Ingredients for Potato Gratin (Patates Graten)
- 4 medium potatoes
- 1/2 dessert spoon (about 1 tsp) salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 water glass (about 200 ml / 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp) milk
- 1 package (200 ml) heavy cream
- 1 dessert spoon (about 2 tsp) oregano
- 100 g (about 3.5 oz) grated kaşar cheese (Turkish semi-hard cheese, similar to mild cheddar)
How to Make Potato Gratin (Patates Graten)
Peel and wash 4 medium potatoes, slice them into thin round rings, and place them in a glass baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 dessert spoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of black pepper and toss to combine.
In a bowl, mix 1 water glass of milk, 1 package of heavy cream, and 1 dessert spoon of oregano, then pour the mixture over the potatoes. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (400°F) for 40 minutes, then sprinkle 100 g of grated kaşar cheese on top and bake again until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Enjoy!
About This Recipe
The potato has been cultivated for 8,000 years, with its origins in South America. In the Andean region of Peru, the Indigenous peoples of the time began growing this vegetable. Held as sacred by the Incas, the potato was brought to Europe by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century upon their return from the Americas. The potato is one of the few crops not originally native to Turkey. Today it can be grown in almost every part of our country, though Eastern and Central Anatolia are particularly significant producing regions.
Milk, fat, and mashed potatoes can sustain people for years without the need for any other food source. In 18th and 19th century European prisons, inmates were fed nothing but potatoes — and they all survived for years. The Mediterranean region didn't fully embrace the potato until the mid-19th century. In Turkey, the potato arrived in the early 1850s from Russia and the Caucasus via the Eastern Black Sea region, and after 1853 through Europe into the Sakarya valley. Today, Peru is the world capital of the potato. Although not the largest producer, it is home to the greatest variety of potato types, shapes, and colors in the world. China is both the largest producer and the largest consumer, followed by India, Russia, Ukraine, the USA, Germany, Bangladesh, France, the Netherlands, and Poland. Turkey ranks 15th in global production.
In today's recipe, we've prepared Potato Gratin (Patates Graten) for you. The kaşar cheese we sprinkled on top formed a firm, golden-brown crust under the heat of the oven, while the potatoes underneath stayed perfectly tender. A dish that pairs beautifully with main courses, this Potato Gratin recipe is so irresistible it might even make you forget Butter Pilaf — and it's waiting for you to make it. Bon appétit!
