Avengers' potatoes
Lurking behind this strange name (see reason below) is a kind of potato-cheese gratin, which is wrapped in thin slices of bacon. It's cooked first on the hob, then in the oven.
307 K 4.0/5 (23 reviews)
1 hour 55 min.
Easy
12 people
6 IngredientsLast modified on: February 21th 2011
For 12 people, you will need:
- 1
3 kgs potatoes - 2
400 g belly (streaky) bacon - 3
200 g grated cheese - 4
2 tablespoons goose fat - 5
salt - 6
pepper - Total weight: 3,630 grams
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 1 hour
Cooking: 55 min.
All in all: 1 hour 55 min.
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: 17:40.Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 30 min.
Wash and peel 3 kgs potatoes, cut into even medium sized slices
Stage 2 - 10 min.
Put the potato slices in a pan, cover with water, salt and bring to boil.
As soon as it boils, remove from heat and drain in strainer.
Set aside.
Preheat oven to 390°F (200°C).
As soon as it boils, remove from heat and drain in strainer.
Set aside.
Preheat oven to 390°F (200°C).
Stage 3 - 1 min.
In a large pan that can be used both on the hob and in the oven (with metal or removable handle), melt 2 tablespoons goose fat (or butter).
Stage 4 - 15 min.
As soon as fat is melted, remove pan from heat, and lay 400 g belly (streaky) bacon slices in bottom (bacon should be as thin as possible).
Make a kind of rose-window shape, radiating from centre...
Make a kind of rose-window shape, radiating from centre...
Stage 5
...all round up and over the sides.
No matter if some slices overlap others a little, especially in centre, ideally you should no longer be able to see the bottom of the pan .
No matter if some slices overlap others a little, especially in centre, ideally you should no longer be able to see the bottom of the pan .
Stage 6 - 5 min.
Put one third of potatoes onto bacon, salt, pepper and add half grated cheese.
Stage 7 - 5 min.
Make another potato layer, add rest of cheese and a final layer of potatoes.
Stage 8 - 5 min.
Fold bacon slices over on top.
Stage 9 - 3 min.
Put the pan on high heat for 2 or 3 minutes, to start cooking and brown bacon.
Stage 10 - 40 min.
Put in the oven for about 40 minutes, until potatoes are soft.
Stage 11
Turn out by inverting pan onto a dish or a big plate.
Serve if possible with green salad and a good French dressing (vinaigrette).
Serve if possible with green salad and a good French dressing (vinaigrette).
Remarks
This is a very approximate recipe, don't hesitate to change all ingredients to your taste: a bit more of this, a bit less of that will pose no problem.
The strange name "avenger's potatoes"? Oh yes, here's the reason: it came from another recipe by famous French chef Joel Robuchon called "pommes des vendangeurs" (grape-pickers' potatoes). When we made it for the first time, my elder son Jeremy was 10 and he loved it (like all the family) and asked for more "avengers' potatoes" because that was what he'd understood by this new word. Of course, it's easier to understand the confusion in French, because the words "avengers" (vengeurs) and "grape-pickers" (vendangeurs) are quite similar. Anyway we kept the name for this (now) traditional family recipe.
The strange name "avenger's potatoes"? Oh yes, here's the reason: it came from another recipe by famous French chef Joel Robuchon called "pommes des vendangeurs" (grape-pickers' potatoes). When we made it for the first time, my elder son Jeremy was 10 and he loved it (like all the family) and asked for more "avengers' potatoes" because that was what he'd understood by this new word. Of course, it's easier to understand the confusion in French, because the words "avengers" (vengeurs) and "grape-pickers" (vendangeurs) are quite similar. Anyway we kept the name for this (now) traditional family recipe.
Keeping: Several days in the fridge, covered by a plastic film.
Source: Joël Robuchon, via Jérémy.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 140 RDI=50 % | 580 RDI=60 % | 320 RDI=50 % | 5,810 RDI=290 % | 24,310 RDI: 290 % |
| Per 100 g | 3 RDI=1 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 8 RDI=1 % | 160 RDI=8 % | 670 RDI: 8 % |
| Per person | 10 RDI=4 % | 50 RDI=5 % | 30 RDI=4 % | 480 RDI=20 % | 2,030 RDI: 20 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 12 people : 7.20 €
- Per person : 0.60 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Potatoes
Like these other recipes: Smooth mixed vegetable soup, Endive and beer soup, Potato tortilla (Spanish omelette), Roast potatoes "à la provençale", Leek and potato soup, ... See them all 83
Belly (streaky) bacon
Like these other recipes: Broken eggs with mushrooms, Ardennes Salad, Sausagemeat, Eggs Arsène, Tartiflette, ... See them all 31
Grated cheese
Like these other recipes: Spinach Croque-monsieur , Potato and two ham gratin, Gratin-style spinach and chicken omelette , Cauliflower and chickpea purée, Bolognaise lasagne, ... See them all 73
Goose fat
Like these other recipes: Express sauerkraut, Icelandic-style fish and vegetable pie, Sarladaise potatoes, Rustic chicken and mushroom pie, Röstis, ... See them all 15
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