Potato Galette Cooks Illustrated Food

POTATO GALETTE COOK'S ILLUSTRATED

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Place potatoes in large bowl and fill with cold water. Using hands, swirl to remove excess starch, then drain in colander. Spread potatoes onto kitchen towels and thoroughly dry. Whisk 4 tablespoons butter, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and rosemary (if using) together in large bowl. Add dried potatoes and toss until thoroughly coated. Place remaining tablespoon butter in heavy bottomed 10-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet and swirl to coat. Place 1 potato slice in center of skillet then overlap slices in circle around center slice, -followed by outer circle of overlapping slices. Gently place remaining sliced potatoes on top of first layer, arranging so they form even thickness. Place skillet over medium-high heat and cook until sizzling and potatoes around edge of skillet start to turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Spray 12-inch square of foil with nonstick cooking spray. Place foil, sprayed side down, on top of potatoes. Place 9-inch cake pan on top of foil and fill with 2 cups pie weights. Firmly press down on cake pan to compress potatoes. Transfer skillet to oven and bake 20 minutes. Remove cake pan and foil from skillet. Continue to cook until potatoes are tender when paring knife is inserted in center, 20 to 25 minutes. Return skillet to medium heat on stovetop and cook, gently shaking pan (use potholder-handle will be hot), until galette releases from sides of pan, 2 to 3 minutes. Off heat, place cutting board over skillet. With hands protected by oven mitts or potholders, using 1 hand to hold cutting board in place and 1 hand on skillet handle, carefully invert skillet and cutting board together. Lift skillet off galette. Using serrated knife, gently cut into wedges and serve immediately.

POTATO GALETTES WITH SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, then cut them lengthwise in long matchsticks, using the finest julienne blade of a mandoline. Spread the potatoes out neatly in one layer on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, roll the towel up, and squeeze lightly to dry the potatoes without breaking them up. Put the potatoes into a bowl and toss them with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a small (8-inch) omelet pan (a saute pan with sloped sides) over medium heat. Add half of the potatoes to the pan and press lightly with a large metal spatula to make the shreds lie flat. Cook them undisturbed for 5 minutes. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the butter around the edge of the pan and cook the potatoes for another 3 to 5 minutes, until nicely browned on the bottom. Loosen the galette gently around the edge with the metal spatula and flip it over. (Be careful! The oil and butter underneath are very hot!) Add another tablespoon of butter around the edge and cook the galette for 4 to 5 minutes longer, until the second side is nicely browned. With the metal spatula, transfer the galette to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Repeat with the rest of the potatoes and butter to make a second galette.
• Place the two galettes on a cutting board. Spread each galette with 2 tablespoons of the creme fraiche and a layer of smoked salmon, covering the galette completely. Sprinkle with minced chives and sprinkle lightly with salt. Use a large chef's knife to cut each galette into 6 wedges and serve hot.

HERBED POTATO GALETTE

Steps:

• Coarsely grate the potatoes. Dry thoroughly by rubbing them between two clean kitchen towels. Place the grated potatoes in a large bowl, mix in the herbs and season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat the oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium high heat until almost smoking. Add the potatoes in a flat even layer. Shake the pan frequently to prevent the galette from sticking. After 3 to 4 minutes, invert the potatoes onto a plate and carefully slide them back into the pan, reduce the heat to low and continue cooking for another 20 to 30 minutes. Cut into wedges.

POTATO GALETTES

Steps:

• Line a large oven tray with baking paper and start overlapping the potato slices into 6 individual galettes - making circles about 10cm.
• Season each layer with salt and pepper, shallots and parmesan; continue layering, the last and third layer will be just potato slices, spray lightly with olive oil.
• Bake at 180degC (350degF)for 40mins; don't let them brown if they are to be frozen and reheated at a later stage.
• The galettes can be cooked until just starting to brown, then frozen and later reheated to crisp and brown by reheating in a hot oven for about 20 minutes.

CRUSTY POTATO GALETTE

Steps:

• In a small bowl stir together the butter and the oil. In a food processor fitted with a 1-millimeter slicing blade or with a mandoline or similar hand-held slicing device, slice the potatoes thin. Working quickly to prevent the potatoes from discoloring, brush the bottom of a 9-inch cast-iron skillet with some of the butter mixture and cover it with a layer of the potato slices, overlapping them. Brush the potatoes with some of the remaining butter mixture, sprinkle them with some of the rosemary, and season them with salt and pepper. Layer the remaining potatoes with the remaining butter mixture and the rosemary in the same manner.
• Heat the mixture over moderately high heat until it begins to sizzle, transfer the skillet to the middle of a preheated 450°F. oven, and bake the galette for 25 minutes, or until it is golden and the potatoes are tender. Cut the galette into wedges.

POTATO GALETTES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, making sure to keep their round shape, and rinse them under cold water. Using a mandoline, slice one of the potatoes almost paper-thin. (If they are not thin enough, you will have difficulty getting them to adhere to one another; also, do not rinse the slices, as you will remove the starch.) On a work surface, form a circle of overlapping slices about 5 inches in diameter. Continue to make layers of slices, sprinkling them with salt and pepper every couple of layers, until all the slices are used. Make another galette with another potato.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and place 2 small skillets over medium heat. When hot, add 2 tablespoons of the clarified butter to each. Using a large spatula, carefully transfer 1 galette to each skillet. Cook until the bottoms are golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. (Lower the heat if they brown too quickly.) Turn and cook the other side until the potatoes are golden brown and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes more. Transfer to a small sheet pan lined with paper towels and keep warm in the oven.
• While the first 2 galettes are cooking, prepare the remaining 2 in the same manner. Serve warm.

POTATO GALETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Heat clarified butter in a 10 1/2-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat until very hot, but not smoking. Place a sprig of thyme in center of skillet. Arrange potatoes in an overlapping spiral to fill pan (be careful, because the fat may spatter). Season with salt and pepper. Brush the bottom of a medium saute pan with clarified butter, and place over potatoes to weigh them down. Cook until golden brown, about 8 minutes.
• Carefully pour off excess butter, if there is any, and reserve. Turn galette out onto a baking sheet. Place another sprig of thyme in center of skillet. Using two spatulas, carefully return galette to skillet, browned side up. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with saute pan; transfer to oven, and bake until second side is brown and potatoes are cooked through, 20 to 30 minutes more. Remove top saute pan 5 minutes before removing skillet from oven. Carefully slide galette onto cutting board. Cut into wedges, and serve immediately.