Tartiflette – the Ultimate Comfort Food

Tartiflette is often called the ultimate comfort food, well it is in our house anyway. Anyone familiar with the French Alps, particularly in winter, will have come across this delicious cheese and potato combo. Cheap, tasty, and filling, it ticks all the boxes on a cold winter’s day.

Why tartiflette?

Long thought of as a traditional Haute Savoie dish, tartiflette was invented in the relatively recent 1980’s as a way to promote sales of Reblochon cheese. Since then, it’s gone on to become a firm favourite, served in almost every bar and restaurant in the ski resorts of France and elsewhere. My neighbour even has a bumper sticker on his car that says ‘In Tartiflette we Trust’…yes, it really is that important. In fact, it’s not surprising, it is the perfect winter warmer.

Traditional Tartiflette recipe
Prep Time: 10 mins Oven Temp: 180C (fan oven)
Cooking Time 30-40 mins

Ingredients

1 kg of potatoes
2 onions
2 cloves garlic
200 gr bacon bits
500 gr Reblochon cheese or other rich creamy cheese
200 ml cream or full-fat milk
200 ml white wine
Sprinkle nutmeg
Salt and pepper

Method
1. Peel and parboil potatoes, cut into thick slices
2. Cut cheese into thick slices
3. Chop onion, add bacon bits and crushed garlic and fry until golden
4. Add white wine to bacon mixture and reduce over a medium heat
5. In heat-proof casserole place a layer of potato, cover with a layer of bacon and onion mix, then add a layer of cheese slices, season to taste.
6. Continue layering, finishing with a layer of cheese.
7. Pour cream over the final layer of cheese, sprinkle with nutmeg, and place in a preheated oven for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.

Obviously, if you’re on the Keto diet then this might not be for you, but when it’s cold outside, and you feel in need of a bit of TLC, you can’t beat a good tartiflette. 

Bon Appetit