Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe (2024)

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The best vegan potatoes au gratin recipe with leeks, thyme, cashewcream and nutritional yeast. Easy to make, healthy and beyonddelicious!

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I’ve gotten many requests to veganize myclassic scalloped potatoes au gratin recipe and i challenged myself to make it WFPB compliant without using any oil. Mission accomplished friends!

But if you want to indulge a bit during the holidays you can top them with your favorite plant based cheese, i won’t judge! I’m a fan of provolone, pepper jack and smoked gouda from Follow Your Heart butwhatever rocks your tastebuds is fine! This walnut parmesan is a great choice too!

You are going to need a mandoline slicer to slice up the potatoes as thinly as possible.Preferably you’d be able to read the morning paperthrough those slices but don’t stress over it. Do your best to get them as thin as you can and if need be just increase the cooking time by 15 to 20 minutes or so.

I did a quick soak of the cashews that I then blended into a cheesy cream sauce with nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic and water. This is all you need toachieve that cheesy classic flavor and texture au gratinpotatoes have.

Let’s talk about the leeks!

Most definitely a favorite staple in myrefrigerator, leeks pack so much wonderful flavor I just can’t do without them.Basically a sweeter version of onions but with way more depth.

They are a great source of lutein and zeaxanthin twoimportant carotenoids for eye heath, on top ofbeing rich in fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamins A and K. You can use the entire leek including the mineral-dense little roots / filaments, just make sure to rinseeverything well as they are known to be full of grit and dirt.

Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin Bake Everyone will Love:

So Simple

Only 7 Ingredients

Comforting

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

No Oil

Easy to Make.

Watch How To Make Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin:

Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe (8)

5 from 3 votes

Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin with Leeks

The best vegan potatoes au gratin with leeks, thyme, cashew cream and nutritional yeast. Easy to make, healthy and beyond delicious!

Print Recipe

Prep Time:15 minutes mins

Cook Time:45 minutes mins

Total Time:1 hour hr

Ingredients

  • 1 lb golden potatoes (scrubbed and rinsed well)
  • 1 large leek (or 2 medium)
  • 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes to taste
  • 1/4 cup fresh chives or dill -chopped
  • 3-5 oz vegan cheese (OPTIONAL)
  • sea salt + black pepper to taste

Cashew Cream:

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350”F.

Make the Cashew Cream:

  • In a small bowl soak the cashew in hot water for 20 minutes. Drain and rinse then add them to a powerful blender together with 1.25 cups of water, the lemon juice, garlic powder and nutritional yeast. Puree until smooth and creamy. Season to to taste with a pinch of sea salt and refrigerate until needed.

Make the Scalloped Potatoes:

  • Slice the leeks lengthwise then chop them up. Add them to a bowl with cold water. Stir to rinse well and allow them to stay in the water for a few minutes. All the grit and dirt will fall to the bottom of the bowl.Use your hands to scoop out the leeks from the water and drain them on a kitchen towel.

  • Preheat a large skillet on medium low flame. Add a splash of water and the leeks with a pinch of sea salt. Saute until wilted and they start to get some color adding more water if needed as not to burn them, about 10 to 15 minutes Adjust seasonings to taste with more sea salt and black pepper. Set aside.

  • Meanwhile use a mandoline to thinly slice the potatoes. Rinse well in some cold water and dry on a tea towel. Sprinkle all over the top with a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper.

  • Lightly oil a large gratin dish including the sides. (You can use 2 small gratin dishes if you wish)

  • Layer the thinly slice potatoes on the bottom of the gratin dish overlapping each other. Spoon the sauteed leeks and spread them on top of the potato slices. Sprinkle with the fresh thyme.

  • Pour the cashew cream over the leeks and give the dish a little shake. Sprinkle with the fresh chives or dill and a pinch of red pepper flakes.

  • At this point you can top with your favorite vegan cheese, loosely cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and cook another 10 minutes or so until the cheese has melted. To brown the top you can transfer the gratin under the broiler flames for a few minutes until golden to your liking, just make sure that you are using a broiler proof dish.

  • Remove the potatoes from the oven and allow them to set for a few minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

  • You can omit oiling the baking dish and line it with parchment paper instead.
  • If your potatoesaren’t sliced paper thin make sure to adjust the cooking time and bake an additional 20 to 25 minutes or so until the potatoes havecompletely softened and cooked through.

