Sure, let’s dive into making some delectable Swiss Scalloped Potatoes! 🥔🧀 This recipe is perfect for a cozy dinner or a special occasion, bringing together creamy Swiss cheese, tender potatoes, and aromatic seasonings. With a total time of 2 hours, including 30 minutes of prep and 1 hour and 30 minutes of cooking, you’ll have plenty of time to whip up this delightful dish.
To start, preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). This will ensure that your oven is nice and hot when it’s time to bake these cheesy potatoes to perfection.
Next, let’s prepare the creamy cheese sauce that will elevate these scalloped potatoes to the next level of deliciousness. In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted and bubbling, sprinkle in 2 teaspoons of garlic powder and 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour. Stir constantly, cooking until the mixture is very bubbly, which should take about 2 minutes.
Now, it’s time to add richness and creaminess to our sauce. Gradually pour in 2 1/2 cups of half-and-half cream, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens and becomes smooth. This should take a few minutes, and you’ll want to keep stirring to prevent any lumps from forming.
Once the sauce is smooth and thickened, it’s time to add the star ingredient: Swiss cheese! Stir in 8 ounces of shredded Swiss cheese until it’s fully melted and incorporated into the sauce. The cheese will add a deliciously nutty flavor and creamy texture to the sauce that will perfectly complement the potatoes.
Once the cheese sauce is ready, set it aside and let’s move on to preparing the potatoes. First, pour some lemon juice into a large bowl of cold water. This acidulated water will prevent the potatoes from oxidizing and turning brown as you peel and slice them.
Now, peel and thinly slice 8 white potatoes, immersing the slices in the lemon water as you go to keep them fresh and bright. Once all the potatoes are sliced, drain them and pat them dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
Grease an 8-cup baking dish with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking. Then, start layering the potatoes in the baking dish. Arrange one third of the potato slices in an overlapping pattern on the bottom of the dish. Top them with one third of chopped green onions for a burst of freshness.
Season the potato layer generously with salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of nutmeg to add warmth and depth of flavor. Then, pour one third of the creamy cheese sauce over the potatoes, ensuring that they are evenly covered.
Repeat these layers two more times, finishing with a final layer of cheese sauce on top. This will create a beautiful, golden-brown crust as the potatoes bake in the oven.
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. This will allow the potatoes to cook through and absorb all the delicious flavors of the cheese sauce.
After 1 hour, remove the foil and continue baking the potatoes for an additional 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbling, and the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
Once the Swiss Scalloped Potatoes are done baking, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Then, dig in and enjoy the creamy, cheesy goodness of this irresistible dish!
Whether you’re serving these potatoes as a side dish for a holiday feast or as a comforting weeknight dinner, they’re sure to be a hit with everyone at the table. So grab your apron and get ready to impress with these mouthwatering Swiss Scalloped Potatoes! 🍽️😋
