A perfect embodiment of fall flavors, this dish combines earthy potatoes and sweet pumpkin with rich cream and fragrant herbs to create a comforting celebration of the season’s bounty. Topped with a crust of nicely browned Swiss cheese, this is comfort food at its finest. Pumpkin potato gratin is an ideal side dish for any occasion, whether it’s a holiday feast or simply a cozy Sunday dinner.
Gratin potatoes are originally a French dish consisting of thinly sliced potatoes baked with cream and topped with a crust of cheese and/or breadcrumbs and butter. It is a rich, comforting dish made even more special here with the addition of delicate pumpkin slices and aromatic thyme, rosemary, and garlic. These flavors take what can be something of a one-note dish and transform it into a complex and deeply comforting culinary delight.
his dish is rooted in fall’s abundance and makes use of seasonal ingredients to create something that won’t just warm the chill in your bones, but might make you grateful for the start of the cozy season.
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
In a small bowl, mix the cream, garlic, herbs, and salt. Set this aside for now.
Peel the potatoes and slice into ⅛-inch rounds.
Peel the pumpkin and slice into ⅛-inch-thick pieces of roughly the same size as the potatoes.
Make a layer of potatoes on the bottom of a 9-inch square baking dish and top with a few spoonfuls of the cream mixture.
Next, add a layer of pumpkin slices, followed again by cream.
Repeat, alternating layers of pumpkin and potato, until the baking dish is full.
Top with any remaining cream mixture, followed by the Swiss cheese.
Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for another 20–30 minutes, until the cheese is nicely browned.
Cool for 10–15 minutes before serving.
