Tag Archives: sides

Bacon Pommes Duchesse

Today I’m sharing this wonderful side dish with you. Pommes Duchesse filled with tiny bits of crispy bacon and crème fraiche. I can’t even begin to tell you how good these are.
They may seem a bit daunting but I can assure you that they are easier than you may think. It’s just fancy mashed potatoes squeezed onto a baking dish really.
I love potatoes served in any way, and sure there’s nothing wrong with a good ‘ol roast potato but this year , let’s go the extra mile.
Let me take you thru the steps; first you boil the potatoes , let them steam dry completely, then add butter and crème fraîche. Mash until smooth and season generously. Cook the bacon until crispy in a separate pan. Add to the mash with an egg yolk. Gently mix until combined.
Beat the egg white until peaks form and fold thru the mash potato. The beaten egg white gives the potatoes almost a soufflé like consistency. Then they are piped onto a baking sheet and baked until golden perfection in the oven.
We are completely in love with these fancy Pommes Duchesse!
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⏰ Prep time : 30 minutes
🍝 Cooking time : 20 – 25 minutes,
🍴 Serves : 6
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INGREDIENTS:
• 3 lbs. medium/ large potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 2 tsp. salt for the boiling water
• 4 oz. bacon cubed or sliced
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• a good grating of nutmeg
• salt to taste
• 3 tbsp soft butter
• 1/4 C. crème fraîche
• 1 egg, separated

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Place the peeled and quartered potatoes in a large pot and fill with cold water until half way up the potatoes, add the salt.
2. Bring to a medium boil with the lid half on and cook for about 20 minutes, until fully cooked and tender when pierced with a fork.
3. Turn off the heat. Drain, and return to stove with the lid off, let them steam dry.
4. Now pre heat the oven to 200° C / 400° F
5. Meanwhile gently and over low heat cook the bacon until very crispy, this can take up to ten minutes so be patient. You want to render out all the fat. Reserve the fat, we will use that later! Remove the bacon and place it on a kitchen paper to drain.
6. Process the bacon until very fine crumb in the food processor.
7. Now add the butter to the potatoes and start mashing, then add the crème fraîche.
8. Season with the onion, garlic, nutmeg and salt and taste.
9. Add the bacon crumbs.
10. Add the egg yolk and mix through with a wooden spoon.
11. Beat the egg white until stiff and fold through carefully not to lose air.
12. Get out a pastry bag and fit with a large nozzle of choice. Fill with the potato mixture. Alternatively use a large ziplock bag and cut off the corner.
13. On a baking sheet covered with parchment paper, pipe out rosettes the size of a ping-pong ball.
14. Brush carefully with the reserved bacon fat and place in the middle of the oven.
15. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and crispy. Serve straight away.

ENJOY!

If you make these Pomme Duchesse, be sure to leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you and if you love it, pin it. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! @thecookingspoonblog or hashtag it #thecookingspoonblog

Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Maple glazed Hazelnuts and Bacon

10 Replies

This side dish is going to blow your mind! Wait… side dish? What am I saying, it’s more than just a side dish, you don’t really need anything else, it’s that good.

I have to confess that I am a little bit obsessed with side dishes, I think they deserve more attention. It also has to do with the fact that I try not to eat carbs in the evening so I want to have something really spectacular to compensate for the lack of potatoes or rice. When I was eating these Brussels sprouts I almost forgot about the grilled chicken I had on the side and ate the entire dish of sprouts, oops.

Ok, I’ll admit that I was very full, but so satisfied.

Serves 4 (or 2 if you’re like me)

Ingredients;

1 lbs. Brussels sprouts, cleaned and shredded

1 small onion, peeled and diced as fine as you can

1 Garlic clove, peeled and grated or crushed

4 oz. smoked Bacon, cut in medium small dice (* Omit or use vegetarian bacon for vegetarians)

1/3 C. Hazelnuts, skin removed

2 tbsp. Butter

2 tbsp. Maple Syrup

salt and pepper

2 – 3 tbsp. Water

Method;

Over medium high heat fry the bacon for a few minutes in one tablespoon of butter. Once they start to get a little crispy and golden add the hazelnuts. Fry for about 4 minutes until the nuts become golden. Now add the Maple syrup and continue to cook for an other 3 minutes until all is nice and sticky and golden.

Place the nuts and bacon in a bowl and set aside.

Put the pan back on the heat and add the remaining tablespoon of butter. Once melted add the onions, the garlic and the Brussels sprouts after a minutes or so. Start sautéing, season with salt and black pepper. Add the two tablespoons of water and put a lid on the pan, leaving a side open, or use a lid with holes in it like I do.

Cook for about seven minutes or until they are tender to your liking. Return the hazelnuts and bacon to the pan and sautee for another minute until heated thru. Serve immediately.

Endive Gratin with Baked Apples, Blue cheese and Thyme

5 Replies

Serves 4 as a side dish

Who disliked Endives as a kid?… raise your hands….

Well I don’t know about you, but I really really disliked Endives when I was a child. Always prepared so very over cooked. Boiled and then rolled in some cheap ham and covered in cheese. It was bitter and the consistency was just aweful.

Thank goodness we have come a long way since then when it comes to being creative with endive. Really there is more than just Waldorf salad and the typical gratin.

I actually love this dish and some times I eat it with just some steamed new potatoes, it’s that satisfying. But I think it goes particularly well with white meats like chicken or pork.

Ingredients;

6 Large heads of Endive, about 1.5 lbs.

3 tbsp butter

2 tbsp. pine nuts

2 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced thin.

1 tablespoon fresh Thyme leafs

1/4 C. white wine

5 oz. blue cheese, 2 medium apples, peeled, core removed, cut in wedges

2 tbsp. honey

2 – 3 tbsp. pine nuts

Method;

In a large frying pan, melt one tablespoon of butter and when hot add the apples. Fry for about 5 minutes then add 1 tbsp. of honey, cook for another 3 to 5 minutes until golden brown. Transfer the apple slices to a plate and reserve.

Cut the endive in half lengthwise and remove bruised outer leafs if necessary. Slice away a small bit from the bottom.

In the same pan, add the remaining two tablespoons of butter. Add the endive cut side down and sprinkle over the thyme, season with salt and pepper.Cook for about 5 minutes before adding the garlic and the remaining honey, and turn them once in a while. Add the white wine. Depending on how thick they are, cook for about 10 to 15 minutes. Pierce with a knife to check if they are tender but still a little bit firm.

Turn on the grill.

Transfer the endive to a baking dish and gently place the baked apple wedges around the sides.

Cut the blue cheese in slices and divide over the endive. Sprinkle over the pine nuts.

Grill the endives for about 5 minutes until nice and melted and golden. Keep an eye on it!

Enjoy

Myra Xo

Not quite what you were looking for? How about a Beet Salad

Beet Salad

8 Replies

Prep time …. 5 MINUTES

Serves 4 as a side dish

This is such an insanely pretty colored dish. I always serve it either with meatballs or steak for some reason. I think it just goes really well with meat I guess.

I always try to save some for lunch the next day but I rarely succeed. You’ll see for yourself.

The great thing is that you use the vacuum packed beets, so it takes 5 minutes to make, how great is that? Ok, here we go….set the timer.