Holy Airy Lung Gratin
Based on:
TypeSide dish
Serves4 people
DateOctober 14, 2026
Creamy gratin in lung shape, a warm side dish nodding to papal recovery.
A creamy potato gratin shaped like a lung, built from halved potato slices with a slanted edge. The lung shape directly refers to Pope Leo’s surgery. Warm, comforting, and easy to serve from one dish.
Ingredients
- 800 g waxy potatoes
- 200 ml heavy cream
- 150 ml milk
- 2 cloves garlic
- 75 g grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter (for greasing)
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Peel the potatoes and cut into thin slices (about 3 mm). Cut a quarter of the slices at an angle to create a point.
- Rub a baking dish with the halved garlic cloves and grease with butter.
- Arrange the potato slices overlapping in the dish, with the angled pieces on one side to form a lung shape (two rounded lobes, one slanted lower edge).
- Mix cream, milk, thyme, salt, and pepper. Pour evenly over the potatoes.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 45 minutes until golden brown and potatoes are tender.
- Let rest for 5 minutes. Serve so the lung shape remains visible.
Serving notes
- Serve in the baking dish so the lung shape stays intact.
- Garnish with a few extra thyme leaves for a fresh touch.