Dec 18, 2009

Potatoes a la Boulangère

Boulangere

Quickie posting!

This is a classic and simple French potato dish that stole my heart the moment I took my very first bite. It was probably the pure flavors that did me in—I’ve always been a sucker for that—because it sure is no fancy cooking. Basically they’re stock-infused, alternating potato and onion layers. So simple, but oh so good when served with a nice juicy steak and some greens on the side. You just can’t go wrong with this recipe!  

 Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds potatoes
2 small onions
1/3 cup vegetable broth
1/3 cup milk
1 or 2 oz butter
pepper
salt

Optional: garlic powder & dried parsley

 
Directions:

Peel and thinly slice 1 1/2 pounds potatoes. Feel free to use a mandolin. Rinse the potato slices to remove the surface starch and dab them dry with a tea towel.
Boulangere

Thinly slice 2 smaller or 1 fairly large onion.
Boulangere

Start layering. Make as many layers as you like and season each layer with a generous amount of salt and black pepper. I opted for 2 layers of each. Traditionally you’re supposed to end with potatoes so they’ll get all crunchy, but I prefer ending with onions.
Boulangere

Combine 1/3 cup steaming hot vegetable (or chicken) broth with 1/3 cup of milk. I‘ve added some garlic powder and a touch of dried parsley for extra flavor and color. In stead of adding garlic powder, you can also rub the oven tray with a large garlic clove you cut in half.
Boulangere

Pour the hot broth mix over the potatoes and top the casserole with tiny pieces of butter. Not too much, about 1 oz or maybe 2 if you like your potatoes buttery. Cover the baking tray with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350F (180C) for 40 minutes.
Boulangere

Remove the foil after 40 minutes and put them back in the oven (uncovered) for another 35 to 40 minutes, give or take a few minutes. Until the top layer is slightly golden brown and crispy. Check the potatoes for readiness.
Boulangere

Variation: for a little extra flavor, add a few hands full of cheese during the last 15 minutes baking time.

 
This is no fancy or gourmet cooking. But that really doesn’t matter as long as it makes my guys happy. And that it does.
Boulangere

Potatoes a la Boulangère
Ingredients
    1 pound tomatoes
    2 spring onions
    1 large garlic clove
    1/2 tsp Ras el Hanout
    lemon zest (about 1/4 tsp)
    3 tbsp olive oil
    1 tbsp red wine vinegar
    fresh flat-leaf parsley
    fresh dill
    pepper
    salt
Directions
    Peel the tomatoes if you like. Cut them in half, gently squeeze out the seeds and finely mince them. Mince the spring onion, a small handful of fresh dill and a handful of flatleaf parsley, add it to the chopped tomatoes.Season with a generous amount of salt and pepper.

    In a bowl you combine 3 tbsp (extra virgin) olive oil, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, a grated garlic clove and about 1/4 to 1/2 a tsp lemon zest. Mix it up, pour it in with the tomato salad, combine and taste to check the seasoning.

    Sprinkle 1/2 tsp Ras el Hanout and carefully stir it in.
Variations For a little extra flavor you can add a few hands full of cheese during the last 15 minutes baking time.
Meal type: side dish
Servings: 4
copyright © kayotickitchen.com
Dec 3, 2009

Bitterballen

  When you order bitterballen in my country—usually during a night out in one of our cozy ‘brown’ bars—you’ll be served a plateful of deliciously golden brown, crunchy deep-fried meatballs. Ragout and meat, that is. But in reality these crispy little numbers can be filled with a variety of things. Anywhere from veal, chicken or beef ragout, to mashed potatoes, cheese, chicken satay mix and vegetables. Just like our kroketten. Give them an…