Nutrition

Calories: 349kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 836mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 645IU | Vitamin C: 29.8mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 7.5mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: French

Keyword: plant based, Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin, vegan,

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 349kcal

Author: Florentina

Potato Recipes:

Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between scalloped and gratin potatoes? ›

What is the difference between au gratin potatoes and scalloped potatoes? Au Gratin potatoes contain cheese, whereas Scalloped Potatoes do not. Scalloped potatoes typically contain cream but can also contain flavorful stock instead of dairy.

Why are my au gratin potatoes watery? ›

If you used a pre-prepped potato from the refrigerator section instead of slicing your own, they can have preservatives that make them a bit watery. If you stored your potatoes in water to prevent discoloring, be sure to drain them well and pat them dry before adding to your casserole.

What makes a gratin a gratin? ›

What Does “Au Gratin” Mean? A “gratin” is any dish that is topped with cheese or breadcrumbs mixed with butter, then heated in the oven or under the broiler until brown and crispy, according to The Food Lover's Companion. The term au gratin or gratinée just refers to anything prepared in that manner.

Why are my au gratin potatoes hard? ›

Potatoes or rice can remain rock-hard after prolonged cooking. Starch will not swell if it is acidic. If you have a lot of sour cream in your scalloped potatoes or add something acidic, your potatoes may not soften. You can cook the potatoes with heavy cream or milk and then, after they soften, stir in sour cream.

Why are scalloped potatoes called funeral potatoes? ›

Why are they called funeral potatoes? Funeral potatoes get their unique name from being a crowd-pleasing casserole served as a side dish at after-funeral luncheons (particularly in the culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).

What pan is best for au gratin potatoes? ›

I love cooking these potatoes in a cast-iron skillet because it gives the potatoes a nice crispy edge and it makes the perfect amount of potatoes.

What is the one trick Michael Symon uses to make perfect scalloped potatoes? ›

Surprisingly, aluminum foil is his secret weapon. After beautifully shingling the potatoes (he's got a genius trick for doing this quickly, too) he covers the dish in foil before hitting the oven.

Can I slice potatoes ahead of time for gratin? ›

If you're here, you'll probably be glad to know that yes, you can peel and cut potatoes the day before you plan to serve them — and that it's super easy! All you have to do is submerge the bare potato pieces in water and refrigerate (more on that later).

How do you thicken au gratin potatoes? ›

To thicken scalloped potatoes, keep cooking the sauce a minute or so longer than directed before adding the cheese. This will create a rich, extra-thick sauce. You can also use whole or 2% milk in place of the fat-free milk.

What is a substitute for cream in gratin? ›

Fortunately, you can still make a delicious gratin dauphinoise without cream. Substitute fat-free or non-dairy milk, a small amount of light butter, and plenty of herbs and spices so you wind up with a tasty dish that you don't have to feel guilty about eating.

What to eat with potatoes au gratin? ›

Au Gratin potatoes are rich. Serve them with leaner proteins such as beef tenderloin, grilled or roasted chicken, and pan-seared fish. Another excellent pairing for Au Gratin potatoes is a fresh salad with herbs and a tart vinaigrette. Au Gratin potatoes make a great casserole and are a great entrée themselves.

What does au gratin mean in French? ›

The phrase au gratin literally means "by grating" in French, or "with a crust," from the verb gratter, "to scrape, scratch, or grate."

Which is cheesier scalloped or au gratin? ›

The difference comes down to cheese. Scalloped potato recipes are usually baked in a basic cream sauce until soft and tender, with no cheese topping. Potatoes au gratin are a bit more decadent. They are made with lots of cheese sprinkled in between the layers of potatoes and also on top of the casserole.

What is the real name for scalloped potatoes? ›

Potatoes gratiné

In the US, the dish is referred to variously as funeral potatoes, potatoes au gratin, scalloped potatoes, or au gratin potatoes. In English Canada, it is called scalloped potatoes or potatoes au gratin. In French-speaking Canada, the dish is referred to as patates au gratin.

What does gratin literally mean? ›

The phrase au gratin literally means "by grating" in French, or "with a crust," from the verb gratter, "to scrape, scratch, or grate." Definitions of au gratin. adjective. cooked while covered with browned breadcrumbs (and sometimes cheese)

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