Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe (2025)

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The best vegan potatoes au gratin recipe with leeks, thyme, cashewcream and nutritional yeast. Easy to make, healthy and beyonddelicious!

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I’ve gotten many requests to veganize myclassic scalloped potatoes au gratin recipe and i challenged myself to make it WFPB compliant without using any oil. Mission accomplished friends!

But if you want to indulge a bit during the holidays you can top them with your favorite plant based cheese, i won’t judge! I’m a fan of provolone, pepper jack and smoked gouda from Follow Your Heart butwhatever rocks your tastebuds is fine! This walnut parmesan is a great choice too!

You are going to need a mandoline slicer to slice up the potatoes as thinly as possible.Preferably you’d be able to read the morning paperthrough those slices but don’t stress over it. Do your best to get them as thin as you can and if need be just increase the cooking time by 15 to 20 minutes or so.

I did a quick soak of the cashews that I then blended into a cheesy cream sauce with nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic and water. This is all you need toachieve that cheesy classic flavor and texture au gratinpotatoes have.

Let’s talk about the leeks!

Most definitely a favorite staple in myrefrigerator, leeks pack so much wonderful flavor I just can’t do without them.Basically a sweeter version of onions but with way more depth.

They are a great source of lutein and zeaxanthin twoimportant carotenoids for eye heath, on top ofbeing rich in fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamins A and K. You can use the entire leek including the mineral-dense little roots / filaments, just make sure to rinseeverything well as they are known to be full of grit and dirt.

Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin Bake Everyone will Love:

So Simple

Only 7 Ingredients

Comforting

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

No Oil

Easy to Make.

Watch How To Make Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin:

Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe (8)

5 from 3 votes

Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin with Leeks

The best vegan potatoes au gratin with leeks, thyme, cashew cream and nutritional yeast. Easy to make, healthy and beyond delicious!

Print Recipe

Prep Time:15 minutes mins

Cook Time:45 minutes mins

Total Time:1 hour hr

Ingredients

  • 1 lb golden potatoes (scrubbed and rinsed well)
  • 1 large leek (or 2 medium)
  • 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes to taste
  • 1/4 cup fresh chives or dill -chopped
  • 3-5 oz vegan cheese (OPTIONAL)
  • sea salt + black pepper to taste

Cashew Cream:

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350”F.

Make the Cashew Cream:

  • In a small bowl soak the cashew in hot water for 20 minutes. Drain and rinse then add them to a powerful blender together with 1.25 cups of water, the lemon juice, garlic powder and nutritional yeast. Puree until smooth and creamy. Season to to taste with a pinch of sea salt and refrigerate until needed.

Make the Scalloped Potatoes:

  • Slice the leeks lengthwise then chop them up. Add them to a bowl with cold water. Stir to rinse well and allow them to stay in the water for a few minutes. All the grit and dirt will fall to the bottom of the bowl.Use your hands to scoop out the leeks from the water and drain them on a kitchen towel.

  • Preheat a large skillet on medium low flame. Add a splash of water and the leeks with a pinch of sea salt. Saute until wilted and they start to get some color adding more water if needed as not to burn them, about 10 to 15 minutes Adjust seasonings to taste with more sea salt and black pepper. Set aside.

  • Meanwhile use a mandoline to thinly slice the potatoes. Rinse well in some cold water and dry on a tea towel. Sprinkle all over the top with a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper.

  • Lightly oil a large gratin dish including the sides. (You can use 2 small gratin dishes if you wish)

  • Layer the thinly slice potatoes on the bottom of the gratin dish overlapping each other. Spoon the sauteed leeks and spread them on top of the potato slices. Sprinkle with the fresh thyme.

  • Pour the cashew cream over the leeks and give the dish a little shake. Sprinkle with the fresh chives or dill and a pinch of red pepper flakes.

  • At this point you can top with your favorite vegan cheese, loosely cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and cook another 10 minutes or so until the cheese has melted. To brown the top you can transfer the gratin under the broiler flames for a few minutes until golden to your liking, just make sure that you are using a broiler proof dish.

  • Remove the potatoes from the oven and allow them to set for a few minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

  • You can omit oiling the baking dish and line it with parchment paper instead.
  • If your potatoesaren’t sliced paper thin make sure to adjust the cooking time and bake an additional 20 to 25 minutes or so until the potatoes havecompletely softened and cooked through.

Nutrition

Calories: 349kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 836mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 645IU | Vitamin C: 29.8mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 7.5mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: French

Keyword: plant based, Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin, vegan,

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 349kcal

Author: Florentina

Potato Recipes:

Vegan Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe (2025)

FAQs

What's the difference between scalloped potatoes and au gratin potatoes in a box? ›

What is the difference between au gratin potatoes and scalloped potatoes? Au Gratin potatoes contain cheese, whereas Scalloped Potatoes do not. Scalloped potatoes typically contain cream but can also contain flavorful stock instead of dairy.

