and dreamed, half like potato chips and half like a fragrant potato roast. Nevertheless, I’d love to punch up the flavor a bit next time, either finishing it with a sprinkling of soft goat cheese or feta and crumbled bacon or bits of crisped pancetta. I would also love to try this with my favorite potatoes, Yukon Golds next and to see how it would be interspersed with thin slices of a root vegetable. There’s a ton of potential here so if you tweak the recipe, I’d love to hear how in the comments.
One year ago: Blue Cheese Scallion Drop Biscuits
Two years ago: Pasta with Favas, Tomatoes and Sausage
Three years ago: Almond Cake with Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote
Four years ago: Black Bean Confetti Salad
Crispy Potato Roast
Adapted from Martha Stewart
About the baking dish: My dish in the first photo is on the small side because I discovered that I’d only bought 2/3 of the potatoes I needed and scaled the recipe down. However, I found when I had the full amount of potatoes (retesting this) that it didn’t fit quite right in the 9-inch round baking dish Martha suggested (though it might for someone else). So, I’m going to make the somewhat annoying suggestion that you slice up all of your potatoes, grab a few dishes that may potentially work (a cast iron skillet would be great here), play around with the potato slices and when you figure out what dish you want to use, then put the butter/oil in the bottom and set it up. It sounds a bit insane but will ensure that your potato dish ends up looking exactly the way you want it to.
3 tablespoons salted or unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt
1/2 to 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes (optional)(I used aleppo, which is milder and can therefore be used more generously)
4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled (smaller diameter potatoes are great, if you can find them)
4 shallots, peeled
8 sprigs thyme
Garnishes (optional): Bits of goat cheese, crumbles of bacon and/or bits of crisped pancetta
Preheat oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, combine butter and oil. With a sharp knife or manoline, slice potatoes crosswise very thinly. Figure out what baking dish you’d like to use [see Note above]; Martha suggests a 9-inch round baking dish (a deep dish pie pan would fit this bill) though I think you could go an inch bigger, an oval 1 1/2 to 2 quart casserole dish might also be pretty.
Once you’ve picked the dish that seems the best fit for your slices, pour a tablespoon or so of the butter/oil mixture in the bottom and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the oil mixture with a few pinches of coarse salt and red pepper flakes, if using; this will allow you to season both the top and underside of the potatoes. Arrange your potato slices vertically in the dish.
Thinly slice shallots with your mandoline and slide shallot slivers between potato wedges, distributing them as evenly as possible. Brush with remaining oil/butter mixture. Generously season your dish with salt; go easier on the red pepper flakes, if using. Bake 1 1/4 hours, then arrange thyme sprigs on top and bake until potatoes are cooked through with a crisped top, about 35 minutes more. If casserole seems to brown too fast, cover it with foil to slow it down. Add any garnishes, if using, and serve immediately.
What a gorgeous presentation! I’m not a huge potato eater, but I’m tempted to make this the next time I have company!
You should, it is sooooo worth it!
Love this twist on a potato side dish for Easter/Passover! Thanks so much for sharing :)
I wonder if purple potatoes would be pretty too?
Oh, my, this might have to take the place of my herb-roasted fries next time I am craving crunchy potato goodness! I want to pluck those crisped, browned edges right out of the photo and munch away :)
And I think I just fell for your photo. Crispy potato roast for lunch tomorrow.
Perfect timing as I was just sitting here contemplating making a gratin for (late) breakfast.
This looks yummy. I saw the Martha Stewart version on Pinterest the other day too. I can’t wait to try it.
Oh and I love Hyperbole and a Half. It cracks me up every time!
Delicious! And Beautiful!
No Gluten- Yay, I can eat this! Can’t wait to make this.
Hyperbole and a Half! Fantastic! Also, I’m totally bookmarking this.
Holy delicious crispy browned potatoes!! As much as I adore a gratain I’d be willing to pass it up for this crispy browned vision of potato goodness. The presentation is amazing!! I will be making this soon. Sounds like the perfect excuse to finally get that mandolin that I’ve been wanting for far too long :)
Mmm, it’s almost like a hasselback potato casserole! (and yay, Allie Brosh!)
Ooo…might have to make this for brunch tomorrow! I’m still searching for one more dish and I may have just found it! Thanks :)
That looks amazing. I was just trying to think of a side dish to make for Easter and of course you come to the rescue! I always fall in love with the photographs then obsess about them without ever reading what is actually in the recipe. That’s how I found the Chocolate Peanut Caramel Torte I’m making today.
My goodness woman! That dish looks stunning! BRAVO! I would love to try this with unpeeled yams for a bright orange dish. This will shock the easter crowd! Have a great weekend!
Sounds interesting…I have a recipe from an old friend of my mom’s that is similar except for one little thing… she pours heavy cream over the tops! Her recipe calls for the potatoes to be thinly sliced but not all the way through, so they’re still connected at the bottom, skins left on…sprinkled with salt, pepper and dotted with butter, then comes the cream! She calls them Million Dollar Potatoes…more like million calorie! So slicing the potatoes like you did and pouring on the cream can only be good, better, great!! Thanks for jogging my memory, now I know what potato dish to make tomorrow! xo, Nan
I’ve made this and it was beautiful but next time I need to season the crap out of it. I LOVE your goat cheese crispy bacon idea! Also think purple potatoes would be awesome!
Wow, what a lovely chip casserole ;) really, this so much prettier and elegant than the average potato casserole. Thanks for sharing!
This. Looks. Amazing. Must try it for Easter tomorrow. YUM.
How could you not fall in love with a photo like that?! Sounds like a wonderful side dish…or in my case, breakfast :)
This is one of the most elegant looking potato dishes I’ve seen. I bet it would be great with turnip slices mixed in.
Laughed at your opening paragraph. It’s exactly how my friend and I would think, being junk food junkies (although I tend towards salty, and she towards sweet). And yay, link to Hyperbole and a Half!
Finally chips that we can eat guilt free for dinner. Mothers can no longer tell their kids to stop eating chips before dinner because they can eat it during dinner:)
This is gooorgeous!! I would almost have a hard time eating it.
ALMOST.
I definitely agree with the goat cheese on top or some bacon, they both sound like the perfect touch. Cant wait to try this.
sometimes when i mandoline potatoes like this, the starch sets up and no matter HOW long i bake them, they stay weirdly firm. what am i doing wrong?
I would eat the whole casserole dish, leaving none for the children. Lordy!
Yummmmm. Looks. Delicious.
Do you have any recs for a mandoline, specifically, not a crazy expensive one that handles basic vegetables (looks like the one in your pic might fit the bill?)?
And any tips for how to handle thyme? What happens when you bake the sprigs in this recipe, do the leaves fall off or are you just supposed to remove the stems before eating? I’m lucky to have an abundance of thyme in my balcony garden and use it often, but I HATE picking off the leaves. If I’m making soup, I just toss it in, stem and all, and pick it out later.
Mandoline — I bought this one years ago mostly because it was $12 (at the time and I’m SURE you can find it elsewhere for less than Amazon has it right now) and I thought it would “hold me over” until I bought a real one. Turns out, it’s all you’ll ever need and more or less the only thing you see in restaurant kitchens.
must… get…. a… mandolin. I already know these would be a disaster in my kitchen if I tried evenly slicing these freehanded. But the potential, you are right…could be endless!
this looks amazing and simple.
As they all do, this recipe looks amazing and I am sure I will be trying it soon. MORE importantly….I knew I loved you already, and then you link to Hyperbole and a Half…and an entry about simple dog at that?!?!?! We just might be kindred spirits my friend!! :) And, I own a simple dog…not quite as funny in real life…haha!
anything that gets more brown edges on my potato makes me a happy lady. this looks amazing!
oh wow. This looks like a perfect accompaniment to my dinner tonight. Thanks!
Why did you do this to me??? =) Luckily, I just got a sweet mandoline!
Deb, I just want to say that the fact that you read Hyperbole and a Half turns my blog-world addictions into a complete, imploding circle of love and joy.
My mind is reeling with thoughts of all sorts of root veg- especially different colors – all laid together for a rainbow roast… I’ve got to get to the Farmer’s Market!
I fell for it once as well, but on Jaden’s (SteamyKitchen) site, not Martha’s. Jaden’s “Domino Potatoes” looked so darn wonderful all lined up in perfectly aligned rectangles. Mine? Not so much, but equally as brown, crispy and delicious. Yours looks just as good.
I’ve tried it with red potatoes too and like that variety. They seem to be more moist which lends itself to a bit of a creamier interior. I haven’t tried putting onions or shallots in between the slices. I’ll try that next.
