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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Dairy-free Scalloped Potatoes  

    Dairy-free Scalloped Potatoes  

    Published on Dec 21, 2020 · Last updated on Aug 24, 2021 ·

    Jump to Recipe

    These easy Dairy Free Scalloped Potatoes make a perfect vegan side dish for any holiday dinner gathering! Quick to prepare, then just throw it in the oven!

    overhead shot of a casserole dish with dairyfree scalloped potatoes

     

    Ah, the noble spud. Is there anything it can't do? They even make great cakes and donuts. However, for those of you looking to take a more traditional approach to potatoes - like, say: eating them as a side -  I've got a great new recipe for a good old classic to share with you. This scalloped potatoes recipe packs all the flavor of the classic potato side dish we all know and love, and it does it while being quite a bit better for you.

    a black skillet with vegan scalloped potatoes with a spoon on the side

    Scalloped Potatoes without dairy?

    Kind of feels like dishonoring a cherished memory...but hey, let's get over it! I like the old-fashioned ooey-gooey cheesy version too. But let's be honest here; it was a mountain of carbs, covered in fat - plus dairy, which in oud adult days just isn't as fun as it used to be.

    This doesn't mean we can't try to be true to the original. I've tried quite a few variations on this and the solution came from an unexpected source: miso paste. Or, maybe not so unexpected. Japan uses very little dairy in its cuisine but they certainly aren't lacking in depth of flavor. The use of miso paste in this scalloped potatoes recipe does an excellent job of providing the umami-bomb that was sorely lacking when we removed all the cheese. It's not "the original", but it's a solid remix.

    a spoon digging into a skillet with dairyfree scalloped potatoes

    "Béchamel", isn't that French for "Complicated"?

    Not at all. Melt your butter; throw other stuff in a pot; add milk slowly and stir lots until it boils for a bit. There's probably a star chef somewhere rolling in his grave at these words, but there's really no need to be intimidated by one of the vaunted "5 French Mother Sauces" - I make my hollandaise in a coffee cup, so don't believe the hype. Good does not have to be complicated or require special equipment. Go slow, read your instructions, stir lots.

    a black skillet with vegan scalloped potatoes with a spoon taking out one serving

    How to make Dairy Free Scalloped Potatoes:

    picture collage demonstrating how to make dairy free sauce for scalloped potatoes

    Step 1 - Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add fresh onion and garlic, and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, salt, and ¼ teaspoon back pepper. Cook for about 30 seconds and then add lemon zest, nutmeg, onion powder, miso paste, and Dijon mustard. Cook for another few seconds.

    Step 2 & 3 - Add in 1 cup of the milk and stir vigorously to try and break up any lumps.

    dairy-free vegan scalloped potato sauce being prepared in a saucepan

    Step 4 & 5 - Add in another half cup and stir again. Add in the rest of the milk and stir, then bring to a boil. Let boil for 3 mins then take off heat. Carefully taste and adjust salt and flavor. This Bechamel sauce will not be very thick but will continue to thicken as it cools

    picture gallery demonstrating how to layer vegan scalloped potatoes in a skillet

    Preheat oven to 350F/176c

    Step 6 - Peel and slice the potatoes into ⅛ inch thick slices. You can do this while cooking the cream sauce, so the potatoes don't brown. (If slicing beforehand, store potato slices in a bowl of cold water until ready to assemble in the casserole. Just drain them, lightly pat with a paper towel and move to the next step.) Grease a baking dish or cast iron pan and arrange the slices in an overlapping fashion. You can also place a layer of non-overlapping potatoes, then place over this layer and repeat until finished. You want less than 3 layers for even cooking and crispy topping.

    Step 7 - Pour all of the sauce over the potatoes. It will look like a lot, it’s normal.

    Step 8 - Bake for 1 hour. Check in the center with a toothpick, there should not be any resistance. Continue to bake longer if needed. Broil for a minute to brown the top if needed. Garnish with the remaining black pepper and some fresh herbs such as parsley or chives. You can also sprinkle some red pepper flakes and Maldon sea salt. Serve and enjoy!

    Tips:

    • There's no par-cooking of the potatoes here before they go in the oven, so having nice thin slices helps ensure they bake properly. A mandolin is especially helpful to have for this.
    • Garnishing with a bit of nutritional yeast is a nice way to add even more umami flavor to this dish.
    • Different non-dairy milks will have different effects on the outcome. Soy is the most neutral; cashew will turn out a bit sweet; while coconut milk invariably makes things a bit tropical, hence the light coconut milk listed in the recipe - for once we're not looking to get as much coconut cream as possible out of the can.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print

    Dairy-free Scalloped Potatoes

    These easy Dairy Free Scalloped Potatoes make a perfect vegan side dish for any holiday dinner gathering! Quick to prepare, then just throw it in the oven!

