10.06.2011

Vegan MoFo - Day 6

Day 6 - Pommes Anna
Here is a dish that's beguiled* me for some time. Pommes Anna is a French potato gratin made of thinly sliced salted potatoes, bathed and baked in butter so as to form a cripsy potato cake. How purely wonderful does that sound? I like potatoes in all forms – boiled, roasted, smashed, fried, etc – but the simplicity of this dish struck a cord.

Pommes Anna - yes, that is a potato heart.
Bit o' History: Remember how I said this dish left me all spellbound* and whatnot? As it turns out, so the did the woman for whom this dish was named. During the time of Napoleon III, chef Adolphe Dugléré was working as the leading chef of Café Anglais - the hippest Parisian restuarant of the 19th-century. It was named, like many culinary triumphs in those days, after one of the grandes cocottes of the period. Grandes cocottes? Yes, whores. The actual Anna is not entirely known, though many speculate between actress Dame Judic (real name Anna Damiens), or Anna DesLions.


To make Pommes Anna, simply peel 2-3 large russet potatoes and slice 1/4-inch thick. Layer the potatoes in a cast-iron skillet, glass pie plate or a Pommes Anna copper pan, if you have one. Sprinkle each layer lightly with salt. In the meantime, melt 3-5 tablespoons of Earth Balance buttery vegan spread, or similar product, in a small pot. Once melted, pour the buttery spread over the potatoes. Cover and bake at 425 degrees F for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and bake an additional 20-30 minutes, until potatoes are soft and outer crust is golden-brown. Serve immediately on a warm plate and enjoy!

Pommes Anna garnished with black pepper and basil

14 comments:

  1. I just finished eating lunch and these pictures are making me hungry. Who doesn't love a good potato dish.

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  2. Oh, that looks so wonderful. I made pommes Anna once when I was a little kid-- I always wanted to make things out of the Joy of Cooking (which has a very similar but I'm sure very buttery recipe) and this was one of the ones that was within my grasp. Yours is much prettier though!

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  3. This is truly a thing of beauty! Simple, yet elegant, and looks sooo yummy!

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  4. Now I'm spellbound as well!

    That.
    Looks.
    Like.
    Heaven.

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  5. Wow, how gorgeous is that? I love your presentation with the heart too!

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  6. Most beautiful potato dish EVER! A work of art.

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  7. oh my god, this looks CRAZY GOOD. And I love the little potato heart!

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  8. Me again. Just wanted to let you know I'm sending you the Liebster award!
    http://abcvegan.blogspot.com/2011/10/drunk-fruit-and-liebster-award.html

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