Love the possibilities of this dish! And that first picture is just so appealing; it’s like you could pluck the potatoes out, one at a time, happily crunching your way through the entire dish….
Any idea if this would work with margarine and olive oil, rather than butter? I would love to share this dish with my mom, whose house is kosher, as it would be a perfect side dish to her brisket, but I’d need to skip/replace the dairy.
What a beautiful, beautiful dish! With some purple potatoes mixed in it would be even prettier.
So beautiful. I think I need to try this one ASAP.
Thanks for sharing.
This is the first recipe I’ve ever seen that actually makes me want to go out and buy a mandoline. Wow, amazing, I need to make this!
Beautiful! I’m going to try this with rosemary…
I’ve been making a sweeter variation on this for years– same concept, but using alternating sections of sweet potato and apple rows instead, with a little water in the pan and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. Sometimes I put some maple flavoring in the water, but it doesn’t need it to be good. It’s the best crowd recipe– super cheap, and people love it.
That looks incredible! My husband walked over to see what I was looking at and thought they were potato chips too.
Great recipe isnt it! Made a while back for a dinner party to rave reviews. I did add some diced pancetta which was a good add.
http://eatlittleeatbig.blogspot.com/2011/02/recipe-for-crispy-potato-roast.html
Ohh drool! I just had a potatoes for lunch. Potatoes boulanger made with fennel and shallots with my easter rack of lamb. I might just have to have a second easter lunch tomorrow! The photos look stunning.
This is an ultimate comfort food! Great for these rainy days out here on the east coast!
forgive me if I missed this, but did you say anywhere what thickness setting you used on your mandoline? 1/8″ or …? I must admit that I’m a bit of a math nerd and when it comes to recipes, I like to be able to replicate as precisely as possible. yum!
As far as I remember you once saying, you’re a stickler for proper grammar. Check your 3rd paragraph down. “I should have paid better in physics…”. Paid better “attention” I’m assuming? I should venture to think you weren’t paying off your teachers. :)
Renee — Thanks, fixed now. (Typo, not grammar, methinks!)
jenny — No exact thickness needed. Just thin, very thin. Doesn’t need to be paper thin or translucent.
My brother-in-law has been making these forever – I am in awe of him as he hand slices the potatoes and keeps them intact, so when serving yourself you can get a whole potato, that is before you go back for seconds. I am going to tell him about the shallots – think he will like it a lot! Great photo!
OMG! That looks amazing!!!
Deb, I haven’t yet bought a mandoline and don’t plan on it because I have one on our wedding registry (November!!!) and I don’t want to buy one when I might get one later this year, and besides I’m poor. Any tips on how to get the potatoes nice and thin without a mandoline? I’m a terrific baker, but I’m still working on my knife skills :)
Oh, I can’t believe I made a recipe before you! But thank you for the mandoline suggestion; my cheaping out version was much less successful than yours. Thanks for the lovely prompting–next time potatoes are on sale, I’m doing it again. Yum!
Could sage be substituted for thyme?
This would be amazing with sweet potatoes I think! Especially for thanksgiving or Christmas
And here I am with a brand-new mandoline… my husband will cry with delight.
Best photo of Jacob. Ever!
I didn’t think I could love you more, and then you linked to Hyperbole and a Half…
My mom used to make a dish like this when I was a kid that I LOVED. She used lots of dried thyme and instead of the thin slices standing up on edge, they were layered in a spiral around the dish. I think it may be time to make those (or yours) soon!
These potatoes look so gorgeous! What wonderful presentation!
Deb, this dish really looks good. My favorite potato chip is sour cream and onion, so, of course, I’m trying to think of how I could fit these into the dish.
-Brenda
this looks unbelievable.
Um, I love potatoes and carbs to an almost criminal level and this looks beyond divine. I’m pretty sure I could polish off this whole dish in mere minutes. MINUTES. and totally wouldn’t feel guilty afterward.
I knew before even clicking on the link you were referring to simple dog. I love Hyperbole and a Half; I fully identify with the cake god cartoon.
The potatoes look fab, must give them a go!
very nice. Looks perfect for Easter dinner.
Perfect timing as I was looking for potato inspiration. These will be perfect for today’s Sunday lunch.
These look super tasty. Oh my!
Deb, you ruined my Easter lunch. I had it all nicely planned out. Now I have to make these potatoes, like, now? No I need to go to sleep now – let’s say I have to make them tomorrow at the latest, which happens to be Easter. Who cares. I want them. Now.
I agree with Jessica (#11 wayyyy up there) — when I saw this I IMMEDIATELY thought of hasselback potatoes, and thankfully so, because I accidentally deleted my food blog a month ago and had completely forgotten about them!!! Hands down the BEST way to cook potatoes that I’ve ever come across. Like magic. In your mouth. MAKE THEM. (:))
Obviously, this is Sunday dinner. Must incorporate prunes into Passover potato fest…just for balance! Yum.
yum
Hi Deb! this potato art looks amazing! what brand of mandoline do you have? i am looking to purchase my first! thanks :)
What could be better than this. Deb, can you tell me what mandonline you use? Mine isn’t the greatest. THANKS!!!!
Love it. A very impressive dish but very easy, just what I like. Thanks
I am so in…it immediately reminded me of the Julia Child’s kissing cousin dish, Potato Lyonnaise. You know Julia, she probably has some very long and fancy name associated with her dish that I can’t remember. Is there any way that you could parboil the potatoes to cut the cooking time? Also, would the substitution of heavy cream add anything to the dish? I am loving the idea of the feta and the grilled crispy pancetta, but this is absolutely gorgeous. We are having traditional Southern potato salad for our Easter dinner tomorrow, but I am aching to try this next year.
I fell in love with this dish when I saw it on an episode of Everyday Food. It is definitely a looker. I did have reservations about the flavor because it was so simply seasoned. Thanks to your suggestion I will tinker with the recipe. Love your blog and looking forward to your book.
As a potato lover, I want to thank you. As someone who doesn’t own a mandoline… oh well. And isn’t hyperbole and a half one of the greatest things on the web? I think it is.
Yum! This looks a bit like a vertical Pommes Anna but far less labor-intensive since you don’t have to rinse these potato slices in cold water and pat them dry. I will look forward to trying this!
You got me at “POTATO CHIPS MASQUERADING AS GROWN-UP SIDE DISH. MUST MAKE POTATO CHIP CASSEROLE.” Definitely made me giggle :)
Hasselback potatoes (like this recipe: http://www.foodiewithfamily.com/2011/03/10/garlic-hasselback-potatoes/) look similar but aren’t quite as fussy and take less time to bake (especially if you don’t want to dirty all those dishes playing around with the potato slices).
This looks amazing! And soooo tasty! Leave it to Martha. I bet it would be divine topped with bacon and blue cheese…or any kind of cheese for that matter.
Woah… Smitten Kitchen, Hyperbole and a Half, and potato chips. You just combined all my favorite things…
Potato dish looks scrumptious…but where is our pic of Jacob? I’ve been through this post several times and can’t seem to find it….I always look forward to those new pics!
I found it!!! Well hidden but cute as ever….nevermind. :-)
Mmm, looks good! Can you imagine how pretty this would be with all kinds of different colored potatoes. I’m thinking this may be the perfect dish come Thanksgiving!
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We made this tonight. Wonderful! Half the dish is gone already, and there’s just two of us. :)
Will next time try with carrots, beets, and potatoes.
I am loving this recipe and the minute I saw it, turned to my boyfriend on the couch and said we are making this! I can’t wait, it looks delicious!
Yes! This looks delish…and I was just thinking I needed another potato recipe go-to to enter the rotation along side your mustard roasted potatoes, among others. Thanks!!
This looks absolutely amazing. I am a big fan of scalloped potatoes but this may be better!! I’m assuming this can’t be done without a mandoline?
This looks incredible! My husband’s family loves potatoes (especially Yukon Golds) and I’m always looking for some fun new way to make them rather than the usual mashed or baked. This recipe is bookmarked and I can’t wait to give it a try!
I love every potato dish ever conceived of by man. So this will be made soon. However, I hate my fanct mandoline, so I’ll do the fussy slicing with my lovely trustworthy ceramic knife instead.
I love you! (and not just for linking to Hyperbole and a Half) First comment on your blog though I have been following for years. Anyway, thanks for all your amazing recipes and suggestions. I have a few on full rotation in my kitchen at this point. Chard and white bean stew anyone?
I made this last night with the last of my little fingerling potatoes.. I didn’t bother to peel them… DELISH!
