Alpine Potatoes Recipes

ÄLPLERMAGRONEN (SWISS ALPINE MACARONI AND CHEESE)

Steps:

• To make the bacon lardons: add the bacon pieces to a cold frying pan and turn on the heat to medium heat. Cook lardons, stirring regularly, until the fat renders and the bacon is browned and crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove lardons with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• To make the caramelized onions: In a frying pan over medium-low heat melt the butter. Alternatively cook the onions in 2 tablespoons bacon fat if you are cooking bacon lardons for the garnish (just use the same frying pan and remove all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan). Add the onions, season with salt, and cook, stirring regularly until soft and golden, about 30 minutes. Set aside.
• To make the applesauce: Place the apples in a saucepan with water and cover. Simmer gently on medium-low heat, stirring once or twice, until the apple is completely tender, about 20 minutes. Mash with a fork until smooth. Set aside.
• To make the macaroni: Add the cubed potatoes to a large pot and cover generously with salted water. Bring to a boil, add the macaroni and continue to cook until the macaroni is barely al dente and the potatoes are tender. The exact time will depend on the macaroni shape. It's about 10 minutes for ziti. If using a smaller shape with shorter cook time (like elbows which need only 6 minutes for al dente) you may want to boil the potatoes for a couple minutes on their own before adding the macaroni. Drain the macaroni and potatoes.
• Return to the drained macaroni and potatoes to the pot, add the cream and return to medium heat. Stir until the cream starts to heat up (a minute or so) and then add the grated cheese, a little salt, and a bit of freshly grated nutmeg. Keep stirring until the cheese has melted into a thick and luscious sauce.
• Serve the cheesy Alpine macaroni on individual plates topped with caramelized onions, crispy bacon lardons (optional), and with applesauce on the side to eat either with the macaroni or afterwards as dessert based on personal preference.

TARTIFLETTE - ALPINE MELTED CHEESE, BACON AND POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas mark 5.
• Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook the potatoes whole, in their skins, for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the onion and bacon in the butter in a heavy frying pan over a medium heat; they should sweat but not brown. When they are cooked, discard the fat and add the glass of wine and the creme fraiche and mix well.
• Drain the potatoes and as soon as they are cool enough to handle peel them - the quicker the better. Slice thinly across.
• Choose an ovenproof earthenware dish and rub it well with the cut halves of garlic. Layer half the sliced potatoes across the base, season them with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then scatter over half the onion and bacon mixture.
• Cut the Reblochon cheese in half through the centre of the cheese, leaving you with a cut edge and a skin/rind edge, then lay one half of the cheese on top of the potato, bacon and onion mixture. Add the remaining bacon and onion mixture followed by the rest of the potatoes and more seasoning.
• Place the remaining half of cut Reblochon cheese skin/rind side up on top of the potatoes. Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 180C/350'F/gas mark 4 for a further 20-25 minutes. The Reblochon should melt within its skin and the cheese drip down throughout the dish, while the potatoes will become crispy and golden brown.
• Tartiflette is a filling dish and all you really need to go with it is a mixed green salad, crusty French bread and a selection of pickles.

ALPINE POTATOES

Steps:

• In saucepan, cook and stir butter and soup until smooth.
• Remove from heat; add sour cream.
• Add onions, celery, and cheese; mix well.
• Add salt, pepper and diced potatoes; mix well.
• Pour into 9x13 baking pan; top with potato chips.
• Bake at 350* for 45-55 minutes.

TARTIFLETTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Add bacon to a cold (10- to 12-inch) skillet and place the pan over medium heat. Let bacon cook until some of the fat renders and the edges turn golden, about 7 to 10 minutes. (You're not looking to crisp the bacon.)
• Add onions to the pan and raise the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and soft, about 10 minutes longer. Stir in garlic, thyme and nutmeg, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
• Add potatoes, wine, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and toss until well combined. Cover the pan and cook, stirring every once in a while so nothing sticks, until potatoes are just tender and the liquid has mostly evaporated, 20 to 25 minutes. If the pan dries out while the potatoes are cooking, add a splash or two of water.
• Leaving the rind on, cut the cheese into slices or wedges. Stir crème fraîche into the potatoes, then nestle the cheese in evenly. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake, uncovered, until the cheese melts and the potatoes are very tender, 25 to 35 minutes. Serve hot or warm.