Comfort Food for a cold winter's day

    • Comfort Food for a cold winter's day

      Tartiflette comes from the French Alps, and I don't know of a more comforting food for a cold winter's day or a chilly autumn. This is the classic French recipe which originates from HERE. Nice pictures!



      Recipe Author: Karen Burns-Booth
      Borrowed image


      Author's Note: A classic "Ski Lodge" dish that originates from the Savoie region of France; smoky lardons are mixed with onions, potatoes and cubes of creamy melted Reblochon cheese that results in an unctuous and deliciously rich "comfort food" dish - the perfect meal after a day out on the slopes.

      Serves 4
      Prep time 15 minutes
      Cook time 25 minutes
      Total time 40 minutes

      Ingredients:
      1.2kg potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
      200g smoked lardons (or smoked streaky bacon cut into small pieces)
      2 large pink or red onions, peeled and diced (or 10 pink shallots)
      2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely diced
      150mls dry white wine
      1 x 500g Reblochon cheese
      6 tablespoons crème fraiche
      butter
      salt and pepper

      Directions

      Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas mark 6 and butter an oven-proof gratin dish or shallow casserole dish.

      Boil the potatoes until just soft. Drain them and allow them to cool before cutting them into slices.

      Meanwhile, fry the lardons (or bacon pieces), onions and garlic until the lardons are crisp and the onions and garlic are soft and translucent.

      Add half of the wine to the lardons and onion mixture, turn the heat up and de-glaze the wine for 2 to 3 minutes until half of it has cooked down with the other ingredients.

      Add the cooked potatoes to the lardon and onion mixture and gently mix together. Spoon half of the mixture into the prepared dish.

      Cut the Reblochon cheese in half through the centre, and the cut the two halves into cubes.

      Scatter half of the Reblochon cheese cubes over the lardon and onion mixture, crust side up, then spoon the remaining lardon and onion mixture over the top. Pour over the remaining wine and spoon the crème fraiche over the top. Season with salt (not too much as the lardons are salty) and pepper.

      Scatter the rest of the Reblochon cheese cubes over the top, crust side up again, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese has melted and the tartiflette is golden brown and bubbling.

      Serve hot from the oven with salad, cornichons (gherkins), pickled onions, charcuterie and crusty bread.

      And that, is what I'm having tonight. It's scrummy! :P



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