If you’re looking for the perfect potato side dish, this Easy Cheesy Potato Bake recipe has you covered. Creamy scalloped potatoes laced with bacon, thyme and cheese all baked in a comforting sauce.
For best results, always weigh ingredients where a weight is provided
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F / 160C fan forced.
Peel the potatoes and use a sharp knife to slice them very thinly (no more than 3-4mm thick). Place them in a large saucepan of water, and bring to the boil. Boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat and drain. Set aside.
Combine the cream and milk in a small jug and set aside.
Add the oil and bacon to the same pan and saute until just starting to brown.
Add the onions and garlic and saute for a minute to soften a little before adding the butter.
Once the butter has melted add the flour. Stir well and cook for 30 seconds.
Slowly drizzle in the stock while continuing to stir until the flour is totally dissolved into it.
Turn the heat down to low-medium, slowly add the cream and milk while whisking. Immediately add the thyme, salt and pepper. Keep stirring until it starts to thicken and bubble a little.
Place about ⅓ cup of sauce in the base of a casserole dish and spread around.
Now add layers, ⅓ of each in this order: potatoes, sauce, cheese (so you finish with cheese)
Bake for 45-50 minutes until bubbling and just starting to turn golden on top.
If you want it a little browner on top, place it under an overhead grill / broiler for 2-3 minutes. No longer as the heat may cause the sauce to curdle
Notes
I use a standard Australian 20ml tablespoon (= 4 teaspoons worldwide)
Desiree, russet or yukon gold potatoes are best
You can use 1 small leek in place of the spring onions if you prefer.
What if the sauce curdles? This can happen if the oven temperature was too high or it baked too long. It is still edible and tastes great but just doesn't look as pretty.
Have you tried this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and comment below and let me know how it was! I love hearing from you. Nutrition information is approximate and derived from an online calculator. The brands you use may cause variations.