Chef John's Truffled Potato Gratin

I used a mix of brown and lobster mushrooms, which worked very nicely, but this recipe will be spectacular with any mushroom. If you can find some wild mushrooms like morel, chanterelle, porcini, or lobster, use them. But if you can't, use regular supermarket mushrooms and you will still be rewarded with a very memorable potato side dish.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 641 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons butter, softened
• 1 cup chicken stock
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 clove garlic, minced (Optional)
• 1 ⅓ tablespoons butter
• 5 cups sliced mushrooms
• 5 russet potatoes, peeled and very thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme, divided
• 6 ounces sottocenere (Italian semi-soft truffle cheese), shredded

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Melt 1 1/3 tablespoon butter with olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat; cook mushrooms in the hot butter-oil mixture, stirring often, until browned on the edges, 15 to 20 minutes.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Combine 2 teaspoons softened butter with garlic in a small bowl; butter a 9x13-inch baking dish with garlic butter.

Step 3

Spread 1/3 the potatoes into the bottom of the prepared baking dish in a layer; season with salt, black pepper, 1/2 the thyme leaves, and 1/2 the cooked mushrooms. Sprinkle almost half the sottocenere cheese over potatoes, reserving about 3 tablespoons for the top. Layer next 1/3 the potatoes over cheese, season with salt and black pepper, remaining 1/2 thyme leaves, 1/2 the remaining cheese, remaining mushrooms, and last layer of potatoes. Season potatoes with more salt and black pepper. Pour chicken stock and cream over the top. Sprinkle with more salt and black pepper and reserved 3 tablespoons of sottocenere cheese. Cover dish loosely with aluminum foil; tent the foil a little so it doesn't touch the potatoes.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are bubbly, about 45 minutes. Remove foil and cook until top is browned, about 15 more minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.