potatoes dauphinoise

My family, avid fans of potatoes dauphinoise made with milk, cream and cheese, attest to the success of this dish: they love it. The almond milk and cashew cream combine to make such a divinely rich and creamy sauce that the absence of dairy isn’t an issue at all.

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SERVES: 4 as a side

PREPARATION: 10 minutes

COOKING: 40 minutes

350 ml (12 fl oz) unsweetened almond milk, plus more for thinning if needed

250 ml (9 fl oz/1 cup) cashew cream diluted with 100 ml (3½ fl oz) vegetable stock or water

1 splash vegan white wine

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 thyme sprig

1 bay leaf

½ onion, peeled

sea salt flakes

freshly ground black pepper

600 g (1 lb 5 oz) potatoes, boiling potatoes are best, such as Dutch cream

vegetable oil, for oiling

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F/Gas 6). Mix the milk, diluted cream, wine, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, onion and salt and pepper together in a pan and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, peel and finely slice the potatoes, ideally using a mandoline. Slide the potatoes into the milk mixture, stir and simmer until almost tender – they will finish cooking in the oven.

Lightly oil an ovenproof dish. When the potatoes are cooked, remove them from the milk with a slotted spoon and transfer to the ovenproof dish. Strain the milk mixture to catch the thyme, onion and bay leaf and pour enough of the milk over the potatoes to just cover – you might not need all of it. (The milk should be the consistency of thin cream. If it has thickened too much while simmering add a little extra milk or water.)

Sprinkle over the nutritional yeast. Put the ovenproof dish on a baking tray and bake for about 30 minutes, or until bubbling and golden and the potatoes are tender. Leave to stand for a few minutes before serving.