What makes this Perfectly Southern Potato Bake so Southern? The incorporation of pimiento cheese, the caviar of the South, of course! Layers of tender, golden potatoes combine with spicy red peppers and soak in a creamy, sharp cheese sauce, with even more deliciously melty cheese on top. Perfectly Southern Potato Bake is all about Southern hospitality, and you can really taste it!
Ingredients
- 2 quarts water
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 1 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3 shallots, finely diced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 (9-ounce) jar roasted red peppers or piquillo peppers, drained, reserving 2 tablespoons of the liquid from the jar
- 2 cups extra-sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely grated, divided
- fresh chives, optional, to taste, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Position the oven racks to the middle and the top positions.
Step 2 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 3 –In a 3-4-quart pot on the stovetop over high heat, add the water and 2 teaspoons of the salt and bring the mixture to a boil.
Step 4 –Add the potatoes to the boiling water and cook until just shy of fully tender, about 10 minutes.
Step 5 –Drain the potatoes.
Step 6 –In small saucepan over medium heat, add the cream, the shallots, the chili flakes, the remaining salt, the black pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the reserved liquid from the peppers, then bring the mixture to a simmer.
Step 7 –Simmer the cream mixture until the chili flakes begin to stain the cream, about 2 minutes.
Step 8 –Add 1/2 of the cheddar cheese to the cream mixture and stir until melted, about 1 minute.
Step 9 –Transfer the cheese sauce from the heat.
Step 10 –In a 6-cup baking dish, layer 1/3 of the potatoes, overlapping them if necessary.
Step 11 –Scatter 1/2 of the roasted peppers on top of the potato layer, cutting any whole peppers so they all lie flat.
Step 12 –Repeat the layers until all of the remaining peppers and all of the remaining potatoes have been used.
Step 13 –Pour the cheese sauce over the potatoes and the peppers, gently shaking the dish to evenly distribute the sauce.
Step 14 –Cover the baking dish with foil and bake on the middle rack for 15 minutes.
Step 15 –Uncover the dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the bake.
Step 16 –Bake on the top rack until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned on top, about 8 minutes.
Step 17 –Serve immediately, garnished with the chives.