Or you could pick your container first, slice a potato, fit it in, and then see if there’s room for more, and keep slicing until it’s full.
Thank you for the recipe, since I bought 5lbs too many potatoes for Passover.
I made this tonight for supper. SO good, I loved the combo of textures. Crispy/crunchy on top, a little chewy and then that soft baked potato-y goodness followed by more crunch.
I used coconut oil, my cast iron skillet and finished it with little nuggets of sharp cheddar tucked between the potato slices at the end of baking, letting them melt under the broiler before serving.
Oh and I just arranged my potato slices circular in the skillet, it looked like a flower. A delicious, delicious flower. haha
One more thing, I used my food processor to slice the potatoes, zipped through them quickly and while the slices weren’t super thin they baked up just fine.
THANK-YOU for such an inspiring recipe, this is definitely going to be made a lot here.
Wondering about trying it with sweet potatoes but imagining a shorter cooking time. I do make this boulangere-style potato dish (not as pretty though) and the long cooking time IS a mystery. If its time is cut short this dish is a bit unpleasant so please everyone, listen to Deb!
Love the drama of this – I too fell for your picture. It’s a sideways gratin. Cutting into all those crunchy layers with a spoon must be so satisfying!
Love this and really like the idea of the additional items you would add next time. I couldn’t live without my oxo mandoline. Thanks for the recipe.
How many ounces of shallots? Shallots are so not “uniform.” Sometimes I can only find small ones. Sometimes there as large as an onion.
Gary — I’d go medium-sized. If tiny, you could go up one; if huge, maybe just two. (Mine were huge.) Anyway, it’s really a personal taste thing, i.e. how much onion flavor you want. If you want a slice between almost every potato slice, use more.
Miriam — Thank you. Hearing the excitement makes the fact that I’m still messing around with the breakfast section (I handed this in in Feb.) more bearable. We did sell the foreign publishing rights but we won’t know for some time where outside the U.S. it will be published. However, you’ll be able buy the American version from any online bookstore (such as Amazon and hopefully some indie ones) and it will have weights in ounces and grams so will be hopefully usable for just about everyone.
You just solved my side dish dilemma for this afternoon’s brunch. I have all the ingredients on hand so it’s a go! Looks like a mother-in-law pleasing dish!
Thankyou, you wonderful woman! This looks divine and will be on our table tomorrow night. Lordy, how I do love spuds.
OMG– I can’t wait to try this! I so love your page, Deb–my absolute favorite!
Looks wonderful! Would you kindly tell us which mandoline you use, the one in pictured above … love that green. I have searched the internet, but no luck. Thank you!
This looks like a beautiful crispy gratin! It just reminded me of one of your earlier recipes on cauliflower gratin. I just thought about something. What about turnips? A seemingly forgotten vegetable in today’s cuisine.
I’m ready for Thanksgiving now!
Love the recipe, but where oh where is Jacob’s pic. I’ve searched & searched. Did you forget?
@margaret: he is hiding in the thinly sliced shallots link :)
If you have one of those apple-peeler-corer thingys you could use it to prep your spuds. The only difference is they’ll have a hole in the middle. You can cut up the core & add it to the dish. This should save loads of time.
You found a way to make me love potatoes even more. Seriously.. how is that possible?! This is so simple and yummy.. and crispy and good..
This looks so delicious! Wish I had a mandoline. I might have to try it anyway.
food processor to the rescue!
Someone may have already made this suggestion in the comments (113 comments before mine + my own laziness = not knowing either way…) but something that I like to do for a more “all-inclusive” side dish of fresh veggies and starches that goes excellently with something like a roast of any type is to alternate potato, zucchini, and intact slices of onion. You certainly won’t get the crisp on the potatoes because of the moisture in the other vegetables, but it makes for a great, somewhat-light side that can reduce time and effort by combining several complementary ingredients. I usually add whatever herbs are featured in the meat I cook for a nice meat/veggie pairing. Thanks for this wonderful recipe!!
WOW, that looks fantastic!
deb, we found this [or very similar recipe] on her everyday cooking website from the PBS show. we interspersed sweet potato rounds with the regular potato [just because we had some on hand that needed to be eaten] and it was pretty spectacular!
If you are just cooking for one (like I do) and you have a steady hand you can take a whole potato and slice it thin without going all the way through, put some garlic slices in between and bake just like you would a regular baked potato. It’s such a fun way to eat potatoes!
I clearly need to find my mandoline. I bet this would be fantastic with some parsnips as well. Yum!
I happened to make almost this exact same recipe last night before even opening this post. What a coincidence. The only difference, my recipe called for pouring one and one-half cups of low-salt chicken broth over the whole thing and then baking for the first half-hour covered and removing the cover for the remainder of the time. I suppose that defeats the purpose of this recipe, which is to wind up with crispy potatoes, but it was delicious and is a great alternative to using any cream or cheese. And all of the liquid did get absorbed, making the potatoes very soft.
Note of warning, grease your pan well. Mine was a soaker. Left in the sink overnight and today was able to get it clean but it took a lot of scrubbing.
Wow. And again, wow. This looks like a dish that might take some fussing, but at least it LOOKS like a dish that took some fussing. It’s gorgeous. We get blue potatoes in our CSA- I’d love to see what they’d look like interspersed. What root veg did you have in mind?
Yum!!! This dish’s photograph practically leaps off the page. This is the perfect “company” potato dish. Simple ingredients, so everyone will love it…yet looks spectacular. All I can say is thank you so much!!!
Where did you get that amazing white lattice dish that you photographed the shallots in? It’s so cool!
I made this for a side with dinner tonight… it was great!!! Not heavy at all, the potatoes were cooked perfectly, i loved the little bit of crunch at the tops of the slices of potatoes. Thanks so much for another great recipe!!
I cannot wait to try this recipe with some additional seasonings that you suggested. Waiting anxiously for your cookbook, too!
This is gorgeous! How can potatoes be so gorgeous? I don’t know but you did it!
I’ve made this dish a whole bunch of times (I first saw it on The Bitten Word and I guess theirs was adapted from Everyday Food but the recipes seem identical). I agree that it could stand to be jazzed up a bit from the initial version. My favourite is to mix yams and potatoes in the dish. I also use onions instead of shallots, and often add thinly sliced garlic. I also sprinkle random slices of potato with my herbs/spices of choice. I actually have a version of it in the oven right now, and it includes chipotle and parmesan. Every adaptation I’ve made has worked out realluy well, so I think it’s probably infinitely adaptable!
This may in fact be the best thing since Cape Cod potato chips (which I will greedily consume whenever available). I haven’t made it yet (Wed), but I’m betting it is!
Made this for Easter lunch today and it was really tasty. Ok, not everyone thought it was as good as I did. But I like the crunchy texture of thinly-sliced potatoes. The slices with more oil and butter were more potato-chippy tasting, the ones with less were just kind of hard. The recipe is fine as is, but as mentioned, it is a little bland. Bacon, more herbs, cheese… anything like that would punch it up a lot. Another thing I found is that the corners of the dish where the oil and butter settled were much tastier. I think more oil overall would help, along with some extra seasonings. But it’s so pretty. I love the idea of making this again and again.
Yes please – a thousand times yes lol I looove potatoes and this sounds awesome. :)
Just two words…….drooly….mindblowing !!
I used chili infused olive oil and it was so good!!!
I occasionally make hasselback potatoes, which is similar but maybe a little simpler: just take a whole potato and *almost* slice it up (thinly). Leave it connected at the very bottom. Brush with loads of melted butter, add whatever herbs and spices strike your fancy, bake in baking dish, hot oven, about 45 minutes. I baste with butter as I go, too. Fancy-looking-but-easy side dish for company.
I borrowed my mom’s mandoline (must get one!) to make this tonight and it was a great success. I didn’t have thyme, but used rosemary instead, which was good, and the feta I sprinkled over at the end made it super tasty. I baked it in a 10-inch cast iron skillet which worked like a charm. Hoping to avoid sticking, I put 3 Tbs of the oil/butter mixture in the pan first. Oh my, it formed the most amazing, golden, crunchy crust on the bottom and came right out of the pan – no scrubbing. Next time, I would skip the red pepper and go with lots of freshly ground black instead. My only quibble is that against the black background of the cast iron, my crispy brown potato tops didn’t look as attractive as yours did, Deb, against the white pan. But the whole family – even the kids, who poured ketchup on top – loved it.
made this for easter at my grandmas house today- big hit!
I adore potatoes!!!
Can’t wait to make these “chips”
Bon Appétit!
PS. the kids will dig them for sure!!!
