2987. POTATO-BACON TORTE

yields 4 servings plus leftovers


4 strips bacon

3 sprigs fresh thyme
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 pie crusts (recipe below) 

3 medium baking potatoes, peeled
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup grated Gruyere cheese
1 egg yolk, whisked with a splash of water

 

Pie Crust (yields 2 (9-inch) pie crusts):

1 cup butter (2 sticks), cubed and chilled
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
8 to 10 tablespoons ice water

Put the butter, flour, and salt in the food processor, and pulse lightly just until the mixture resembles wet sand. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing briefly after each spoonful of water. Keep adding water until the dough just begins to gather into larger clumps. Transfer equal amounts of the dough into 2 resealable plastic bags and pat each into a disk. Let rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Remove 1 of the disks from the bag to a flour coated surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to a 10-inch round. Gently fit the rolled dough into a 9-inch pie pan, and refrigerate while you prepare the torte ingredients.

 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until just crispy. Drain on paper towel lined plate and set aside. Crumble the bacon when cool to the touch.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the thyme and cream over low heat to a bare simmer. Turn off the heat and let steep for about 5 minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs.

Remove the pie pan from the refrigerator. Slice the potatoes in half lengthwise and then finely slice the potatoes. Working in circles, arrange the potato slices in the pie crust, stopping to season each layer with salt, pepper, and about 1/4 of the crumbled bacon. Continue layering until the pie pan is nearly full. Top with an even layer of the cheese and gently pour cream around and over the entire pie, allowing it to seep down between the potato slices. (You may not use all the cream.)

Roll out the remaining disk of refrigerated dough. Cover the pie with the dough and crimp the edges closed. Brush the top and edges of the crust with egg wash. Make a few slits in the center of the top crust, for the steam to escape, and put the pie pan on a baking sheet. Bake the torte until the crust is browned and crispy and the potatoes are cooked through, about 50 to 60 minutes. If the crust edges get too brown, cover them with some strips of aluminum foil. Remove the pie from the oven and let rest at least 15 minutes before cutting into wedges and serving.

 

 

bacon recipe courtesy of: Melissa d'Arabian, "Perfectly Priced Parisian," Ten Dollar Dinners, Food Network

2509. BACON and CHILI OIL CHOCOLATE TORTE

Bacon and Orange Zest Crust
1 cup chocolate wafers crumbs
¼ cup walnuts
4 strips (1/3 cup) bacon, diced
2 teaspoons orange zest (about 1 orange)
1 tablespoon grated dark chocolate
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/3 cup salted melted butter
Pinch salt
Pinch red pepper flakes

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. When it is hot, add the bacon and 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar. Keep the bacon moving around until it is cooked and crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on a paper towel. Then, in the same pan, brown the walnuts (about 5 minutes of stirring continually). In a food processor, add walnuts, cookies, and bacon. Process until all are in very fine crumbs. Place the walnuts, cookie and bacon crumbs in a large mixing bowl. Add orange zest, grated chocolate, the other tablespoon of brown sugar, butter, salt, and pepper flakes. Stir until it forms a loose mixture. Scoop mixture into a 9-in pie pan and mold into a pie crust. With a fork, make pricks in the crust to allow air to escape. Place in a 350°F oven and cook for 10 minutes. Set aside and let cool.


Chocolate and Chili Oil Filling
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup milk
10 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon chili oil
Pinch of Himalayan pink salt

In a pot over medium-low heat, bring milk and cream to a gentle simmer. Then, remove from burner and stir in the chocolate, chili oil, and salt. When the chocolate is melted, add a little bit of the mixture to a bowl in which you have beaten the eggs. Keep whisking to keep the eggs from cooking. Now that the temperature of the eggs is warm, add the egg mixture into the pan with the milk and chocolate. Keep whisking until the mixture is completely incorporated. Add filling to the chocolate and bacon crumb shell. Place in a 325°F oven and cook for 15-20 minutes, until chocolate is set. When the pie is finished cooking, remove from oven and let cool. Once cool, add some Himalayan pink salt on the top.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Down Home Foodie, February 15, 2012

2171. POTATO, BACON and LEEK TORTE

serves six


1 3/4lb waxy potatoes, parboiled and sliced - no need to peel
4 leeks, trimmed, washed and sliced
4oz smoked streaky bacon, derinded and chopped
2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp grain mustard
5fl oz dry white wine
4oz crème fraîche
1 tbsp vegetable oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Lightly oil a 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin. Heat the oil and cook the leeks and bacon until leeks are soft. Add the wine and reduce. Take off the heat and stir in mustard and herbs. Season well. Make a layer of 1/3 of the potatoes in the tin. Cover with half the leek mixture. Repeat above. Finish with a final layer of potatoes on top. Spread over the crème fraîche. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes until the cake is golden and piping hot.


bacon recipe courtesy of: BBC Food

1815. CANADIAN SALMON, POTATO and BACON TORTE

makes six servings


4½ cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups lard, diced
¾ cup boiling water
4 teaspoons lemon juice
1 large egg, beaten
2 tablespoons butter
6 medium slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cups peeled potatoes cut into ½-inch cubes
One 1-pound salmon steak, boned, skinned, and cut into ½-inch pieces
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and half of the diced lard and mix till well blended. Place the remaining 1 cup of lard in a small bowl, add the boiling water, stir well till lard is melted, and let cool slightly. Add the lemon juice and egg, blend well, pour the mixture over the flour mixture, and stir thoroughly to form a smooth dough. Turn out the dough on a lightly floured surface, knead lightly, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter a 9-by-2-inch baking dish and set aside.

In a large, heavy skillet, melt the butter over moderate heat, add the bacon, and stir till slightly browned. Add the onion and stir 2 minutes. Add the potatoes and stir for 1 minute. Add just enough water to cover, bring to a low boil, and cook till the potatoes are tender and some of the water has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the salmon and salt and pepper, stir, and let the mixture cool.

On a work surface, roll out half the chilled dough about ¼ inch thick, line the prepared baking dish with the dough, and fill the shell with the salmon mixture. Roll out the remaining dough, lay it over the filling, seal the edges by pressing them down with a fork, and cut several slits on top. Bake the torte for 15 minutes, reduce the heat to 350°F, and continue baking till the crust is golden, about 30 minutes longer.

Cut and serve the hot torte in wedges.


bacon recipe courtesy of: The Bacon Cookbook: More than 150 Recipes from Around the World for Everyone's Favorite Food by James Villas. Wiley, 2007

1350. POTATO TORTE with BACON, CABBAGE and CHEDDAR

yields 8 servings


1/2 head Savoy cabbage, shredded
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 pound bacon, diced
4 baking potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick
8 ounces cheddar Cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a 9-inch quiche pan or pie plate.

In a pot of boiling water, blanch the cabbage for 2 minutes. Drain and refresh in cold water. Pat dry. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the bacon and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.

With a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and toss with the cabbage. Add the potato slices to the skillet and toss to coat in the bacon drippings. Place one-third of the potatoes in the bottom of the prepared pan.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper and half the cheese. Top with half the bacon and cabbage mixture, salt and pepper, then repeat with one-third of the potatoes, remaining cheese, bacon and cabbage, salt and pepper, and end with a layer of potatoes.

Cover with a sheet of parchment paper and bake for 45 minutes. Remove parchment for last 5 minutes to let potatoes brown. Slice into wedges.


courtesy of: Razzle Dazzle Recipes