Leek and Smoked Potato Gratin with Gruyère
A comforting Flemish comfort food featuring creamy leeks and potatoes baked in a rich cheese sauce with a golden crust, perfect with a simple green salad. This Belgian-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, pairs small leeks, russet potatoes, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 3, white and light green parts, thinly sliced small leeks
- 2 medium, thinly sliced russet potatoes
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup, grated Gruyère cheese
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Step 2: Melt 2 tbsp butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute until golden. Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly until thickened (about 5 minutes).
- Step 3: Remove from heat. Stir in 1/2 cup Gruyère, smoked paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper until melted. Set aside.
- Step 4: Layer half the potatoes and half the leeks in the baking dish. Pour half the cheese sauce over them. Repeat layers with remaining potatoes and leeks.
- Step 5: Pour remaining cheese sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup grated Gruyère.
- Step 6: Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until golden brown and bubbly around the edges. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.