This looks too yummy to be true! Gahhh!
Hmm… I’m thinking of making these in individual ramekins. Would that shorten the cooking time?
Why peel the potatoes (unless its for aesthetic value) These days I never peel unless I am doing mashed tatties. All the goodness is in the skin.
I think I would perhaps pour some stock into this as well for some added flavour?
ahhhhhh!!! you know hyperbole and a half!!! another two of my favourite blogs collide!
oh yes, and it looks fricking delicious.
This looks absolutely amazing. I am a big fan of scalloped potatoes but this may be better. Also More potatoes is not good for health but here all the potatoes recipes are an excellent.
Knew this was this recipe before I even opened the post! I have been drooling over that recipe for about a year now since I got it in the magazine and ripped it out. You have convinced me into making it tonight!
Made this last night. No leftovers :-( @)#($&*^)( Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Used cast iron skillet. Made the bottom carmelized and crispy.
I made this last night and I can’t stop thinking about it. I scaled down the recipe to feed two with no leftovers. No leftovers? That’s just wrong. Next time, which will be very soon, I will make the larger size version. Delicious, and so simple.
Yumm, these remind me of hasselback taters. To make selecting the pan easier, I would just put all my whole taters in the dish/pan, and see what fits, but add a little extra space for the additions.
In my house we weren’t allowed gratin but my Mum has been making a dish similar to this for years. Her’s is really basic though. Just some vege stock and the potatoes sliced up and then baked. Yummy!
(I need a Flickr account.)
I don’t have a favorite kind of rice, but we’ve all but replaced rice with quinoa around here. I make it with chicken broth most of the time (well, Low Sodium Chicken Better than Bouillon, to be exact) and sometimes saute it with a little oil and chopped onion, like a pilaf. I highly recommend getting something pre-rinsed; Bob’s Red Mill is as well as another common brand that comes in a smaller box (I forget the name as I emptied it into a different container to better fit in my cabinet). It should say on the package. It’s quick to prepare and simple if you don’t have to take the time to rinse it. Fewer dishes, too.
This is similar to an old favorite family recipe. The potatoes can be peeled or unpeeled, layered with garlic slivers (my favorite). Sweet potatoes also do well.
I love this new idea for potatoes! Always looking for a new recipe, and anything that resembles a “chip” in looks and flavor gets the approval of the husband. :)
Made this for Easter…but I poured cream over the potatoes, it came about half way up the potato slices…roasted them and the tops were crispy like chips, but the bottoms were creamy…you must try this, when you feel like clogging your arteries because it was the hit of the show! xo, Nan
I wonder how or if this could be adapted for use with sweet potatoes? That way you’d get the nice chewy “sweet potato fry” sort of thing going on with the top, and the lovely “baked sweet potato” texture from the bottom half… hmmmmmmm
Sarah above who hates picking thyme leaves off…have you tried the method where you run your fingers (like thumb and first finger, pinching the twig) backwards down the stem? Meaning…from tip to base of the stem, against the way it grows…the leaves just come right off, voila! no individual picking of leaves. ;)
Oh my, this is absolute heaven. The thought of goat cheese sprinkled on the top after baking sends it over the top. Dying to make this.
Question – I used Yukon Golds instead of Russets, and the dish came out beautifully, however, the top, while perfectly browned was a little tough and chewy instead of being crispy. I wondered if the waxiness of the YGs contributed to this and if floury Russets weren’t, in fact, the better choice? I made it in my 10-inch cast iron pan, used bacon fat + olive oil (instead of butter + oo) and crumbled bacon over the top for the last 10 minutes of baking. FANTASTIC. Loved it as a sub for the heavier, creamier, cheesier scallops and gratins. The potato really is the star!
I love that recipe! I made it 2 years ago I think, both for Thanksgiving and again at Christmas – it was too good NOT to make it again :)
Nothing I love better than potatos so I am making this later in week. Cannot wait to taste it. Thanks
I’ve been thinking about dusting off my mandolin lately but haven’t found a recipe I like. thanks for the inspiration.
This will be fab with pork chops. Just got off the phone with Mr Wonderful asking him to pick up some russets. These kind of remind me of the Hassebacks that I saw on Orangette a couple years ago. YUM – cant wait til I get home and start trashing the kitchen!
BTW – I made your asparagus/pancetta hash for Easter Brunch – rave reviews!
i love how crispy the potatoes look!
This is INCREDIBLE! Thank you! Parmesean, crumbled bacon and fresh green garlic made it heavenly.
Also made this with yukon golds– subbed in about pound and a half of parsnips as additional layers. I agree with Heather’s comment above about the tops of the potatoes going chewy even when brown and crispy-looking…but those that just got a little brown and not super crisp-(looking) were perfect. I added about 2 oz grana padano in the last 10 minutes, and when I make this again, I will use yukon golds and keep it covered with foil for longer…still so great.
PS – A knife works, really. Only took me 20 minutes or so, and came out wonderfully.
This looks awesome and has my name written all over it. I might make it with half the potatoes, because my husband and I do not need to consume 4 pounds of potatoes in rapid succession (and I would). They are a weakness.
I came here the other day looking for a good scalloped potato recipe and there was this right on the front page. Made it for Easter and the first thing my cousin said when she saw the dish hit the table was “Smitten Kitchen!” I made it with leeks instead of shallots and butter potatoes instead of russets, because that’s what I had on hand, and it turned out great. The red chilies were a great addition. Also, I make your chana masala every week. Big hoorays for the Hyperbole link. My two favourite blogs.
Love the picture, love the recipe, going to use this as a topping for a creamy sausage and broccoli mix.
mmm this looks fantastic! I’ll have to try this next time I go to my parents house for dinner (they always let me try new recipes out on them)!
this looks seriously divine. and very possibly better than potato chip casserole…
That’s it — I NEED a mandoline! And I need to make that dish (with rutabegas and parsnips) ASAP!
It’s my birthday tomorrow and hubby wants to buy me a “little something” to go with the haul of books I ordered myself ; ) A Mandolin is just the thing, so I can make this gorgeous looking dish!!! The Irish in me NEEDS to taste this dish.
Mmm these look like a more artistic version of my grandmother’s scalloped potatoes. That’s so cool the way they snake around the pan like that! Looks like one of Paula Deen’s kitchen concoctions! These belong in her competition, Real Women of Philadelphia going on now. Yay for taters!!!
Oh this looks very interesting…maybe a cast iron casserole dish would work for it. Looks awesome though!
Fantastic. Reading your blog for the first time today, and I love love love it!!! I will be spending my evening reading past posts!
I tend to fall into the rut of rosemary roasted red potatoes, and this looks like a delicious and artsy way to spice things up a bit. The long cooking time isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just makes this dish perfect for Sunday dinner!
This looks fantastic! I was curious what brand of mandoline you have. I don’t have one currently, but feel like it would be a well used addition to the kitchen gadget pile!
Oooh! This looks seriously delicious. I love your idea of adding feta. Everything is better with feta. :) Can’t wait to try this!
Just made this (along with your onion soup: boy was The Hubbs impressed!). It was very delicious! I blanched at the 2-hour cook time and pre-nuked my dish in the microwave for about 9 minutes, to jump-start the cooking. It then baked for about an hour or 1:15. It still turned out great!
I just popped these into the oven and they smell amazing cooking can’t wait to eat them! I didn’t have shallots so i used chives from my herb garden and added a couple cloves of crushed garlic because well you can’t go wrong with garlic, herb, and potato. Thanks for the recipe idea! So excited that I found your web site! This little west coast girl couldn’t be happier!
Looks like my potato au gratin (I never top with cheese); except mine doesn’t get as crispy since it’s smothered in butter, oil, etc., etc.
Interesting take.
Beautiful dish as ever! I’d love to try a cheesy potato roast. Any suggestions for other types of cheese to use on this other than goat?
I did this the other day my dumping a bunch of pizza blasted pringles into a casserole dish.
This is a spectacular dish if you are looking for a showy center piece! Although it does have an insanely long baking time I was able to bring a Parmesan sprinkled version to short notice Easter celebration this weekend. Everyone loved it. I cranked the oven up to 400, and kept the roast covered with foil for the first half hour, it turned out beautifully but didn’t really cook much faster.
