The History of Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes is an internationally beloved dish, but its origins are rather murky. It’s often thought that scalloped potatoes originated in England, but France is also a contender, especially since the dish closely resembles the French classic, potatoes au gratin. As for the name, it’s thought that the “scalloped” descriptor was derived from a dish of baked oysters covered in breadcrumbs, or possibly from a tradition of baking foods in scallop shells. The nomenclature may also have started when cooks began using it as a way to describe foods with a vague resemblance to scallops. Regardless of how it began, the term “scalloped” eventually came to mean cooking a vegetable in a creamy sauce with breadcrumbs. While we may not know much about the dish's origins, we do know that over time, scalloped potatoes became popular in the United States, France, and the UK. Modern versions often include cheese, although traditional versions rely solely on heavy cream to add richness to the dish. Today, scalloped potatoes are frequently served during holiday meals but are also a common sight on weeknight dinner tables in many parts of the world.