Julia Child Potato Pancakes Recipes

GRATED POTATO GALETTES à LA JULIA CHILD (ADAPTED FROM THE WAY TO COOK)

Steps:

• Several hours or a day in advance: Scrub the potatoes under hot running water; then steam them for 15 to 20 minutes, until the potatoes are almost but not quite cooked. After 15 minutes, pierce one with a sharp small knife which should just penetrate. Cut one of the potatoes in half crosswise: if there is a raw central core, steam for several minutes more. (If the central core is not cooked through, it can discolor.) Let the potatoes cool uncovered or refrigerated; the potatoes must be thoroughly cold before you grate them.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium low heat without stirring. Once the butter is melted, allow to sit for 5 minutes. Then carefully pour off the clarified butter. Disgard the milk solids or use for another purpose. (See Tip 2)
• Peel the cold potatoes and grate with the large holes of a box grater onto a baking sheet or tray. (See Tip 3)
• Toss potatoes lightly with a sprinkling of salt (try 1/2 teaspoon) and pepper (try 1/4 teaspoon), leaving them loosely massed; set aside until time to cook the galette.
• Heat half of the clarified butter in a 10-inch non-stick skillet over medium heat. When hot, add grated potatoes. Cook over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, pressing the potatoes together lightly with a spatula, until the bottom has crusted and browned. Flip onto a plate; add remaining clarified butter and slide galette back into pan. Cook for another 10 to 15 minutes or until crispy and golden brown. Cut into serving pieces. Yield: 4 servings. (See Tips 4 and 5)

POTATO PANCAKES

Steps:

• Set a large strainer or colander over a bowl and line it with a clean kitchen towel. Using a box grater, grate the potatoes and onion into the strainer. Using the towel, squeeze as much liquid from the potatoes and onion as possible. Transfer the mixture to another bowl and stir in the flour, eggs, chives, baking powder, salt and pepper.
• Coat the bottom of an 8-inch nonstick skillet with oil and add a couple of tablespoons of butter. Heat over medium heat until the butter foam subsides. Spoon about 1 3/4 cups of the potato mixture into the pan and press to fill the circumference. Fry over medium heat, flipping once, until the pancake is golden and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Drain the pancake on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining batter.

JULIA CHILD'S PROVENçAL POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees and place a rack at the middle level. In a large saucepan, combine onions and 2 tablespoons olive oil and stir to coat over low heat. Sprinkle lightly with salt. At a gentle simmer, cook uncovered until onions are softened and lightly golden, 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. Do not brown; lower the heat if necessary. When done, fold in tomatoes just until heated through. Set aside.
• In a small food processor or a mortar, add the anchovies - anywhere from 6 to 12 fillets, depending on their size and your taste. Add garlic, herbs and a dozen grinds of pepper. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil (or use the oil from the anchovy can, if you like). Crush or pulse together into a chunky paste, thinning with oil as needed to make a loose, fluid mixture.
• In a medium-size baking dish, spread a quarter of the onion-tomato mixture. On top, arrange half the potato slices, then half the anchovy mixture. Add half the remaining onion-tomato mixture. Build one more layer with remaining potato slices, anchovy mixture and onion-tomato mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top and drizzle with olive oil.
• If the dish is very full, place on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake, uncovered, until potatoes are tender and have absorbed all of the juices in the bottom of the dish, 40 to 50 minutes. Test by tasting a bit of potato; it should be soft all the way through, with no raw taste. If the top is browning too fast, cover very loosely with a sheet of foil. If the top is not brown enough when the potatoes are cooked, broil briefly until deliciously glazed.
• Serve gratin hot or warm. Can be cooled and reheated later the same day, but do not refrigerate.