Oh my. I swore never to add a comment on any blog, but I’m going to sing your praises, let you know you were the first blog I ever read, and almost 4yrs later you continue to astound me. Probably not as profoundly as Jacob astounds you….but the fact that from thousands of miles away you are CONSTANTLY reading my mind and writing recipes for my desires and cravings….I mean, the ones I am having THAT week. How do you do it?! Some special tastebud esp? But now that I have broken my silence, I’m going to break down and ask a favor….will you please print a list of your favorite eateries in NYC? I will be visiting Manhattan in a few weeks and would so appreciate having a list: dives, ethnic, classy, coffee shops, bakeries….please? Thank you!
http://purplecook.blogspot.com/2010/02/crisp-roasted-potatoes-with-celeriac.html
I love this recipe. I have combined celeriac and rutabaga slices amongst the potatoes, YUM!
Oh wow, this looks amazing and there is so much potential here. I think I’d have to add some garlic to the mix somewhere along the line myself and maybe sprinkle some parmesan on top.
i LOVE anything and everything when potatoes are involved! this looks delicious, a little intimidating, but nonetheless, delicious!
A good reason to invest in a mandolin slicer. The Barefoot Contessa has a similar looking idea with slicing the potatoes into thin slices but leaving them intat so teh potato sort of fans out. Very beautiful!
Deb, you just convinced me to drop my work and run to the kitchen to make crispy potato roast. Thanks for suggesting a tweak. But instead of cheese or bacon, I decided to give it a Malaysian twist that carries a touch of every Asian flavor. The result was fantastic. Only problem was it took two hours to bake, and only a minute to gobble up (wait, that sounds more like Thanksgiving than Easter. How do rabbits eat?)
Thanks again for inspiring me to make “Malaysian Crispy Potato Roast” on Season with Spice.
http://www.seasonwithspice.com/2011/04/malaysian-crispy-potato-roast.html
What a delicious take on plan ol’ roasted potatoes (which are delicious as well)! Being the potato lover that I am, I will have to give this a try.
To be honest, I’m not really a fan of potatoes at all unless they’re in french fry form, but these look simply divine and PERFECTLY crispy, just the way I like them! Mmm. I’m thinking this is definitely going to be a bookmarked recipe that I try (because we all know that “bookmarking” a recipe is kind of like the kiss of “I’m never going to make this” death). Happy late Easter!
oh this dish looks sooo heavenly good! I have to try it before it gets too hot! :)
I’m one of those hard core potato eaters, and this recipe looks like something I’d love to eat by the fistful. I love the crisped pancetta idea; other possibilities are lots of fresh dill butter (butter, lemon zest&juice, minced garlic and dill); a cheddar cheese sauce with lots of paprika and/or fresh sage; a cream sauce with tarragon. But I’d probably just stick with the recipe you have here and serve with a delicious roast and lots of vegetables. And thanks for the beautiful photos; each one is a work of art.
So nice to see a potato dish that isn’t loaded with cheese and cream! Can’t wait to try this one out! I will also have to try it out with sweet potatoes.
This looks fabulous! Nothing better than a potato with crispy edges, hot from the oven. The dish is stunning. Now, why didn’t I think of that?
I literally gasped when I saw this. It is beautiful! I used only 3 pounds of potatoes and made it in an 8-inch cake pan, and it cooked beautifully. Like london mentioned before, though, I did find it a little bland. My boyfriend loved it, but he also loves just about anything involving potatoes. The parts where the shallots and olive oil and butter really seeped into the potatoes were DELICIOUS, but the rest of it was a little too plain for my tastes, despite liberal seasoning. I may add some heavy-handed garnishes for future versions!
Well, I just fell for this dish from the picture alone. And I have two sweet potatoes that have been sitting in my produce drawer for longer than I want admit. and a rosemary plant that desperately needs to be repotted. and I’ve got two hours to kill tonite. and I’m already hungry. I am worried about not having a mandolin, buuuut I’m diving into this one right after work. yum
Made this last night and finished it off with a sprinkling of goat cheese and truffle oil. Simple yet delicious.
no jacob picture???? ;)
how pretty. I love the aesthetic presentation of this dish – super serve-able to in-laws and such =)
This crispy potato roast looks quite different. Thanks for the recipe (and pictures).
Ok, ridiculous. (in a good way.) Love the idea of cooking this in my cast iron pan. I’d add garlic and Italian robiola cheese for a fondue effect. Can’t wait to try it!
I made these potatos for lunch today…..easy, simple, and delicious…… It took mine almost two hours to get done but it was worth the wait.
Anything with a potato right now I’m on board. I was about to buy potato chips just because I saw french onion dip mix at the grocery. Clever how grocery marketers get to me.
This looks incredible Deb! I’m right there with you on the cheeses as well. I can’t wait to try this! Thanks for a fantastic post – your writing is so happy and funny.
Woah. I need this in my life! I am already dreaming of other possibilities (root veggies for Thanksgiving, beets, my mind is spinning!) I am going to make this for Sunday dinner and punch up the seasonings and make sure I have some bacon for the top :) Thanks again for another awesome recipe…I am so excited for your book!
Made these on Sunday. Unfortunately I forgot to buy shallots and thyme when I was out shopping, so I made them without and sprinkled with feta and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice when they came out of the oven. Definitely a big hit with my family!
This looks dreamy… can’t wait to make it! Let us know how the yukon golds work out if you end up trying them out.
I made this on Sunday after seeing your post. WONDERFUL! I used all of your suggestions and used Yukon Gold, pancetta that I crisped up in the oven beforehand and the goat cheese sent it over the top! It was so buttery and rich. Thanks again!!
Hi Deb!
This is a first for me (writing on your blog), and also making this potato roast!
I made it tonight for me and my husband, and we LOOOOOOVED IT!!
I used potatoes, sweet potatoes and onions, and all the flavors together were amazing! I didn´t follow your advice of trying the size of the dish, so I ended up covering only the outer rim with the potatoes/sweet potatoes, so I put all the lefover sliced onions in the middle…What a surprise! The result: beatufully caramelized onions, that mixed perfectly with the oil/butter mixture and the onion juices, and everything steeping into the potatoes!! OMG!
(Sorry for any mistakes, english is my second language!)
Thanks for a great recipe!
That Martha Stewart gets me every time too! I love how this recipe looks, and I always have a ton of potatoes on hand that need to be used up. What I don’t have, though, is a mandoline (yet!). I suppose I’d better get slicing! Thanks for the great recipe!
I need these right now! My mouth started watering as soon as the page opened! Yum!
Thanks for this delicious recipe! I tried it with sweet potatoes and yukons, topped with goat cheese and it was amazing! I think the exact quote from my boyfriend was, “I could eat this forever…all the time!” The goat cheese really made the dish, so thanks for the suggestion!
Sounds crazy good. This recipe is not as fancy in presentation, but also satisfies the gratin urge without the guilt of a cream & cheese version.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Potato-Casserole-241203
Wow, really great looking potatoes. I love spuds in all their glorious forms.
I’m always perplexed why we want our food to look exactly like the photograph, when that photograph was created by a professional. As a Chef, if you see my creation, I want you to find another way to express it. (I’m working on deconstruction Eggs Benedicts).
Any way, great job, lovely photo, beautiful food.
Buttery thinly shaven potato casseroles? Count me in!
Thank you for not putting pancetta in the recipe, said this Jewish vegetarian!
or making it optional, anyway!
Lovely! I make something like this using Yukon Golds, purple Viking potatoes, golden and regular beets, thinly sliced onion, carrots and parsnips. All thinly sliced and artfully arranged. I spice it up a little differently – turmeric, smoked paprika, cardamom, cumin, salt and pepper (some cayenne if the kids are not there). I use just olive oil and bake it slowly. Served with some sauteed chard and kale – it’s just about a perfect food!
Very nice and attentive to details, if you’re interested visit http://www.todaychef.com
Oh my gosh I am drooling just looking at that picture!
I got that exact same mandoline for Christmas this year. I don’t know how I lived without it! (I also got the glove which I would be afraid not to use). I was having quite a time using it to make gratins in the (hopefully well behind us) winter months.
this sounds delicious, but in addition to that greatness- thank you for linking to hyperbole and a half! it is the funniest thing i have read in ages and i love that blog. :)
Umm, I detecting a bit of a non sequiter here; bacon, bacon fat, and Seder. something is not Kosher here . Hopefully you’re using turkey bacon?
Jeffred — I was making those suggestions for “next time”. Nevertheless, my family is not Kosher. In fact, they showed up at my apartment last Friday with fixings for their own lunch — salami and cheese on matzo. They crack me up.
What a concept! seriously delicious looking..
My brother swears if you rub your knife with lemon juice before you cut the onion, there will be no tears. I haven’t tried it yet.
this might get me to buy a mandoline, already!
Thanks for a scalloped potato dish without all the cream. my husband won’t eat that type of dish, and I will…even though i shouldn’t!
