How to cook potato grenaille
The French call very small potatoes "grenaille". This is a typical way of cooking them: the tiny potatoes are pan-fried in their skins and make an excellent accompanient for meat.
Grenaille can be made with any kind of potato; it is a question of size, rather than variety, though I think that firm-textured potatoes, such as rattes or charlottes, work best. I am using rattes in the photos.
The cooking is a combined method: boiling first, then frying. This is quicker than using a single method.
Grenaille can be made with any kind of potato; it is a question of size, rather than variety, though I think that firm-textured potatoes, such as rattes or charlottes, work best. I am using rattes in the photos.
The cooking is a combined method: boiling first, then frying. This is quicker than using a single method.
457 K 3.9/5 (180 reviews)
45 min.
Easy
1 kg
7 IngredientsLast modified on: September 16th 2015
4 cups + 3 tablespoons 
4 tablespoons 
2 
2 sprigs 
2 
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 15 min.
Cooking: 35 min.
All in all: 45 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 - 5 min.
Prepare the grenaille
Thoroughly wash 4 cups + 3 tablespoons potatoes of very small size in lukewarm water.Stage 2 - 5 min.
Drain and transfer them to a large saucepan.
Use this opportunity to check each potato, trimming off any eyes and bad bits, and discard any black, green or damaged potatoes.
Use this opportunity to check each potato, trimming off any eyes and bad bits, and discard any black, green or damaged potatoes.
Stage 3 - 10 min.
First-stage cooking: boiling
Cover the potatoes with cold water and bring to the boil.Boil until the potatoes are just barely cooked.
Stage 4
Drain the potatoes.
Stage 5 - 2 min.
Second-stage cooking: frying
Heat a large non-stick pan on medium heat and add 4 tablespoons oil, 2 bayleaves, 2 sprigs thyme and 2 cloves garlic.Stage 6 - 1 min.
When the oil is hot, add the potatoes and stir well to coat them with oil.
Stage 7 - 20 min.
Leave the grenaille to fry, stirring from time to time...
Stage 8
...until nicely browned.
Salt and pepper.
Salt and pepper.
Stage 9
This is goes very well with grilled meat, for example.
Remarks
You can also try frying in clarified butter instead of oil.
Keeping: Several days in the fridge, covered with plastic film.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 20 RDI=8 % | 200 RDI=20 % | 60 RDI=9 % | 1,420 RDI=70 % | 5,930 RDI: 70 % |
| Per 100 g | 1 RDI=1 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 5 RDI=1 % | 130 RDI=7 % | 550 RDI: 7 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 1 kg : 2.90 €
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: Crème de foie gras, Boeuf (beef) bourguignon, Big knife-cut chips (French fries) , Truffade original, Late Winter Soup with Fresh Spinach, ... See them all 81
Oil
Like these other recipes: Mayonnaise, Rémoulade dressing, Cocotte eggs with Comté, Bourguignon potatoes , Thai-style Chicken with Cashew Nuts, ... See them all 90
Bayleaf
Like these other recipes: Preserved tomatoes, Oxtail Parmentier, Bourguignon potatoes , Courgettes (zuchinis) , Tenderloin steaks marinated in red wine with rosemary, ... See them all 64
Thyme
Like these other recipes: Prawn salad with a crunch, Rabbit terrine, Mexican-style pork medallions , "Au vert" beef, Herb salad, ... See them all 65
Other recipes you may also like
Hot chocolate
Here's something simple to cheer up cold days, or a delight to look forward to on coming home after a walk in the rain.December 19th 2010220 K4 25 min.
3-fruit brioche loaf
This long brioche is called a "lingot" (ingot) in French. It is filled with three layers of different fried fruits: apricots, raisins and cranberries. When sliced, the three layers are revealed - and it's every bit as delicious as it looks.September 23th 201848 K 2 hours 55 min.
Fish fillet in express cooking envelope
Vegetables cut in small dice and precooked, fish fillet, lemon juice, olive oil, and 2 minutes in the microwave.June 11th 2011344 K 23.8 1 hour 20 min.
Panna cotta
Panna cotta is an Italian dessert which means "cooked cream". It's a set vanilla cream, similar to blancmange, which is frequently served with other things like fruit coulis (fruit purée), caramel etc.. Here is the basic panna cotta recipe.February 21th 2011351 K4.3 25 min.
Tomato and courgette tart
This summer tart has a puff pastry base topped with a rosette of sliced tomatoes and sautéd courgettes. For a more substantial dish, add some diced feta on top before cooking.July 18th 2010228 K4.2 2 hours 5 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-04-06)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe (as 3 people already do)
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.