2209. POTATO GRATIN with BACON, GREEN GARLIC and GRUYERE

serves 6 to 8


½ cup bacon, cut in 1/8-by-1/8-by-2-inch sticks
¼ cup minced green garlic, white and light green parts only
1¼ cups heavy cream
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds russet potatoes
1 cup grated Gruyère

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook the bacon until it just starts to brown. Stir in the green garlic, and then add the cream. Heat until just warm. Season generously with salt and pepper. (It should taste a bit oversalted, in order to season the potatoes.)

Peel the potatoes and cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Overlap about a quarter of the slices along the bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan.

Pour about a quarter of the garlic-bacon cream over the potatoes, making sure the bacon is evenly distributed. Repeat making layers with the remaining potatoes and cream. Press the potatoes gently to compact them. Sprinkle with the Gruyère and bake until the top is golden brown and the potatoes are just tender, 50 to 60 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Daniel Patterson, "Garlic Defanged" | "Food: The Way We Eat," The New York Times, May 18, 2008