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.
306 K 4.0/5 (23 reviews)
1 hour 55 min.
Easy
18 people
6 IngredientsLast modified on: February 21th 2011
For 18 people, you will need:
- 1
19 cups potatoes - 2
2 2⁄3 cups belly (streaky) bacon - 3
1 1⁄3 cup grated cheese - 4
3 tablespoons goose fat - 5
salt - 6
pepper
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 1 hour
Cooking: 55 min.
All in all: 1 hour 55 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 30 min.
Wash and peel 19 cups 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 3 tablespoons goose fat (or butter).
Stage 4 - 15 min.
As soon as fat is melted, remove pan from heat, and lay 2 2⁄3 cups 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 | 210 RDI=80 % | 880 RDI=80 % | 480 RDI=70 % | 8,710 RDI=440 % | 36,460 RDI: 440 % |
| 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 18 people : 10.80 €
- 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: Hasselback or "Swedish-style" potatoes, Grated potato cakes, How to cook potato grenaille , Truffade, Mini Mont d'Or fondue with "spuds in blankets", ... See them all 82
Belly (streaky) bacon
Like these other recipes: Chicken club sandwich, Melt-in-the mouth meat and vegetables in a sealed casserole, Rabbit terrine, Eggs Arsène, Roast beef "like they do it in Santa Fe", ... See them all 31
Grated cheese
Like these other recipes: Celeriac and mushroom gratin, French onion soup, Cheese tart, Gratin "grilled inside", Stuffed artichokes au gratin, ... See them all 72
Goose fat
Like these other recipes: Seafood sauerkraut, Chicken with rice and leeks, Foie gras cured in salt, Icelandic-style fish and vegetable pie, Sarladaise potatoes, ... See them all 15
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