Au gratin potatoes with spinach and gruyere

Behold, my au gratin potatoes and spinach with Gruyere. It tastes even better than it looks, I promise. It was an improvisation; I had intended to serve Trader Joe’s Harvest Grains blend with steamed tilapia and artichokes for dinner, but LL texted on my way into the store asking for steak fries or hash browns instead. I wasn’t feeling it. But he loves potatoes au gratin. So instead, I bought a bag of Yukon gold potatoes, a bag of frozen spinach, and an 8-oz hunk of Gruyere cheese.

Back home, I buttered the vintage Blue Cornflower Corningware baking dish my mom gave me ages ago, so old it’s practically new again, and heated the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. My Kitchen Aid’s slicer/grater attachment made short work of the prep . . . I can’t believe I spent all these years slicing and grating by hand.

It was simple to assemble. I layered frozen spinach, sliced potato, and shredded Gruyere, poured about 1/2 cup of milk around the edges, and finished with grated Parmesan cheese. I baked it covered for 30 minutes, uncovered it, then let it brown for 10 minutes more. There was enough spinach to really get the flavor and make the dish feel morel like a meal. It was rich, so our portions were small and there were leftovers.

I made a second meal out of the already-cooked leftovers by spooning servings into mini spring form pans, and this time I made it non-vegetarian by placing a slice of ham steak on the bottom and cracked two eggs over the top. I baked it uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. The yolks were runny, the ham was salty, and the potatoes were divine. One spring form pan prepared like this serves 2.

Au gratin potatoes with spinach and gruyere

Life in a Skillet

Waxy Yukon gold potatoes hold their shape and make a delicious, rich meal layered with spinach and nutty gruyere cheese.

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Course entree

Ingredients

  

• 2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes sliced
• 1 10- oz bag frozen spinach
• 8 oz gruyere cheese shredded
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tbsp parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp butter

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Butter a 10-inch baking dish.
• Layer half the spinach, half the potatoes, and half the cheese in the baking dish.
• Repeat process with the other half.
• Slowly pour 1/2 cup milk around the edges of the dish.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Cover and bake for 25 - 35 minutes.
• Uncover and brown for an additional 10 minutes.