Scalloped Potatoes vs. Au Gratin: What's the difference? There are more than 200 kinds of potatoes, but not all taste as good as the scalloped potato or the au gratin. These divine potatoes can be found in grocery stores and restaurants.
Scalloped potatoes are said to have originated in England. Au gratin potatoes originated in France in 1788 in the southeastern region of Dauphiné. They have both grown in popularity. Yet they also look similar, making them confusing to distinguish.
This article dives into the differences between scalloped potatoes and au gratin. We look at what makes them different in taste, texture, and calories. We also look at the best ways to make them and what meals they complement.
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Scalloped Potatoes vs. Au Gratin: How They Are Made
Do you like cheese on your potatoes? That's ultimately the difference between scalloped potatoes and au gratin. Scalloped potatoes do not include cheese, while au gratin potatoes have shredded cheese. Another distinguishing difference is that scallop potatoes are often sliced thicker than au gratin.
Regarding similarities, they are both cooked with heavy cream, flour, and milk to give the potato dish a creamy taste.
If you don't know, scalloped potatoes refer to a dish with cut-up potatoes that are layered with cream sauce, which is sometimes onion sauce, and then baked for a certain amount of time.
Au gratin is any dish with potatoes covered with cheese and butter and then baked.
The History That Defines the Scalloped Potatoes and Au Gratin
Scalloped potatoes originated in England. However, there's no specific timeline for when they were popularized. However, the word “scallop” has existed as a baking term that refers to the semicircle shape of a scalloped potato. The most popular kind of potato that's now used in this dish is the Yukon gold potato.
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- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
Au gratin has a history that traces back to France. It was considered a fancy dinner that didn't have any cheese but rather Gruyere cheese. Gratin refers to the crust, which is why the cheese does with the potatoes in this dish. The Yukon gold potato is also used in this dish.
The Nutritional Differences
The benefits of au gratin and scalloped potatoes come from eating potatoes in general. Some of the best benefits of eating potatoes are vitamin C, potassium, and electrolytes. They are also known to be an excellent source of vitamin B6.
However, when it comes specifically to scalloped potatoes, there are about 216 calories per cup. In comparison, au gratin has about 320 calories. It has more because there's cheese added to the top of it. While calories are abundant in either dish, enjoying both in moderation is important. You can substitute the cheese with veggies and crumbs on the au gratin dish.
There's also more protein in au gratin because of the cheese. If you're looking for a cheesy flavor with more calories and protein, then au gratin is the perfect dish. But if you want to keep off the pounds, then scalloped potatoes might be your best choice.
Best Dishes to Complement Scalloped Potatoes and Au Gratin
If you want additional dishes to complement scalloped potatoes and au gratin, you'll find plenty of options that vary from vegetables to ham.
Here are the best dishes that complement scalloped potatoes:
- Ham
- Fried Pork Chops
- Rosemary Chicken
- Salmon
Here are the best dishes that complement au gratin:
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- Beef tenderloin
- Roasted chicken
- Pan seared fish
These are some of the most popular dishes you can make with either dish. While scalloped potatoes and au gratin aren't designed to be the main dish, you can make an exception and have them with salad. You can also choose another main dish that makes a more complete meal.
No matter how you eat it, you'll discover that scalloped potatoes and au gratin are delicious by themselves or as a complement to other foods.
White Scalloped Potatoes vs. Au Gratin: What Tastes Better?
If you're wondering what to make for dinner with your potatoes, look no further than scalloped potatoes and au gratin. They are some of the finest and tastiest dishes you can have with dinner. They are not only a delicious way to make potatoes but also very filling because of the starch in potatoes.
If you're wondering which one tastes better, it's all a matter of preference. Trying both can give you a better idea if you like scalloped potatoes because they offer a cream and thicker kind of potato or the au gratin with the creamy cheese taste. Either way, you'll discover they are both great dishes.