Ingredients

  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups finely sliced leeks, white part only
  • 1 tablespoon roasted garlic puree (see note)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped rosemary leaves
  • Pinch freshly ground nutmeg
  • Coarse salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 4 large Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut, crosswise, into 1/8-inch-thick slices

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 400F.
  • Combine the milk and cream with the leeks, garlic puree, rosemary, and nutmeg in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add salt and white pepper and bring to a simmer.
  • Whisk in 3 tablespoons of the butter, remove from the pan from the heat, and keep warm.
  • Using the remaining butter, generously coat the interior of an 11-by-7-by-2- inch baking pan.
  • Set aside.
  • Season the potatoes with salt and pepper.
  • Using about half of the potatoes, cover the bottom of the prepared pan with a layer of slightly overlapping potato slices.
  • Pour half of the milk mixture over the potatoes.
  • Make another layer with the remaining potatoes and cover it with the remaining milk mixture.
  • Bake for about 1 hour, or until the tip of a small, sharp knife is easily inserted into the center.
  • Remove from the heat and use as a side dish with meat, game, or poultry.