(and it’ll be parve!)
I was thinking very French or Very Martha. Either way, very nice.
Beautiful dish. I have it open on my computer to remember to make it myself this weekend. Looks like it will be quite yummy. Thanks for sharing.
HOLY SMOKES that looks incredibly delicious. I love that there are so many ways to prepare a potato. This is the potato as elderly grandmother you go to see on holidays, who always has a hearty meal and butterscotch candies in her apron pocket. I can’t wait to try this for myself! Thanks.
I love that dog blog. so funny. And this looks seriously yummy. Thanks, as ever you Rock!
Great recipe! I made a few tweaks that were to my liking: I alternated slices of turnip and red onion with the potatoes, then mixed a little lemon juice in with the melted butter that went over the top to offset the bitterness of the turnips. After the first hour or so, I added uncooked pancetta and goat cheese over the top to crisp. Since they were so salty, I skipped the salt at the beginning.
excellent recipe! I love potatoes!
Made this last night; pretty wonderful. The pancetta bits were KEY, but I was also a little frustrated that the potatoes came out, well, awkwardly cooked. The tops were rather chewy, centres tender but somewhat bland, bottoms butter soaked and wonderful.
I’ll make this again for sure, perhaps with a little less spice!
Sweet Potatoes! When I read this post the first thing I thought of was how good this would be with sweet potatoes. I absolutely LOVE sweet potato fries but refuse to fry anything at home. This recipe appears to have the crisp on the ends and the soft part on the bottoms that I crave. Add some parsley and roasted garlic and I might not even miss the fries. – Yum!
Methinks you’re needing some pommes Dauphinoises – same as what you’ve got, plus some garlic, butter and cream.
Though I like the look of your crispy can’t-decide-if-I-want-to-be-a-potato-chip-when-I-grow-up look :)
This was very yummy with half sweet potato (not yam) and half regular potato. I also slipped in slices of carrot. We didn’t get the crispiness that the recipe describes, but I think that is because we just used oil, no butter. My daughter is allergic to dairy. I can’t wait till she grows out of this allergy and we can start using the good stuff again :)
Fantastic color on those potatoes. I love how pretty this is. Thanks so much for sharing!
Looks and sounds great! Eager to make it because it now forces me to buy a mandolin which I have been avoiding for a few years now. I have had so many horror stories; I want to make sure I get the right one. Any suggestions?
Oh yeah bacon, chives and feta! Yumm, but these look wonderful too :) Grown up potato chips, love it! Maybe sweet potatoe chip caserrole?
How hard does this blog rock?!
Just spent about an hour scouring your recipes, it all looks so good and can’t wait to try some of them out on the gf.
This sounds like a gorgeous healthy alternative to potato dauphinoise! Definitely on my ‘to try’ list. Thanks for sharing :)
I have this in the oven right now and it looks SENSATIONAL!!! Your prep tips were excellent. Can’t wait for dinner!! Thanks, Deb! Love your site!
I, too, have this in the oven right now and the house smells DELICIOUS. We got a cold front this afternoon, so this is the perfect dish. Can’t wait until it’s done! (Serving them with pork tenderloin and a simple salad. YUM.)
I used red potatoes and kept the skins on – a new family favorite
Yum! All I can say is these were delicious! Easy and sooooo good! I accidently grabbeed lemon thyme and wow! Fantastic!
I made this from Martha’s recipe, but with Yukon Gold potatoes. It was fabulous! Finish with sea salt – everybody loved it.
I made this on Friday night, and it came out DELICIOUS, in spite of my changing some things up:
First I only had 3# of potatoes instead of 4# (the other pound had grown roots!). And three shallots. It seemed in proportion, so I carried on. Turned out to be a good thing I only had reduced quantities, as everything only *just* fit into the only available (clean) baking dish.
Then there was already a chicken in my oven at 450degrees by the time I realized that the casserole was supposed to go in at 375. But once the chicken is in, really there’s no stopping it, so I just stuck the casserole in beside it and hoped for the best. It took right around an hour for the top to crisp up (delicious!) and the bottom to roast all the way through – both the casserole and the chicken came out at the same time, and o/ victory! Also, I put a little shredded sharp cheddar on the top about 5 minutes from the end of baking – om nom nom!
I made this Friday night and served it with a lemon braised lamb shanks. A perfect meal! Thanks for the recipe!
One of my favorite dish in the world. Very easy to cook and very delicious.
I’d been dying to and finally had a chance to make this tonight. I didn’t have shallots or red pepper flakes, so I substituted parsnips and generous sprinklings of black pepper. It was still divine! And it looked so impressive coming out of my oven in the wee oval baking dish… I felt very chef-y. Thanks for a new way of thinking about roasting potatoes!
This is tasty. I only used sweet potato, butter, cinnamon and maple syrup with the proportions you gave. I also used my hand to toss/rub the liquid onto the chips instead of brushing/pouring it.
It takes a long time to make it crispy and cooked through because…well, think of it sort of as a dehydrator. You want the water content to evaporate so the butter can “fry” it in the oven. And middle always cook through last of course, so if you turn down the heat and cook slowly, you won’t burn the edge while the inside cook. My chips are smaller, so actually tried 450F for 8min (burnt edge and uncooked inside), 400 for 20min (slightly burnt edge but cooked inside), and 375 for 35min (best so far).
i tried it yesterday…and it came out very well.awesome recipe……
I made this beautiful dish but was short on gold potatoes, so I added one large sweet potato. I just stole a taste before I packed it up for transport to the in-laws’ house, and the kick of sweet flavor from the sweet potato slices packed in between the regular potatoes is just right. I do think I overdid it with the salt because I was worried that salt on the bottom and top wouldn’t be enough, but it would have been.
Oh my word! Absolutely, amazingly delicious! I made this for dinner tonight, and spent the whole time it was cooking browsing through the rest of your recipes here! My mum and I devoured almost the entire thing (garnished with ungodly amounts of goat cheese), and it was supposed to feed our family of four…. oops! :)
Fabulous! Made this for the mom’s on mother’s day. Turned our perfect. I think next time I will use all different sized potatoes, so I get more height definition. It was beautiful and yummy!
My goodness, this looks stunning. A very high crispy-bit to soft potato ratio. Reminds me of Swedish Hasselback potatoes
WOW! Looks amazing! It also looks like pringles :p
This looks absolutely incredible! Sent to my wife to make really soon!
I’ve never met a potato dish that I’ve not liked, and this is no exception! I love the thought of slicing the potatoes so thinly then baking them so that every piece has less surface area and is thus able to be become crispy easier. Genius! Potatoes are the greatest comfort foods in the world.
Hi!
First time commenter here! :)
I am in love with this picture and hoping to re-create this dish for an after race brunch this sunday. The only problem is that we will be running all mornign instead of in the kitchen. Do you think there’s any way to bake part of it the night before to lessen the wait time when we return home, hungry?
Thanks so much for any advice!
Janine
Made this for the two of us and didn’t want any leftovers because it seems like a dish better eaten hot so I made it with 6 potatoes in a kugelhopf pan – in case anyone wants to try it, don’t hesitate, it worked a treat ^_^
Man that looks so good, that is definitely going on next weeks menu. I love potatoes and anything made with them so I am all over this and I think this would be amazing with sweet potatoes and Yukon’s I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Love you blog, keep up the great work
Tina Marie
OMG that picture is to die for. Can’t even imagine how good it must taste – crispy edges on every thin potato slice! Cannot wait to give this one a go!
I love potato gratin so this definitely caught my eye!
Hi, As soon as I saw the picture I knew I had to make it. Went right out and bought a a $45 mandolin. It was worth it. Everything went as described in the recipe, and the extra fussing about the size of dish was very helpful. Delish – and oh so presentable on the table. I now want to make things that require the use of my new kitchen appliance so bring on the slicing and dicing!
i made this today and it was absolutely delicious. i imagined this recipe as more of an herbed potato sort of thing, so i seasoned it with homemade garlic salt, tarragon, oregano, parsley, and a bit of chili powder. totally delicious!! i also used a regular yellow onion which gave it a stronger flavour. thank you so much for posting another great recipe!! :D
also i chopped my potatoes with the slicer attachment of my food processor and they came out great! maybe a touch thicker than what could have been achieved with a mandolin, but i don’t have one and it was certainly thinner than what i would’ve been able to accomplish since i lack a sharp knife. :)
Hi Deb! I made this last night, as we had friends over, and my husband wanted to barbecue some pork chops. I only used 3 pounds of potatoes, as there was only 4 of us. I omitted the shallots, and seasoned generously indeed. I didn’ t skimp on the baking time – as advised, and it was wonderfully cooked through. My husband loved it, so this is definitely going to be made again. Thank you very much!
that looks like HEAVEN! yum!
