Scalloped potatoes are a casserole made with thin slices of potatoes, cheese, milk or cream, and breadcrumbs. The word “scalloped” has nothing to do with shellfish and may come from an Old English word meaning sliced meats. The dish can be traced back to England or the Americas and is often served during holidays. Variations include adding meat or vegetables, and vegans can make it by omitting dairy ingredients. Canned versions are available, but homemade takes about 15-30 minutes to prep and an hour to cook.
Scalloped potatoes are a type of casserole that combines thin slices of potatoes, cheese, milk or cream, and breadcrumbs, at least in the American and Irish versions of the dish. The word scalloped has multiple meanings in cooking, but not, as one might suspect, has anything to do with shellfish. Possibly, the word comes from an Old English word, collop, which in turn comes from the Old French word, escalope.
Collops did not mean scalloped potatoes, but sliced meats, perhaps prepared with cheese and cream. To muddle things up, some potato recipes include adding ham or bacon. A Yorkshire recipe for collops relied on the potato, but referred to frying it in thin slices.
The original recipes may have come from England or the Americas. Given that potatoes originated in America, it makes sense to attribute the dish to the first settlers. The recipe can just as easily be developed in England or Ireland, however.
As prepared by most Americans, this dish consists of thin slices of potatoes, sometimes separated by drizzles of cheese or melted butter. Once the layering process is done, milk or cream is added and the whole dish can be covered with more cheese or breadcrumbs. Some cooks prefer to boil the potatoes for about five minutes before slicing them and adding them to the dish, while others slice the potatoes raw. The dish works well with standard potatoes, or what many cooks might call baked potatoes.
Scalloped potatoes are usually cooked for about an hour in a 350°F (176°C) oven, although cooking times vary depending on the size of the dish. The potatoes should be cooked through but not mushy. Care should be taken if the dish is prepared in a glass dish and refrigerated, as moving cold glass into a hot oven can cause the dish to crack.
Many people make scalloped potatoes for traditional holiday meals, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. They can be prepared in advance and then cooked when needed, which can reduce preparation time during the actual holidays.
There are many variations on this dish. Meats can be added to turn a side dish into a main course, while vegetables such as tomatoes, mushrooms or onions can spice it up. Which cheese is used often depends on the taste of the cook: some prefer American cheese, but fancier recipes may use Swiss, jack jack, or aged cheddar.
Vegans can still enjoy scalloped potatoes by omitting the dairy ingredients. Soy or rice milk can be used in place of cow’s milk, and tofu cheese works as an alternative to cow or goat cheese. This version may also be more appealing to dieters, as omitting high-fat cheeses and spreads reduces the calorie penalty of consuming this dish.
If a cook is short on time, there are canned versions available. These tend not to be favored by foodies, as potatoes often have a pre-processed flavor that some find off-putting. Made from scratch, scalloped potatoes take about 15 to 30 minutes to prep and just an hour to cook, so they don’t take too long to prepare and are hard to screw up if the cook watches the clock closely.
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