Chef John's Potato Roses

Baked rose-shaped potato gratins would be great for entertaining, since you can make them ahead, and keep them warm in the pan, or cool and reheat in the oven when you are ready to serve. The technique is straightforward, but make sure you season the potatoes generously.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 157 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
• ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ¾ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, no wider than a muffin tin cup
• ⅓ cup melted butter, or as needed, divided

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Generously grease a 12-cup muffin tin with melted butter, reserving the rest for the potatoes.

Step 2

Slice potatoes to about 1/16 to 1/8 inch thickness using a mandoline or vegetable slicer. Discard end pieces that are mostly skin. Place slices in a bowl and add rosemary, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Drizzle in the remaining melted butter. Toss with your hands to evenly distribute, about 2 to 3 minutes, trying to separate all the potato slices. Grate about a quarter of the cheese over the potatoes. Toss. Add more cheese; toss again. Continue until all cheese is incorporated.

Step 3

Stack potato slices in uneven layers (to resemble flower petals) in prepared muffin tin, ending with some of the smaller pieces.

Step 4

Bake in preheated oven until potatoes are tender, 45 to 60 minutes, testing with a metal skewer for doneness. Potatoes should be very soft. If potatoes look too brown but aren't yet cooked through, cover pan with foil for the final minutes of baking.

Step 5

Loosen edges of potato roses with a fork and lift out of pan to serving dish.