I made this dish using ramekins since I don’t have an oven. I only have a toaster oven, but it worked out great! I made enough for myself and my boyfriend. I kept the ramekins covered for most of the time to make sure it cooked before getting crispy. I took the foil off 10-15 minutes before it was done. It took about 45minutes- 1 hour to make it. For the small amount it took a lot of time, but it was delicious!!! My boyfriend is already asking me to make it again! If only there was a cheaper alternative to shallots….I live in Japan and my supermarket has shallots in the special food section i.e.; expensive.
Thank you!!!
For some reason it took me a month and a half to make this! Used sweet potato, yukon golds, and herbs from my garden. Really good with a dollup of Greek yogurt on the side!
Oh, and I halved the recipe and baked it in three mini loaf pans– they’re the perfect width for one row of potato slices. Since my potatoes were smallish and the sweet potato was big, I cut the sweet potato slices in half so they were more or less the same height.
Delicious and creative! For a beautiful presentation, try putting the skewer of chips across the rim of a bowl of soup… I wound up doing this by accident because we happened to be having soup for dinner… but it was very classy looking!
I know this was already suggested, but I made this dish by using my apple peeler/slicer/corer to accordion the potatoes. I can attest the value of the suggestion–I’ve done it twice and it’s so fast and easy. I just use the potato cores separately.
My other variation was to use thin-sliced leeks in place of the shallots. They get creamy soft and just melt into the potato.
This dish actually made an appearance on the table for the first dinner I made (last evening!) for a new gentleman I am completely (ahem) smitten with. I thought it an appropriately filling, tasty, and yet elegant dish. I served it alongside an original recipe of mine for pork tenderloin (stuffed with mushroom duxelle, parsley puree, and feta, wrapped in bacon….), with your ribboned asparagus salad, and then a scallop appetizer. He said it was the best meal anyone had ever made for him. If this one goes somewhere (and I sure hope it does) you’ll have a share of the credit!!! ;)
SK: These are amazing. Not to be a groupie, but I read your blog every week I love how you weave in personal details into your recipes. The photos are pretty crushable too. Thanks for the inspiration- I’m storing this recipe away for thanksgiving this year. It’s me and my hubby’s first time hosting and want to dazzle my skeptical family members (don’t think I haven’t heard the concern in their voices that the ball is in my court this year!). I think these potatos will set them straight! Thank you :)
Delicious and creative. Made this for the mom’s on mother’s day. Turned our perfect. I love to eat all potatoes recipe. potatoes and potatoes is my favorite vegetable. The photos are pretty crushable too.
Can I just say how much I LOVE this dish. I make it all the time. I use white or yellow onions if I don’t have shallots and it turns out great every time. Once I didn’t have onions on hand and just added garlic, still wonderful. My kids (age 3 & 4) also love this dish. Thank you so much for the recipe.
I like to eat potatoes and i like to eat all potato recipe and here this potato recipe is my favorite. It is very testy.
I made this today, minus the thyme! I made a smaller portions (only three potatoes total which ended up fitting perfectly in my dish), and used two tbsp olive oil and one tbsp butter (I wanted to cut the calories). I did season with salt, a good amount of black pepper, and a hint of garlic powder and onion powder. It wasnt crisping, so I put it under the broiler when it was cooked through. Perfection! Making this again this weekend for company!
Hey Deb,
I have been reading your blog since inception. You always have a total stand-up recipe for us to nibble on. This my dear,is thd JACKPOT!!! I’m thinking of starting a blog titled HOLY F K YOUHAVETO MAKE THIS NOW.COM
..JK…keep up the good work and thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me another regular potato to put in the weekly rotation. That’s not easy to do :)
I made this dish for my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary party on Saturday and it came out AWESOME!!! The thyme at the end is the perfect addition, and I love the texture. This dish was gone in no-time, and we even made it again last night because it is so easy (go mandolin!). Thanks again for another yummers recipe!!
http://theclevelanddilemma.blogspot.com/2011/09/recipe-round-up.html
Did a recipe round up on these- they were AMAZING. What a great side to pretty much any meal. I didn’t really believe you about the two hours in the oven until I tried it though… turns out you need every minute.
But seriously, one of the best things I’ve ever made off of your blog, which is really saying something.
Oh my god she reads Hyperbole & a Half too. You’re my new favorite.
How do you think this would work with JUST olive oil? (or another non-dairy preparation)
That photo is intoxicating, so of course I had to try this. I made it with sweet potatoes and beets, seasoned with spicy za’atar and a little agave. Vegans, earth balance works great in this dish. Thanks for the inspiration, Deb!
Also I didn’t have 2 hours to bake (was bringing to a potluck and running way behind schedule), so I steamed the potatoes and beets ’til they were almost halfway cooked. After they were cool enough to handle I sliced them with the mandoline and prepared it according to the procedure. I’d say this saved at least 45 mins!
I’ve made this dish twice now substituting yellow onion for the shallot and it was delicious. I’ve always been afraid of mandolines and bought one specifically for this recipe. (I now have good reason to fear them but this recipe is well worth it!)
I have a question though: The potatoes seem to “rust” before I’m done no matter how much oil and butter I slather on them. After baking they are slightly greyish in the middle. It’s not catastrophic but not exactly the aesthetic I was hoping for. I read a lot of the comments and no one seems to mention this. What can I do to prevent this from happening?
Thanks!
I have made this dish a few times now, and i have to say that the most recent was by far the most successful. I held off on the shallots and instead bought some pesto and spread it on top and bottom of the slices of potatoes. In order to soften up the bottom half of the dish i used about a half inch of cream and it soaked right up into the potatoes. It made for a bit more contrasting texture. Pair this with garlic herb chicken and a veggie!
THANK YOU.
I am stuck in my apartment studying for a neurophysiology and anatomy exam and I MADE THIS. and it is WONDERFUL.
I read this recipe a few days ago, and tomorrow I will make it, but the bake temperature seems too much!! 375ºC? I think my oven maximun temperature are 250ºC!!!
Thank you!!!
I’m SUPER FAN OF SMITTEN KITCHEN!!!
Alicia from Spain!!!
Hi Alicia — Sorry for the confusion. The temperature is in Fahrenheit. I will note that now!
I am fastly becoming a fan of your recipies. <3
This is the second one I've tried (your Szarlotka being the first), and it was super easy, and really delicious.
Really delicious.
I said super easy, right? Lol.
Thank you! (onto the next recipe adventure)
Would it affect the recipe at all if i prepped the casserole the night before? we’ve got visitors coming and this would be great for dinner, but we’ve got a full day planned and wouldn’t have time to prep when we get home (i’ve got your buttermilk chicken planned to marinate while we are away!)
This recipe is a stunner! It is served to rave reviews every time and we just cant get enough. I have taken to using duck fat in place of the oil and …..DAMN!
Smitten Kitchen has become my go to for epicurean treasures, thanks so much for all your work.
I adapted this recipe to suit my picky family, and they loved it! Check it out here: http://dimplesinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2012/05/crispy-roasted-potato-casserole.html
I had the same experience as Amy (above): “The potatoes seem to “rust” before I’m done no matter how much oil and butter I slather on them. After baking they are slightly greyish in the middle.”
Tastes great just not as pretty as I’d hoped.
Should I be slicing them into. Bowl of water first? Or will that make them soggy?
Help! I love this dish and would really like to know what I’m doing wrong :(
This dish is awesome!!! But, only the top edges came out crispy – the middles were a bit soggy. What did I do wrong?? It still tasted like dynamite, though.
This is my favorite potato dish! I made it tonight with white and purple potatoes from my CSA and it’s gorgeous. Also, I just realized that you posted it on my wedding day!
A dish to truly impress others with your cooking skills! Comes out beautiful and delicious. If using a knife be sure it’s sharp. Thanks for the recipe.
Just made this dish for Christmas dinner. I was sure to season with lots of sea salt and black pepper (not red). Due to oven needs, I cooked the dish for an hour, took it out while I roasted some brussels sprouts, then finished it off before dinner. So delicious!!!! It was a hit. Thanks again SK!!
Unbelievably yummy! Have made this three times in the last month. Super easy with a mandolin! Made once with russets and twice with sweet and purple potatoes. So delicious seasoned as per recipe! Thank you Deb!
Has anyone made this dish in advance and then re-heated it? I want to make it for a dinner at someone’s house but not take over their oven for 2hrs. Help?
