Best Alsatian Potato Casserole Recipes

BAECKEOFFE (MEAT AND POTATOES CASSEROLE)

Steps:

• Place the meats in a large bowl with the onions, carrots and garlic. Add the thyme, bay leaves, parsley, cloves, peppercorns and salt. Pour the wine over and stir. Place in the refrigerator and allow to marinate 12 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Peel and wash the potatoes and cut into 1/4 inch slices. Drain the meat, reserving the vegetables and the marinade. Arrange a layer of the potatoes in a 2 qt flameproof, earthenware pot with tight fitting lid. Scatter some vegetables from the marinade over the potato layer, then add a layer of meat. Continue alternating layers, finishing with a layer of potatoes. Pour the marinade over the potatoes.
• Lutage - This is the method of sealing the lid so that no evaporation can take place. In a small bowl, mix enough water with the flour to produce a smooth, thick paste. Roll it into a long sausage shape and place it around the edge of the pot. Place the lid firmly on the pot, pressing down to ensure a perfect seal.
• Bake for 3 hours. Remove the pot from the oven and break the circle of pastry. Carefully remove the lid. Serve the baeckeoffe directly from the pot with a loaf of crusty bread.

ALSATIAN POTATO PIE

Steps:

• Cover potatoes with water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add a pinch of salt; cook until just tender, 13 to 15 minutes. Drain. Let cool.
• Bring 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons cream, garlic, and nutmeg to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook until mixture is reduced by half. Season with salt and pepper.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add leek; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley; season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 400°. Whisk egg yolk and remaining 1 table- spoon cream in a small bowl; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, divide puff pastry into two 6-by-13-inch rectangles. Set one rectangle on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Top with half of potatoes, leaving a 1/2-inch border all around and overlapping slightly, then half of leek mixture and 3/4 cup cheese; season with salt and pepper. Repeat layering with remaining potatoes, leek mixture, and cheese. Brush edges of pastry with egg wash. Cover with remaining pastry rectangle; gently press edges with a fork to seal. Cut 2-inch slits lengthwise in center of crust, 2 inches apart. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with parsley sprigs. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Bake until golden brown and puffy, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven; pour cream mixture into pie vents with a funnel. Bake 10 minutes more. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

BIBELESKäS (ALSATIAN POTATOES AND CHEESE)

Steps:

• Peel and cut the potatoes into bite-sized chunks.
• In a frying pan, heat up the oil, put in the potatoes and let them brown (about 10 minutes). Lower the heat, cover and cook for another 5-10 minutes until they are done. Stir often.
• While the potatoes are cooking, wash and mince the chives and parsley separately. Place them in ramekins in the refrigerator.
• Peel and mince the onion and garlic separately. Place them in ramekins in the refrigerator.
• When you are ready to serve, put the ramekins in the center of the table (including bacon if using) and open the tubs of fromage blanc. Put the fromage blanc in a serving bowl with a large serving spoon or ladle. Each person should serve themselves and mix into the fromage blanc whichever ingredients they'd like. You can either mix the potatoes in with the cheese mixture or dip it. There is usually as much of the cheese mixture as potatoes on the plate.
• ***Feel free to play around with the herbs and add fresh herbs to change the flavor of the fromage blanc.

POTATOES A L'ALSACIENNE

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and cut into 1 inch pieces.
• Place in a pan of salted water, bring to the boil and cook for 5 minutes.
• Drain well and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a frying pan with the olive oil, add the onions and bacon and cook for about 5 minutes or until the bacon fat begins to run.
• Add the potatoes and cook for a further 10 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and crisp turning occasionally.
• Add the herbs, salt and pepper and mix well.
• Serve immediately.

ALSATIAN POTATO PIE

Steps:

• Cover potatoes with water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Season water with salt; cook until just tender, 13 to 15 minutes. Drain, and let cool.
• Bring 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons cream, the garlic, and nutmeg to a boil in a small saucepan. Cook mixture until reduced by half. Season with salt and pepper.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add leek; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley; season with salt and pepper.
• Whisk egg yolk and remaining 1 tablespoon cream in a small bowl. On a lightly floured surface, roll out and trim dough into two 13-by-6-inch rectangles. (If necessary, overlap edges of two smaller pieces to form a larger rectangle; brush overlap with water to seal, then roll out.) Set 1 rectangle on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Top with half the potatoes, leaving a 1/2-inch border all around and overlapping potatoes slightly. Top with half the leek mixture and half the cheese; season with salt and pepper. Repeat layering with remaining potatoes, leeks, and cheese. Brush edges of dough with egg wash. Cover with remaining dough rectangle; gently press edges with a fork to seal. Cut 2-inch slits crosswise in center of crust, 2 inches apart, to let steam escape. Brush with egg wash. Refrigerate pie until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake until golden brown and puffy, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven. Pour cream mixture into pie vents with a metal funnel. Bake 10 minutes more. Transfer pie to a wire rack, and let stand 15 minutes before serving.