Maple Scalloped Candy Potatoes

Maple scalloped candy potatoes are a type of aspect dishes that turns heads when it hits the desk. Seems connoisseur, 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 fully irresistible.

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

Why My Recipe

• Candy and creamy and flavorful because of actual maple syrup, cinnamon, and cream.
• Seems 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 preserving 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 simple to prep forward of time, and the leftovers (when you’ve got any) are simply pretty much as good the subsequent day. It’s a type of sides that makes you need to return for seconds, and perhaps 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: For those who’re utilizing unsalted butter, simply add an additional pinch of salt to the sauce.
• All-Function Flour: Helps thicken the sauce.
• Heavy Cream: You need to use half-and-half in a pinch, however the sauce will probably be thinner.
• Entire 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 way 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 all the pieces brown and bubble up fantastically.
• Chopped Pecans (elective): Provides a bit crunch and a toasty, nutty taste.
• Recent Thyme Leaves (elective): These are principally for garnish, however they add a pop of shade and a bit earthy taste that goes rather well with the maple.

Slicing Candy Potatoes

It’s necessary 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 device for this. It’s quick, simple to make use of, and offers you tremendous constant outcomes.

A sharp knife works nice too. It takes a bit extra time, however so long as you slice rigorously and goal 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 be just right for you and is particularly useful should you’re making a giant batch.

In case your field cheese grater has a slicer aspect, 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’ve got.

Variations and Add-ins

There’s nonetheless room to make this recipe your personal. Nothing difficult, however choices to modify 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 you could need to loosely tent with foil close to the top of baking.

Baking Dish Dimension Choices

This recipe is written for the standard 9×13-inch baking dish, but it surely’s simple to adapt for any pan. On the subject of casserole dishes (not rectangular), you’ll want a 3-quart dish. Simply examine 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 could cook dinner a bit quicker.

Pecans and Thyme Optionally available

The chopped pecans and contemporary thyme on prime are fully elective, however they do up the flowery issue. The pecans give a bit crunch and a nutty distinction to the creamy potatoes, whereas the thyme provides the herby taste that balances the sweetness.

For those who’re serving this for a extra informal meal, be happy to depart them off. However should you’re making this for a vacation or need to fancy it up a bit, these remaining touches make it really feel a bit extra connoisseur.

Why Dot With Butter

Dotting the highest with butter would possibly seem to be a small step, but it surely performs an necessary position in how the dish bakes. Because the butter melts, it helps stop 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 further taste.

Make Forward Directions

It is a implausible dish to make forward, particularly throughout 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.

Whenever 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 residence 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 acquired a meal that’s able to impress.