Potato Pear Gratin

Ingredients

• 1 Garlic clove
• 50 g butter
• 4 pears
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 600 g potatoes (starchy, boiling type)
• 100 g Gruyère cheese
• a pinch grated nutmeg
• white pepper (freshly ground)
• Cayenne pepper
• Salt
• 0.125 l milk
• 0.125 l heavy cream
• 2 Eggs

Instructions

1. 1.

   Peel the pears, quarter them, remove the core and slice into thin wedges; immediately drizzle with lemon juice.

2. 2.

   Peel the potatoes and cut into about 2 mm thick slices on a vegetable peeler.

3. 3.

   Grease a large gratin dish with butter. Layer alternating rows of potato and pear slices in a brick‑style pattern.

4. 4.

   Season cream and milk with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne; pour over the gratin. Bake in a preheated oven at 160 °C (center) for about 45–50 minutes.

5. 5.

   Finish by sprinkling small butter dots on top and broiling under the hot grill (or highest setting) for another ~5 minutes until golden brown; sprinkle with pepper before serving.