au gratin

[ oh graht-n, oh grat-n, aw graht-n, aw grat-n; French oh gra-tan ]

adjective

, Cooking.

1. cooked or baked with a topping of either browned breadcrumbs and butter or grated cheese, or with both: cauliflower au gratin.

   au gratin potatoes;

   cauliflower au gratin.

au gratin

/ o ɡratɛ̃ /

adjective

1. covered and cooked with browned breadcrumbs and sometimes cheese Alsogratinated

Word History and Origins

Origin of au gratin¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from French: literally, “with the scraping,” (i.e., the burnt part)

Word History and Origins

Origin of au gratin¹

French, literally: with the grating

Example Sentences

Plus, there was a choice of buttered carrots, lima beans, french-fried onions, and potatoes au gratin.

From Literature

They hosed down food carts, bagged trash and helped prepare the day’s lunch: ham and macaroni au gratin, stir-fried snow peas and citrus gelatin cubes.

From Seattle Times

When you were a child, were you one of those little ones who only ate your vegetables with glee when they were served au gratin — smothered in cream and cheese?

From Washington Post

Suggested side dishes include garlic mashed potatoes, scalloped or au gratin potatoes.

From Seattle Times

This potatoes au gratin recipe is not only delicious, but it looks impressive on a table and is oh so easy to make.

From Seattle Times

More About Au Gratin

What does au gratin mean?

Au gratin describes a dish topped with a mixture of breadcrumbs and butter or a cheese sauce or grated cheese. Sometimes an au gratin dish has the breadcrumb mixture and cheese.

Au gratin dishes are often cooked in deep baking pans (casseroles) or deep frying pans. The au gratin layer is often crisp, especially when using breadcrumbs. An au gratin topping might be added as a last step, especially when made in a frying pan, which is then put in an oven or under a broiler to crisp the topping.

Some cultures feature au gratin dishes during special occasions. For example, in parts of Europe and the United States, potatoes au gratin are commonly served during holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter. In Finland, carrot or rutabaga au gratin is served as part of the Christmas celebration, and in parts of France, a variety of seafood au gratin dishes are prepared, usually including eggs and potatoes as well.

Example: My favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner is the potatoes au gratin.

Where does au gratin come from?

The first records of the term au gratin in English come from around the early 1800s. It is a French term meaning “with the scraping” or “with the burnt part.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for au gratin?

• gratinated

What are some words that share a root or word element with au gratin? 

• au jus
• au lait
• gratin
• gratiné
• gratinate

What are some words that often get used in discussing au gratin?

• breadcrumbs
• cheese
• butter
• baked
• fish
• meat
• potato
• vegetables

How is au gratin used in real life?

Au gratin is a common term to describe a baked dish with a topping of breadcrumbs and butter or cheese.

What’s on your menu? My cooking is almost done.

Menu: Cajun burnt roast hen with the trinity stuffing, wild collard greens with a tinch of mustard, dirty brown basmati rice, sweet potato au gratin, and a little lagniappe.#MerryChrismas

— Donna Brazile (@donnabrazile) December 25, 2018

Potatoes au gratin is that rare side dish that feels equally appropriate at a fancy dinner party and on a Tuesday night at home with the family—that is to say, it’s incredibly easy to make, wonderfully decadent, and everyone loves it.https://t.co/dYzPe2Ickp

— Valerija (@astyte) April 6, 2022

 

Try using au gratin!

True or False?

An au gratin dish is usually made in a pot with a lid.