    Course side
    Cuisine American, French
    Keyword dairy-free scalloped potatoes, vegan scalloped potatoes
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour
    Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 259 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ tbsp dairy-free butter Earth Balance Works great - you can also use olive oil
    • 1 small onion finely chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
    • 4 tbsp flour all-purpose
    • ¾ tsp salt
    • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper divided
    • zest of ¼ or ½ a lemon depends on size of lemon and your preference of flavor
    • ¼ tsp nutmeg grated
    • 2 tsp onion powder
    • 1 tsp miso paste
    • 1 tsp Dijon mustard or ½ tsp ground mustard
    • 3 cups unsweetened soy milk or unsweetened cashew milk or light coconut milk, (almond milk makes it a bit sweet ) at room temp,
    • 20 oz starchy potatoes like Yukon Gold - 600 grams -- about 4 medium.

    Instructions

    1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add fresh onion and garlic, and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, salt and ¼ teaspoon back pepper. Cook for about 30 seconds and then add lemon zest, nutmeg, onion powder, miso paste, and Dijon mustard. Cook for another few seconds.

    2. Add in 1 cup of the milk and stir vigorously to try and break up any lumps. Add in another half cup and stir again. Add in the rest of the milk and stir, then bring to a boil. Let boil for 3 mins then take off heat. Carefully taste and adjust salt and flavor. This Bechamel sauce will not be very thick but will continue to thicken as it cools.

    3. Preheat oven to 350F/176c

    4. Peel and slice the potatoes into ⅛ inch thick slices. You can do this while cooking the cream sauce, so the potatoes don't brown. (If slicing beforehand, store potato slices in a bowl of cold water until ready to assemble in the casserole. Just drain them, lightly pat with a paper towel and move to the next step.)
    5. Grease a baking dish or cast iron pan and arrange the slices in an overlapping fashion. You can also place a layer of non-overlapping potatoes, then place over this layer and repeat until finished. You want less than 3 layers for even cooking and crispy topping.
    6. Pour all of the sauce over the potatoes. It will look like a lot, it’s normal.
    7. Bake for 1 hour. Check in the center with a toothpick, there should not be any resistance. Continue to bake longer if needed. Broil for a minute to brown the top if needed.
    8. Garnish with the remaining black pepper and some fresh herbs such as parsley or chives. You can also sprinkle some red pepper flakes and Maldon sea salt. Serve and enjoy!

    Recipe Notes

    • There's no par-cooking of the potatoes here before they go in the oven, so having nice thin slices helps ensure they bake properly. A mandolin is especially helpful to have for this.
    • Garnishing with a bit of nutritional yeast is a nice way to add even more umami flavor to this dish.
    • Different non-dairy milks will have different effects on the outcome. Soy is the most neutral; cashew will turn out a bit sweet; while coconut milk invariably makes things a bit tropical, hence the light coconut milk listed in the recipe - for once we're not looking to get as much coconut cream as possible out of the can.
    Nutrition Facts
    Dairy-free Scalloped Potatoes
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 259 Calories from Fat 72
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 8g12%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Sodium 605mg26%
    Potassium 874mg25%
    Carbohydrates 39g13%
    Fiber 5g21%
    Sugar 3g3%
    Protein 10g20%
    Vitamin A 377IU8%
    Vitamin C 31mg38%
    Calcium 257mg26%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    If you tried this Dairy-free Scalloped Potatoes Recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe below and let me know how it went in the comments – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!

    More easy healthy recipes you will love:

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    • Tacos de Pollo
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    • Healthy Mexican Quinoa Casserole
    « Healthy Cinnamon Roll Mug Cake
    Asian Peanut Butter Chicken Bowl »
     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Luci

      December 22, 2020 at 8:12 pm

      These dairy free, vegan scalloped potatoes look delicious! I'm cooking more dairy free recipes this Christmas so I can't wait to make these potatoes. My family will love them!

      • Marie

        December 28, 2020 at 3:29 am

        AMAZING! Let me know if you get around to trying them Luci! Happy holidays

    2. Amy

      December 22, 2020 at 8:27 pm

      These potatoes look so creamy and delicious!

      • Marie

        December 28, 2020 at 3:28 am

        Oh these are LIFE! Hope you get to try them soon!

    3. Elly

      December 22, 2020 at 8:45 pm

      My mom is dairy free so will definitely have to give this a try! Never thought about using soy milk for bechamel. Might be my new go to!

      • Marie

        December 28, 2020 at 3:30 am

        Awesome Elly! Let me know if you get around to trying them for when mom's coming over! Soy milk works really well here. Any unsweetened nut milk does.

    4. Ipsa

      December 22, 2020 at 8:48 pm

      Ahh!! I can't wait to make these delicious scalloped potatoes. looks so yummy, mouth-watering. Lovely!!

      • Marie

        December 28, 2020 at 5:29 am

        Happy you like them! They make for such a great side

    5. Cate

      December 22, 2020 at 8:49 pm

      This looks soooo creamy and delicious! Looks like a great side for Christmas that everyone could eat, thanks for the recipe!

      • Marie

        December 28, 2020 at 5:29 am

        You are so welcome! Thanks for stopping by

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