Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for baking dish
3 pounds (8 to 10 small) Yukon gold potatoes
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 1/4 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 dried bay leaf
Freshly ground pepper
3 ounces Gruyere cheese, finely grated (about 1 cup)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees, with rack in center. Generously butter a 9-by-12-inch glass baking dish. Peel potatoes, and slice into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Place slices in a bowl of cold water as you go to prevent discoloration.
In a medium saucepan, combine garlic, milk, heavy cream, salt, nutmeg, and bay leaf. Bring just to a simmer over medium heat, and pour into prepared baking dish. Discard bay leaf.
Drain potatoes in a colander, and transfer to baking dish. Using a large spoon, toss potatoes with milk mixture pressing down gently to distribute the potato slices evenly. Season with pepper. Dot with butter, distributing evenly over entire surface; sprinkle with cheese.
Place in oven; bake until potatoes can be pierced with a fork and top is brown, 45 to 50 minutes. Serve immediately.
