Scalloped Potatoes With Caramelized Fennel

Serves: 2

Catharine Rutherford

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

48

Spice

52

Sweetness

56

Sourness

41

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.8

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1.5 cups

Heavy Cream

1.5 cups

Whole Milk

Directions:

1

Preheat oven to 350°F

2

Coat a 13x9x2" or other 3-quart baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter; set aside

3

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon butter and oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat

4

Add fennel; season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is evenly coated with fat and begins to sizzle, about 2 minutes

5

Add wine and 1 bay leaf

6

Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is tender, about 20 minutes

7

Uncover, increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring often, until liquid has evaporated and fennel is golden brown and caramelized, about 10 minutes

8

Add 1-2 tablespoons water to deglaze pan, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan for added flavor

9

Discard bay leaf

10

Set fennel aside

11

Bring remaining bay leaf, potatoes, cream, milk, and garlic to a simmer in a large wide pot (watch carefully; do not let mixture boil over)

12

Season with salt and pepper and cover with lid slightly ajar; simmer gently until potatoes are just tender and liquid has thickened, about 10 minutes

13

Discard bay leaf and garlic

14

Using a slotted spoon, transfer 1/3 of potatoes to prepared dish, spreading in an even layer

15

Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with 1/3 cup Comté

16

Cover with half of fennel

17

Repeat process, finishing with remaining 1/3 cup Comté

18

Pour cream mixture over

19

Cover gratin tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes

20

Remove foil and bake gratin until top is bubbling and golden, about 30 minutes longer

21

DO AHEAD: Gratin can be made 1 day ahead

22

Let cool; cover and chill

23

Rewarm, covered, in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes, then uncover and cook until bubbling around edges and warmed through in the center, about 20 minutes longer

24

Preheat oven to 350°F

25

Coat a 13x9x2" or other 3-quart baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter; set aside

26

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon butter and oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat

27

Add fennel; season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is evenly coated with fat and begins to sizzle, about 2 minutes

28

Add wine and 1 bay leaf

29

Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is tender, about 20 minutes

30

Uncover, increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring often, until liquid has evaporated and fennel is golden brown and caramelized, about 10 minutes

31

Add 1-2 tablespoons water to deglaze pan, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan for added flavor

32

Discard bay leaf

33

Set fennel aside

34

Bring remaining bay leaf, potatoes, cream, milk, and garlic to a simmer in a large wide pot (watch carefully; do not let mixture boil over)

35

Season with salt and pepper and cover with lid slightly ajar; simmer gently until potatoes are just tender and liquid has thickened, about 10 minutes

36

Discard bay leaf and garlic

37

Using a slotted spoon, transfer 1/3 of potatoes to prepared dish, spreading in an even layer

38

Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with 1/3 cup Comté

39

Cover with half of fennel

40

Repeat process, finishing with remaining 1/3 cup Comté

41

Pour cream mixture over

42

Cover gratin tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes

43

Remove foil and bake gratin until top is bubbling and golden, about 30 minutes longer

44

DO AHEAD: Gratin can be made 1 day ahead

45

Let cool; cover and chill

46

Rewarm, covered, in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes, then uncover and cook until bubbling around edges and warmed through in the center, about 20 minutes longer