Tartiflette: A French-Style Cheesy Potato Bake
One of my bucket list items has always been to go skiing in the French Alps. I’m not a particularly impressive skier, but I enjoy the sport and, more importantly, the experience that goes with it.
Tartiflette
I love the snow and fresh air of the mountains. I love relaxing around the fire pits that are usually set up at ski resorts, as well as the steak dinner that typically follows.
In the French Alps, I’d be able to add authentic tartiflette to that dinner menu. Tartiflette is a cheesy baked potato dish made in the Alpine region of France using reblochon cheese, a creamy, soft cheese that’s unique to the area.
Le Fromage
Reblochon is luxurious in texture and has a strong, nutty quality. It’s the inspiration behind tartiflette, which is a dish used to promote this type of cheese.
But reblochon can be difficult to come by here in the States. You probably won’t find it at your local market.
Instead, when I make tartiflette at home, I use creamy brie as a substitute. While the brie doesn’t have that nutty taste, it does offer a similar texture and makes the dish feel just as indulgent.
Aux Lardons
Another wonderful component of tartiflette are the lardons, known to us as bacon. Who doesn’t love some crispy bacon in their potatoes?
The bacon is fried in a hot pan until crisp, then temporarily removed so that the onion and shallots can be cooked in the residual fat. This bacon-onion mixture is then layered with thin slices of potato, chunks of cheese, and heavy cream before it’s baked into glorious tartiflette.
Après-Ski
Obviously, this dish is not light or particularly low-calorie. However, if you’re enjoying it after a day skiing, cross-country skiing, or even just a long hike on a cool day, it can definitely hit the spot.
At home, I prefer making tartiflette in smaller portions and serving it as a side. With a nicely seared steak, tartiflette is definitely a welcome addition on a winter table.
Tartiflette
A comforting, après-ski dish of creamy, cheesy potatoes baked until hot and bubbly.
Ingredients
- 4 small russet potatoes, peeled
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 shallot, minced
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2" pieces
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 4 oz . brie, rind removed
- salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Place the potatoes in the water and boil over medium heat for about 15 minutes, just until they're tender. You don't need them to be mashed-potato tender, but they should be mostly cooked. Drain the potatoes and set aside to cool.
- To the saucepan, add the bacon pieces and cook until the bacon is crisp. Use a slotted spoon to temporarily remove the bacon from the pan and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Add the sliced onions and minced shallots to the saucepan and cook until softened and translucent - about 5 minutes. Add the bacon back to the pan and give the mixture a stir to combine. Remove from the heat.
- Slice the potatoes into thin slices (think scalloped potatoes). Brush an 8" oven-safe dish or a couple of crock-bowls with the softened butter. Arrange half of the potatoes slices in the pan, overlapping each other if necessary to fill gaps.
- Sprinkle a small pinch of salt and pepper to the potatoes, then add half of the bacon-onion mixture. Grab half of the brie and tear off chunks to place evenly over the top of the mixture in the pan. Pour half of the heavy cream all over. Arrange the remaining potato slices in one even layer, then again top with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Add the remaining bacon-onion mixture, pour the remaining heavy cream, and top with chunks of brie.*
- Bake for approximately 15 minutes - the cheese should be bubbling and the potatoes should be tender.
Notes
*Depending on what size pan you used and how small your potatoes actually were, you may have some extra potato slices leftover.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 4 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 505
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Any chance this recipe can be cooked in a slow cooker?
Hi Fran, I’ve never made this in a slow cooker so I wouldn’t be able to comment for sure. If you are comfortable with making potatoes in the slow cooker, then I would say give it a try! 🙂
This tasted delicious however it was so soupy on the bottom. It wasn’t thick and creamy. I’m a fairly advanced cook so I’m not sure what I did wrong.
Hi Erin, it shouldn’t be soupy on the bottom. That most likely means you needed to cook the tartiflette longer for more of the liquid to be absorbed. I also suggest letting the dish rest for 15 minutes before serving so that it has some time to cool a bit and set. 🙂
My husband took one bit and said “oh my god!” This is the most delicious potato dish ever. Can’t eat it every day, or we’d be as big as a house, but will certainly have again and again. Thank you for helping us bring France home with wonderful meals.
Oh how fabulous!! Thanks so much for sharing this feedback <3 Happy to help bring France home 🙂
I was able to buy the reblochon cheese when I made this dish at my daughters in Germany. Oh my! It was so delicious. I haven’t made this since because the cheese is not available in my neck of the woods. Deelish.
It is definitely tricky to find the reblochon, but oh man its so good when you can! P.S. that’s so cool your daughter lives in Germany, Vicky! 🙂
What a fantastic combination of flavors, Beeta. I could eat this any time of day. In fact, I just had lunch and now I’m hungry again! 😉
The website is fun and mouthwatering.
It has all the elements and eleglance
of grand-mère’ cooking. Also, a view of New cuisine and the influence of
Other new flavors. Yum
Thank you so much, Danielle! That is so kind of you to say. I appreciate your readership and sweet words! bisous <3