December 17, 2009

Tartiflette Weather

When it gets really cold in New Orleans people like to say, "it's Gumbo weather." Here in France, when the temperature dips this low (-3 degrees C this morning and I doubt it will get above freezing today) I like to say," it's Tartiflette weather."



Now, I realize that because I live in the Languedoc I should be saying, "it's Cassoulet weather." (I say that sometimes too)
But who can resist a dish of layered potatoes, onions, bacon and crème fraîche, smothered with bubbly, melted Reblochon cheese?
Not me!

The recipe is super easy and I like to serve it with a big green salad so I don't feel so bad about all the cream and cheese I've just inhaled.

Tartiflette
serves 4
  • 2 pounds potatoes
  • 8 ounces lardons fumé or cubed, smoked bacon
  • 1 onion
  • 1 Reblochon cheese, sliced in half crosswise
  • 2 tablespoons crème fraiche or heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Peel potatoes and boil in salted water until cooked through. When finished, drain and cut in thick slices.
  3. Sauté the bacon until cooked through, but not crisp, then add the onions and sauté until softened.
  4. Cover the bottom of a gratin dish with slices of potatoes, then with a layer of the onions and bacon. Repeat with the potatoes, etc...
  5. Add the cream, pour the wine over and cover with the halved Reblochon, rind on top.
  6. Put in the oven and cook at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to 350 degrees and cook about 15 minutes more, until the Reblochon is melted and golden.

If you're not in France, Reblochon can be purchased through amazon.com

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19 comments:

spacedlaw said...

I am drooling all over my keyboard and I just had lunch (which was just an assortment of fruits, that might explain the drooling).

For all its artery clogging glory, the tartiflette is simply magnificent.

Lisa Fain (Homesick Texan) said...

What a high-class potato dish! If I can't find Reblochon, what would be a good substitute?

peteyb said...

awesome dish, will make this for the holiday season. thanks for the post.

juliwalters said...

Holy crap.

Sandy said...

Yummy for your cold tummy!! Thank you for this one!

Unknown said...

Lucky for my thighs, I hate reblochon and I don't eat pork! Great excuse to avoid this one! But, I must say, I understand the comfort food in the cold kind of feeling. I could go for bottomless hot chocolate and soup!

Anonymous said...

Tartiflette is one of my cold-weather favorites, too!

Garry said...

I was already planning to make this for a work pot luck lunch tomorrow. This cements my thought. I can't wait for lunch on Friday.

We in Calgary Canada are celebrating the warmer weather this week - a high of about 0 celcius after -35 and lower for the past two weeks.

Michelle French said...

Talk about some comfort food! YUM!...

deb said...

I have a friend who has made this for us twice. Being Americans, we're always saying "oh no, I can't believe I'm eating so much cream; oh no, I can't believe I'm eating so much cheese..." while shoveling forkfuls of the deliciousness in our mouths. Oh, and she calls it "a simple student meal" back home, which never fails to make us laugh as our "simple student meals" are ramen from a freeze-dried bag.

[Lisa, my friend makes it with Raclette, but maybe that's just what she can get here. She actually walked into Garden of Eden once and asked if she could buy a wheel of it.]

Jennifer said...

spacedlaw
An assortment of fruits???
You need some Tartiflette as soon as the cheese ban has been lifted.

Lisa
It is so good. Perfect when the weather outside is frightful!
Some say that you could substitute Fontina or Muenster or Gruyère. Or a combo of the last two.
I would be curious to hear from anyone who has actually tried these cheeses as a replacement.

peteyb
You're welcome!

Juli
I know. So good, it's scary.

Sandy
I hope you try it. You'll be happy you did!

Lindsey
No, this dish definitely isn't for you then. :)
Hot chocolate and soup works too.

croquecamille
I could eat it about once a week. But I want to continue to fit into these jeans.

Garry
That temperature sounds horrific! You need dishes like this to keep you going!

Michelle
One of the reasons I love the cold weather.

deb
My "simple student meals" were Kraft Mac & Cheese and, like you said, packaged ramen.
Tartiflette would have been so gourmet back then!

Betty Carlson said...

I don't make tartiflette a lot but love it. More into raclette -- call it the working family's tartiflette! We had our first one last weekend; it's definitely been raclette weather too!

Jennifer said...

Betty
I've only had raclette 2 times, but think it is wonderful!

Andreas said...

Loved that receipe - thank you!! Reminded me of another cheese/potato dish which I came across in St Pons a few years ago: Truffade - very delicous too, uses tomme fraiche.

Jennifer said...

Andreas
Yes, truffade! A wonderful dish.

janine@thegoodlifefrance said...

Tartiflette-tastic! Does it for me...!

French Girl in Seattle said...

AH.... Do you know what this photo does to an expat French girl who can't get her hands on Reblochon??? Thank goodness for Raclette! My friends at Trader Joes even sell sliced Raclette cheese once in a while. We have it several times a year for our American friends here. Everyone loves it. You put me in the mood for Tartiflette though. I just looked it up on Amazon. They sell Reblochon-like cheese but not the actual thing from what I can see. I will have to call Whole Foods. They may be able to find some. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

I have a recipe ready, had some at the French Market the other week ..mmmm tasty,

I am not sure what we say here in England, .. might be "Soup Weather"!

Jennifer said...

Janine
Enjoy!

Véronique
I hope Whole Foods comes through for you. (sorry to have tempted you...)

Anne
There's nothing like it! :)