Potatoes dauphinoise

• butter↗knob

  for greasing

• waxy potato↗1kg kg

  such as Desirée

• full-fat milk↗150ml ml
• carton double cream↗142ml ml
• garlic clove↗1

  peeled and halved

• thyme↗2 sprigs
• nutmeg↗pinch freshly ground

  pinch freshly ground

• parmesan↗25g g

  freshly grated

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 4. Line an 20cm (8 inch) square tin with baking parchment, making sure there are no holes for the liquid to seep through, then butter the paper. Peel and slice the potatoes to the width of a £1 coin and pat dry.

2. 2

   Pour the milk and cream into a pan, then add the garlic and thyme. Heat to boiling point, cool a little and strain into a jug. Sprinkle with nutmeg and keep warm. You can prepare this in advance and reheat.

3. 3

   Layer half the potatoes in the tin, overlapping the slices, sprinkling each layer with a little salt and pepper. Pour over half the liquid and finish layering, then add the rest of the liquid and scatter over the cheese. Bake for 1-1¼ hrs until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden. Leave to stand for 5 mins, then cut into six portions and serve.