Description
A creamy, cheesy leek and potato bake with fresh herbs and a hint of white wine, layered with tender potatoes and leeks for a comforting vegetarian dish.
Ingredients
- 500g (1 pound) waxy salad potatoes
- 3 large leeks, trimmed
- A small bunch of fresh dill
- A few sprigs of fresh mint
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter plus extra for greasing the dish
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 6 tbsp crème fraiche
- 200g (7 oz) grated hard cheese such as Cheddar, Comte, or Gruyere
- 100ml (1/3 cup) dry white wine
- 30g (2 tbsp) grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Boil potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain and cool slightly.
- Slice leeks into 2cm discs. Finely chop dill and mint.
- Melt 1 tbsp butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Add leeks and cook 5 minutes until softened and lightly browned. Stir in garlic, dill, mint, salt, and pepper.
- Slice cooled potatoes into medium-thick slices.
- Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Butter a large gratin dish.
- Layer potatoes in dish, season with salt and pepper, spread 2 tbsp crème fraiche, and sprinkle a quarter of the hard cheese. Add half of the cooked leeks. Repeat layering. Top with remaining potatoes and cheese.
- Pour white wine evenly over the dish and sprinkle half the Parmesan. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden and bubbling. Let rest 5 minutes, then sprinkle remaining Parmesan.
Notes
- Add mushrooms: sauté 150g mushrooms with leeks.
- Vegan version: use plant-based crème fraiche and vegan cheese.
- Herb swap: replace dill and mint with thyme or parsley.
- Spicy touch: add smoked paprika or chili flakes to leeks.
- Single-layer bake: mix all ingredients in one layer for faster assembly.
- Store leftovers in airtight container in fridge up to 3 days.
- Freeze fully baked dish up to 2 months.
- Reheat in 180°C (350°F) oven 15–20 minutes; microwaving is possible but may reduce top crispiness.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
