Potatoes Au Gratin with Caramelized Onions and Ham

Name: Potatoes Au Gratin with Caramelized Onions and Ham
Prep time: 1 h 20 min
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups heavy cream; 1 1/2 cups sour cream; 4 teaspoons salt; 2 teaspoons oregano; 3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled; 8 cups water; 4 tablespoons butter; 1 large red onion, sliced; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; Canola spray oil; 4 cups hickory smoked cooked ham, diced; 8-oz brick of white extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded; 8-oz brick of Monterey jack cheese, shredded; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon dried cilantro

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Prep 1 hr 20 min
Total 2 hr 30 min
Ingredients 15
Servings 12

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Even tastier than all of the baked goods prepared during the holidays are the delicious Christmas side dishes. My mom would exchange recipes with her sisters in Mexico every year. I believe that my siblings and I would agree that papas gratinadas was our absolute favorite out of all of the Christmas side dishes.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups sour cream
4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons oregano
3 pounds russet potatoes, peeled
8 cups water
4 tablespoons butter
1 large red onion, sliced
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Canola spray oil
4 cups hickory smoked cooked ham, diced
8-oz brick of white extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
8-oz brick of Monterey jack cheese, shredded
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried cilantro

Directions

1

Whisk together the cream, sour cream, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon of oregano. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
2

Add the potatoes to a pot and cover with 8 cups of water. Add 3 teaspoons of salt and cook at medium heat until potatoes are fork tender. Drain the hot water from potatoes, cover with cold water to cool.
3

In a pan, heat the 4 tablespoons of butter. Add the onions and season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook at medium/low for 30 minutes or until the onions caramelize. Set aside.
4

Preheat the oven to 375 °F. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with canola oil until evenly coated.
5

Drain the potatoes and slice into 1/3 inch thick slices. Combine the cheddar and jack cheese.
6

Add 1/2 cup of the sour cream mix to the bottom of pan, spread out evenly. Add a layer of sliced potatoes to bottom of pan. Add 1/3 of remaining sour cream, 1/2 of the diced ham, 1/2 of the onions and 1/3 of cheese mixture. Repeat another layer of potatoes, sour cream, ham, onions and cheese. Finish the top layer with potatoes, sour cream, cheese, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon dried cilantro and 1 teaspoon oregano.
7

Cover loosely with foil paper and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. During the last few minutes, bake under broiler to brown the cheese. Remove from oven and let stand for 20 minutes before serving.

Expert Tips

tip 1
A wonderful thing about preparing casseroles, such as papas gratinadas, is that they can be prepared a day ahead. Prepare as directed up until before you bake the casserole. When ready, bake as directed.

Nutrition Information

No nutrition information available for this recipe

More About This Recipe

Even tastier than all of the baked goods prepared during the holidays are the delicious Christmas side dishes. My mom would exchange recipes with her sisters in Mexico every year. I believe that my siblings and I would agree that papas gratinadas was our absolute favorite out of all of the Christmas side dishes.