Gratin Savoyard — Alpine Potato and Cheese Gratin

Overview

Gratin savoyard is the mountain cousin of gratin dauphinois — sliced potatoes layered with Beaufort cheese and moistened with stock rather than cream, baked until the potatoes are tender and the cheese has formed a thick, bubbling, golden-brown crust. Where dauphinois is rich and creamy (cream only, no cheese), the savoyard is savoury and alpine (cheese and stock, no cream), reflecting the Savoie's abundance of magnificent cow's milk cheeses and the mountain cook's preference for hearty, sustaining dishes. Peel and slice 1kg of waxy potatoes to 3mm on a mandoline. Rub a gratin dish vigorously with garlic and butter generously. Layer the potatoes with 200g of grated or thinly sliced Beaufort (or Comté or Abondance), seasoning each layer with salt, pepper, and a grating of nutmeg. The cheese should be distributed evenly throughout, not concentrated on top. Pour hot chicken or beef stock over the layers until it comes three-quarters of the way up the potatoes — the stock provides moisture and savoury depth while the cheese provides richness and the gratinée crust. Dot the surface with butter. Bake at 180°C for 60-70 minutes until the potatoes are completely tender (a knife slides through without resistance), the stock has been fully absorbed, and the top is a thick, bubbling, deeply golden-brown crust of melted cheese. Rest 10 minutes before serving. The gratin savoyard should have distinct potato layers visible when cut, each one separated by a thin, savoury layer of melted cheese, with the stock having been absorbed entirely to produce a moist but not wet interior. It is the ultimate mountain food — sustaining, deeply savoury, and warming on the coldest Alpine evening.

Key Principles

Stock-based (not cream) — chicken or beef for savoury depth. Beaufort, Comté, or Abondance cheese layered throughout (not just on top). Stock to three-quarters height — fully absorbed during baking. Garlic-rubbed dish, butter-dotted surface. 180°C for 60-70 minutes until golden, bubbling, and fully absorbed. Distinct from Dauphinois: cheese + stock vs. cream + no cheese.

Pro Tips

A mixture of Beaufort and Reblochon (the cheese used in tartiflette) creates an exceptionally rich and runny cheese layer. The stock should be well-flavoured and warm when poured over — cold stock extends cooking time. For an extra-crisp crust, switch to the grill for the final 5 minutes. This gratin is traditionally served with cured meats (jambon cru, saucisson sec) and a green salad for a complete Savoyard meal. The same technique with Morbier cheese and white wine replaces the stock in the Jura variation.

Common Mistakes

Using cream instead of stock, which makes it a dauphinois variant rather than a true savoyard. Putting all cheese on top only, leaving bland potato layers beneath. Too much stock, producing a soupy gratin. Using a mild cheese that lacks the nutty, alpine character of Beaufort. Cutting potatoes too thick (more than 3mm), which won't cook through properly.

Source

French Regional Cooking — Anne Willan

Cross-Cuisine Parallels

• {'cuisine': 'Swiss', 'technique': 'Raclette', 'similarity': 'Melted alpine cheese served over potatoes — the Swiss approach to the same mountain ingredients'}
• {'cuisine': 'Italian', 'technique': 'Polenta Concia', 'similarity': 'Starch layered with alpine cheese (Fontina) and baked — the Valdostana equivalent'}