LUXE FRENCH POTATOES

Luxe French Potatoes image

Provided by Katherine Sacks

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

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4 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, cut into 1 1/2" pieces
Kosher salt
4 garlic cloves, forced through a press or finely chopped
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
3/4 pound Gruyère, coarsely grated (about 4 cups)
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella, coarsely grated (about 1 1/2 cups)
Special equipment:
A 4-quart gratin or casserole dish; a potato ricer or food mill; a pastry bag fitted with a 3/4-inch star tip

Steps:

Place rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°F. Place potatoes in a large wide heavy pot. Add 1 1/2 tsp. salt and enough cold water to cover by 2". Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potatoes break apart when pierced with the tip of a knife, 35-40 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook garlic, cream, and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until butter is melted. Whisk in nutmeg, pepper, and 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. salt. Remove from heat.
Drain potatoes and immediately pass through potato ricer into a large bowl. Stir in cream mixture until smooth.
Return half of potato mixture to wide pot; reserve remaining potato mixture in bowl. Add Gruyère and mozzarella and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until cheese is melted and mixture can be stretched with the spoon (like warm mozzarella), about 10 minutes. Transfer to gratin dish; smooth top.
Working in batches if needed, spoon reserved potato mixture in bowl into pastry bag fitted with star tip. Pipe very tight rows of 1/2x1/2" rosettes on potato-cheese mixture in gratin dish. Bake until top is golden brown, about 45 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.