Why are my au gratin potatoes watery? ›

Some potatoes, like Yukon Gold, have more water in them. Try letting the dish rest for 10 minutes or so to let the water get absorbed and let the sauce thicken. Try cooking your recipe longer. Try uncovering the dish in the oven for the last 10 minutes or so.

How do you keep au gratin potatoes from curdling? ›

High oven temperatures can make the milk's components break apart, again leaving the proteins free to clump together. To prevent curdling, cook your scalloped potatoes at a lower temperature and across a longer period of time.

What does potatoes au gratin mean in French? ›

The phrase au gratin literally means "by grating" in French, or "with a crust," from the verb gratter, "to scrape, scratch, or grate." Definitions of au gratin. adjective.

Why are scalloped potatoes called funeral potatoes? ›

Why are they called funeral potatoes? Funeral potatoes get their unique name from being a crowd-pleasing casserole served as a side dish at after-funeral luncheons (particularly in the culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).

Do you need a mandoline for scalloped potatoes? ›

Start by slicing the potatoes into 1/8-inch-thick slices. You could use a mandoline slicer for this step, but I actually prefer to do it with a knife. Just be careful to slice the potatoes thinly and evenly so that they cook through at the same rate.

What is the one trick Michael Symon uses to make perfect scalloped potatoes? ›

Surprisingly, aluminum foil is his secret weapon. After beautifully shingling the potatoes (he's got a genius trick for doing this quickly, too) he covers the dish in foil before hitting the oven.

Why should the potato slices for the gratin not be soaked in water before adding to the cream? ›

I don't recommend soaking the potatoes in water ahead of time for our potatoes au gratin (as some recipes call for). Soaking them will cause them to lose some of their starch, which helps to keep this dish creamy. The dish will still get a nice, crisp top without soaking the potatoes.

Why did my au gratin potatoes turn GREY? ›

Once they have been peeled and cut, raw potatoes will turn brown quickly. This process, which is called oxidation, happens because potatoes are a naturally starchy vegetable. And when exposed to oxygen, starches turn gray, brown, or even black. An oxidized potato is completely safe to eat.

Can you make au gratin potatoes ahead and reheat? ›

Let sit until room temperature and then drain and place in a glass pan (not metal) and refrigerate before using the next day. This is the perfect way to make sure the potatoes layered in a casserole dish are cooked when heated and serving.

Why are my scalloped potatoes not creamy? ›

To start, the scalloped potatoes need time to bake. Make sure to cook the dish at a low temperature. High heat will cause the milk to curdle. Use milk or cream with higher fat content.

Which is better scalloped or au gratin? ›

Scalloped potatoes also won't be as crispy in texture as au gratin. Both are golden brown and creamy, but if it's crispiness and crunchiness you're after, au gratin will probably be your best bet. Either one is sure to be a hit with your dinner guests, but it just depends on what sort of vibe you're going for!

What to eat with potatoes au gratin? ›

Serve potatoes au gratin with a roast pork loin or beef tenderloin, alongside a green salad. There's nothing like au gratin potatoes to take any meal over the top. The creamy, decadent, and oh-so satisfying recipe is sure to please everyone at your table.

Why did my au gratin potatoes separate? ›

Scalloped or au gratin potatoes are so simple. But it can be frustrating when the creamy sauce and cheese separate or look curdled. The good news is that the dish tastes just fine, even when it looks a little strange. The curdling is caused by high heat, which is hard to avoid in an oven.

How long does boxed scalloped potatoes take? ›

BAKE uncovered about 25 minutes or until top is golden brown and potatoes are tender (sauce will thicken). BAKING TIPS: For 2 boxes, double all ingredients; bake in 3-quart casserole dish about 30 minutes at 450°F.

What is another name for scalloped potatoes? ›

Potatoes gratiné

Sliced raw potatoes may also be baked in a liquid or sauce that steams them and forms a golden crust on top. In the US, the dish is referred to variously as funeral potatoes, potatoes au gratin, scalloped potatoes, or au gratin potatoes.

How to cook 2 boxes of Idahoan au gratin potatoes? ›

Double batch: Bake at 400 degrees 35 – 40 min. or until tender.

Why do they call it au gratin potatoes? ›

A “gratin” is any dish that is topped with cheese or breadcrumbs mixed with butter, then heated in the oven or under the broiler until brown and crispy, according to The Food Lover's Companion. The term au gratin or gratinée just refers to anything prepared in that manner.

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