1610. JERSEY ROYALS GRATIN with BACON and WATERCRESS

serves four


250 grams back bacon, roughly chopped
250ml half fat crème fraîche
150ml vegetable stock
3 cloves garlic, crushed
750 grams Jersey Royals new potatoes, scrubbed and halved
100 grams bag watercress, roughly chopped
50 grams Gruyère, grated

Place the bacon in a large, non-stick frying pan and cook over a medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally until browned.

Add the crème fraîche to the pan, then stir in the stock and add the garlic. Bring to the boil. Add the potatoes, bring to a simmer then cover and cook for 20-25 minutes, until the potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife. Remove the lid and cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to reduce the liquid slightly. Season with freshly ground black pepper.

Remove from the heat and stir in the watercress. Pour into a warmed 1.5-litre ovenproof dish (or use the frying pan if the handle is heatproof) and top with the cheese. Place under a preheated hot grill and cook for 3-4 minutes or until golden. Serve with more watercress, some cucumber strips dressed with a little balsamic vinegar or fresh lemon juice, and some warmed bread to mop up the sauce.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Waitrose, Online Grocery Shopping, Waitrose Limited, Doncastle Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YA, UK