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Potatoes boulangères

Mon, 20 November, 2017

⯆ JUMP TO RECIPE

Boulangeres potatoes

Boulangères, or baker’s potatoes are a cheeseless gratin. A creamless dauphinoise. A béchamel-less potato bake. Called ‘baker’s’ as back in the day folks didn’t have home baking facilities but took their pots of potatoes to the baker’s to cook in the bread-hot oven.

The cream, cheese and butter are replaced by stock – it’s an ascetic’s version of the dish. Onions can be thrown in, to pretend that it’s not just an austerity plate of boiled sliced potatoes. And a little butter is dotted on the surface, but I suspect it’s a contemporary, indulgent addition.

Potatoes boulangeres are traditionally served with the rich beef stew – boeuf bourgignon, and here we nail the issue. Not boring at all – they are cooked simply and abstemiously on purpose, because bourgignon is such a wealth of flavour anything but plainly cooked potatoes would induce an instant heart attack – or at least a sensory overload.

How to make potatoes boulangeres

Bourgignon is not compulsory though – I’ve served these spuds with osso buco (creating a nice Franco-Italian marriage) or with venison in red wine sauce. Anything super rich in flavours will do well with this side – they are a humble squire to an opulent knight.


potatoes boulangères

Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • 1kg (2 pounds) medium sized potatoes, King Edward, Yukon Gold or Desiree
  • 1 large onion
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • salt and pepper
  • a few springs of thyme, leaves stripped
  • 1 sprig of rosemary, leaves stripped and finely chopped
  • 250ml (1 cup) hot chicken or vegetable stock


METHOD

1. Wash and scrub the potatoes; peel if you prefer. Peel the onion. Slice the potatoes thinly (4-5mm) and the onion very thinly on a mandolin.

Potatoes and onions

2. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/gas 5. Lightly butter a gratin dish. Layer the potatoes and onions in the dish, sprinkling them with salt, pepper, thyme and chopped rosemary as you go along. Finish with a layer of potatoes and pour over the hot stock. Season the top with salt and pepper and remaining herbs; and dot with butter.

Pommes Boulangeres

3. Bake for 60-70 minutes until the top is golden and crisp and most of the liquid has been absorbed.

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Hello! I'm Anna Gaze, the Cuisine Fiend. Welcome to my recipe collection.

I have lots of recipes for you to choose from: healthy or indulgent, easy or more challenging, quick or involved - but always tasty.


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