Potato, Pancetta and Comté cheese gratin
/private_media/recipes_images/2021/12/01/08/file.webp?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAVLLBXKY7HBCQUIAX%2F20250621%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20250621T054212Z&X-Amz-Expires=3600&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEOT%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCXVzLXdlc3QtMSJHMEUCIQCDXWWlhIeStCsiJ47OfndnpTKOsgnzNFAdXwM8cvU6yAIgSEqdNGlj3ygv5lJHu7%2BHqAols280bQGJYPQ%2FeFtLN%2FIq9AMIzf%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARADGgwzNjc5NjE1Mjc4NzAiDOtMQmHBLYgfhbdivirIA121fecwJ3lpvFpbdeaVNWwQNu%2FiTC4v7VPNjTjQ%2FKU2Txmkoh7X0Tbo5qzRl0CnVcIx3yR0jSGrTuOa4lFQS3ERutR5lvhDPgIunTy3mEOnB%2FM7Goxqc7XfCVVf17PPOOqvByomyGa77SVBBKeLTiLGCDgD1%2B3orOSEGwFcLXua1y8rJRrKpeCP8GbGoknh%2FGDbrs92F6TbxcuEHnw6CbU%2Fh7HLtgMQo%2B7FIqmjsisnQB3tZszjG2iKE9e7CSs3Ycfuj8HfTt%2BcuIWQNEwzO8pYMLjfa4IpQp8vGgObba4kEawW5z5HiGsSK6JKi68MJSj0KjCvC%2FC01xApkHZ0Npo059Gv0yRkvExs4Rz2VTBpTm1H%2FmQykTDxork4DwlMvnn1ehzjKnUsExTP4L6RKZd9ToIcUt9TbZrE6GDWSg0ovGZ%2FV9JNJRz14jbI0%2FCatOvaZS3HRy6EG1hUWPhrFVAkLiuqRLPRr%2FXPwav7MGeCNggPE%2BAVREUuEzuIIbCCFHhYiTA33E4rwMIwHl%2FD4NB6WRSBBEkc486LA3%2F53AQIZwlT6ii4Xd6gP8oPqPF%2Bpl6c2BAcBOd0KHIIxxocSbR6os9AY9l1ozC24NjCBjqlAdNLGitZSw1PR4DLqCuFd%2FBJaKtFg81mTNjD%2BphJM62AdeQvsdqlZcqobazC80dTwRmrrl7xHXPjJwrB3vn3VFfdgExkE7D%2BKqlUNYu2mRGVw07Styx2LU5mpBsuGkMnTzRO7%2BK7WQHtdIZr9kOquasKQedckH4dXWkIqNkGRk3%2BoC8waTg%2BVQAziBO0K75uX4Ned602p6D1BDovLAFcXuEcKVMfFw%3D%3D&X-Amz-Signature=f570f6fd64c1561741f2485a38294c38cdebfb6dd1b61fb5ce7b74072254cdef)
A typical Sunday dish.
I usually make this dish during a cold winter.
It is so heartwarming you will make it again and again.
Feel free to replace Comté with your favourite local cheese.
You may replace the Pancetta with Guanciale. Alternatively but less recommended switch with a piece of strong smoked bacon.
Serve with a fresh salad. Use an acidic dressing to balance with the richness of the gratin.
You'll want to open a full-bodied red wine and invite your closest people for this one!
Special Equipment
Ingredients
Directions
Peel your potatoes.
Slice your potatoes using a mandolin or a food processor. Those tools will help maintain homogenous slices.
Boil your potatoes for 10 minutes or until tender in salted boiling water.
Drain them well and keep them on the side for the moment.
Cut your onions into thin slices and start caramelising them in a frying pan with olive oil and salt. This operation should take at least 10 minutes.
Once a golden colour appears, add your crushed garlic to the preparation. fry for another 3 minutes until the garlic is fragrant.
Remove your onions/garlic mix and fry your cubed pancetta until golden.
Add your mix of onions and garlic back to the pan. Add your cream and reduce the sauce on low heat for 8 minutes.
It is now time to layer your gratin, start with a sauce base.
Then a layer of potato, a layer of shredded cheese, a layer of sauce.
Continue assembling until the top of your dish. Finish with a generous amount of cheese.
Bake in the oven at 200 degrees celsius for 40 minutes. Feel free to cover your dish for the first 20 minutes to have more control over the browning of the top layer of cheese.
Serve it with a fresh salad and bon appetit!