Author Hillary Davis of French Comfort Food has assembled just the grandest collection of comfort food ideas. This recipe, from the Haute-Savoie Region of the French Alps, is her proposal for wintery nights.
I made this dish and I think wintry nights would be improved with these potatoes on the table. So are autumn and spring. Deep summer? Yes, even then, after the sun goes down. A little of this with a barbequed steak is a summer experience that you want to share.
This dish is rich, blissfully adorned with cream and bacon and cheese. The relative proportions here give you a dish where no one flavor dominates, but all the flavor notes percolate as you enjoy each and every bite. This is a fabulous “one dish” meal. Maybe a side salad if you want a little flavor break. Certainly a cold white wine of distinction, because this dish is distinguished.
Potato, Bacon, Cheese, and Wine Casserole
Yield: serves 6
Ingredients:
- 2 large cloves garlic
- Butter or duck fat to grease the baking dish
- 2 ½ pounds (1.2 kg) Idaho or russet potatoes, peeled and sliced in half
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion, peeled, cut into quarters, then thinly sliced
- ½ pound (225 g) thick-cut bacon, sliced into ½-inch (1.5-cm) pieces
- Salt and coarsely ground black pepper, to taste
- ¾ cup (180 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine
- 1 pound (450 g) Reblochon, Gruyere, Swiss, Raclette, or Pont I’Eveque cheese, cut into thick slices
Preparation:
Peel garlic, mince 1 clove, and slice the other in half. Rub the halves of garlic all over the inside of the baking dish then liberally grease with either butter or duck fat.
Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C).
Place the potatoes in the saucepan, cover with j water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and cook until a knife can be inserted easily, about 14 minutes. Cool to room temperature then thinly slice.
Heat the olive oil in the large skillet and add the onion and minced garlic. Cook for 10-12 minutes on medium until light golden brown. At the same time, in the other skillet, cook the bacon until crisp. Transfer the bacon, plus 1 tablespoon of bacon fat to the skillet with the onion and mix well to combine.
Arrange a layer of overlapping potatoes in the bottom of the baking dish. Liberally sprinkle salt and pepper over the top, and then layer on all of the bacon and onion mixture. Arrange another layer of potatoes over the top, liberally salt and pepper, and pour the cream then the wine over the potatoes.
Layer the cheese slices over the top and bake for 30 minutes. Turn off the oven and allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes in the oven. Serve with a crisp white wine and green salad.
Ideas and Substitutions:
I also love using Brie cheese for this dish. Buy 2 (8-ounce / 230-g) wheels; gently scrape off the rind then slice both in half horizontally. Place the 4 rounds on top of the casserole before it goes into the oven to bake.
This casserole can be put together several hours ahead and baked just before serving.
Source: French Comfort Food by Hillary Davis [Gibbs Smith, 2014]
Photo Information: Canon T2i, EFS 60mm Macro Lens, F/5 for1/50th second at ISO‑3200