Aleta — I did. I’d cover it with foil when you reheat it (or most of the way) so it doesn’t get too charred at the edges.
Made this with my mixer slicer and shredder attachment, took less than 2 minutes. I also used Yukon golds with small diameters and could fit it into an aluminum pie pan in a circular pattern. Topped it with parmesan and bacon crumbles and reheated it at a party. Everyone loved it, thanks deb! (I brought individual pavlovas for dessert another thanks for that as well)
**yoink** – Think I’ll be stealing this to have a try later, and by the looks of it I’m sure I will be back for more! Thank you :)
I’ve always wanted to make this and am planning to serve for Christmas dinner this year. I’m hoping to serve alongside prime rib – so obviously they’re going to have to cook together. I’m planning on the beef for 2.5 hours at 275 – any reco on a revised cooking time for this at a lower temp? Thanks so much deb you’re my favorite and happy holidays!
Made this for Xmas eve, as mom hijacked my mashed potato recipe for dinner tomorrow. This is amazing, so delicious – it finished early so I had to sample it. Can’t wait to dig in properly when the (meat) roast is finished!
Hello there, u recently discovered your great website :-) thank you for the great recipes !!! My little suggestion, is if you can bold the recipe so it is easier to find, because when i try to find what ingredients will i need, i have to scan through the writting, which is fine cuz you write interesting stuff, but its hard to notice. Again thanks for the wonderful recipes:-) :-)
This was easy and as beautiful as the picture. I added feta near the end and it was wonderful!
I made this following a suggestion of another poster, putting sliced onions in the center of the dish to cook with the potatoes, and giving the onions a stir every half hour or so. Other than that I kept to the recipe.
Pure. Potato. Heaven.
This is very much a keeper! The leftovers froze well, but crispiness was lost in doing so. Reheating them on a toaster oven sheet brought them to most of their old delicious crispiness, however, and even cold they were irresistible. The caramelized onions complimented the buttery herbal goodness of the potatoes perfectly!
Trying this dish again soon but going to top it with apple smoked bacon and crumbled feta following your suggestion. I love your recipes, Deb!
I didn’t read through all the comments from the last 3 years, but would Yukon Gold potatoes work with this recipe?
Amy — I haven’t tried it with Yukons. Russets are more floury and probably get the most crisp here. But it doesn’t mean it won’t work with Yukons. Frankly, they’re my favorite anyway.
God Bless you Deb Perelman! I made a test run for myself last night prior to making for my neighborhood Holiday party tonight. I used Russets and one sweet potato to add color. At the final 30 minute mark, I sprinkled on rosemary, crisped pancetta (and the drippings if I’m being honest) and goat cheese. It was amazing!!! I savored each half crisped, half creamy potato slice and ate with my fingers ;) You’re the best!
okay what am i doing wrong? i mean they were delicious and all that, but like a couple others mentioned above, they went kind of grey. the only time i strayed from the recipe was when i forgot to peel the potatoes, ooops. could that be the issue?
erin — I suppose that could be it, or it could have just been that the potatoes discolored, as they can, before they baked enough. Maybe I just made mine quickly enough that it didn’t happen?
yeah I think that was it actually. It did take me a while to figure out what dish I was gonna put them all in once sliced so that’s probably what did them in. Hopefully I was clever and made a note on my recipe.
I made this recently and used a cast iron skillet. Came out perfect! Would like to know if they would turn out okay if I cooked them the night before and then reheat? Would like to be able to prepare in advance. Thanks!
Dorothy — I haven’t reheated these, but I don’t see why you couldn’t. I’d probably reheat or bake at least partially with foil on so it doesn’t get too hard/dry on top.
Yum, I love the look of this dish… a nice alternative to mashed potatoes.
2 questions:
(1) Can you please tell me how many servings this casserole makes?
(2) Have you ever alternated the white potato slices with carrots, turnips, parsnips or other root veggies? I bet it makes for a great looking (and tasting) side dish!
Deborah — It should serve about 8. I haven’t used other vegetables in it (aside from a Sweet Potato variation, over here) but the comments are filled with people who have, mostly successfully.
If i have to choose only one food i can eat for the rest of my life that would be potatoes. You can make it so many different ways, you can never get bored of it. My ultimate fav is the roasted potato. I will try this next time. Thanks for sharing.
Just made this as a combo recipe with the New York Times recipe for hassle back potatoes. Totally destroys any hope of it being a healthy side dish…. However! It eclipsed any plain Jane taste to over the top magnificence.
So, basically, this is now sweet potatoes au gratin, but with the vertical stacked, crispy edged beauty of your dish. New York Times recipe did not have any onion, so, as I had already sliced the shallots, I stuffed them in between slices, as you do.
Basically, this is your recipe with the addition of a cheesy, creamy sauce, in which you toss the potatoe slices pre- stacking step. All I can say is , to hell with the turkey:)
Do you think this dish could be made in advance, cooled slowly and then reheated in the oven?
Absolutely, although I’m not sure it has to be cooled slowly.
I want to make this for a dinner party- u said it can be made in advance, cooled then reheat– how long/ temp do you think?
Thanks!!
Hard to say exactly but most things heat well covered with foil (maybe uncovered for the last few minutes) at 325/350 for 20 to 30 minutes.
I made this for a Chanukkah party last night. So little work for so much praise. This will be a keeper in my recipe box.
Yummy
Thank you for this recipe! I was torn between this recipe and your newest Potatoes Anna teaser recipe from your new cookbook, but ended up making this one for the aesthetics of it and because my rental broiler is pathetic and I didn’t hold high hopes for browning. I did sprinkle the Parmigiano-Reggiano from your Potatoes Anna recipe on top of this before baking. For anyone else considering making this, don’t skip the shallots! They are such a lovely flavor addition. Baked in an oval pan at 325 for 2plus hours because I was anyway making your Braised Beef Short Ribs. Since I had the time, the lower temperature for longer was really lovely. Creamy centers, lovely browned potato chip crispy edges, and a great rounded flavor from the shallots and thyme. Added extra cheese about 10 minutes before pulling it out and cranked up the temperature to 400. Loved the flavor and texture and the presentation is incredible! I felt like Julia Child setting it on the table. :)
Looks very appealing, will try for New Year’s :-)
I have a worry that the slices won’t spread from each other as nicely as yours, the starch gluing them together here and there. How to best mitigate?
Rinse slices lightly in water before oiling and distrusting them?
Adding something to the mixture, like a bit of cream and/or grated parmesan?
Other ideas to make as many chips as possible truly crunchy?
No need to rinse; your potatoes aren’t likely to lock together with stuff between them but you can always give each slice a little turn to encourage petal-ing. Cream and parmesan would probably be delicious, more gratin-like. Keep the cream level low so the tops stay crispy.
Thanks for swift reply, sounds reassuring. I’ll go gentle with grated parmesan :)
Suspect but don’t know that the protracted baking time may be due to the multiple thin slices acting as insulation and preventing heat conduction. Like using multiple layers to keep out the cold?
Can this made in advanced and then baked later or will it get too watery? Trying to make it for Christmas Eve dinner but would love to assmble so I can just put in the oven after we come home from Church. Thanks!
I wish there was a way I could save individual recipes within your blog, that way I could go back to the ones I really want to make, when I’m looking for something to make but can’t remember! It would be similar to the “Add to Favourites” in Ravelry, or the orange tag in Mason-Dixon Knitting…..
Anyway…I love your blog, love the recipes and the photos…thanks.
Delicious! Thank you for this. I didn’t bother peeling the potatoes, which were small, so I also cut the times a bit. Used rosemary instead of thyme because that’s what I had. It came out fabulous, crispy/crunchy on the edges and soft and rich everywhere else.
I made this tonight again, and this time I chose the dish I wanted to use, laid the butter/oil mixture in it, sliced some onion thinly, then started with one potato at a time and placed it in the dish, 5-10 slices then onion, 5-10 slices then onion until it was gone, then sliced the next potato and so on. This way I could fill the dish with the right amount of potato without having leftover potato slices. It came out great, as before!
These are a variation of Hassleback Potatoes
Super easy! We really liked it and it looks impressive. Thanks for another great recipe.
I tested a half recipe today. The funny thing my slices started to oxidize as I attempted to fit them into an adequate vessel. As Db said, that’s the hardest part of this delicious recipe. It probably is easier to do the full recipe since Deb gives vessel sizes that will be close to what works.
If using a mandoline what thickness setting is optimal?
Do you think this could be done in an enamel braising dish? Or would it retain too much heat and burn?