Monday, December 7, 2009

Potato Gratins with White Truffle Cream

To say that I am a fan of truffles and anything with the flavor of truffles would be an understatement. Kurt suggested I would probably like dog food if it had some shaved truffles on top or truffle oil drizzled over it or truffle cream stirred into it. Of course, he’s ridiculous, but I admit to swooning at the mere aroma of truffle products. Therefore, I jumped at the chance to sample a truffle cream product from la Boutique de la truffe. They sent me a jar of La Tartufata white truffle cream which contains white truffles and porcini mushrooms made into a smooth, spreadable cream with olive oil and wine vinegar. My first instinct was to sit down with the jar and a spoon, but that seemed a little simplistic. Using it with pasta with mushrooms would have been a delicious way to go, but then I thought about how well earthy potatoes combine with the flavor of truffles.

This was a straightforward kind of dish because I really just wanted to taste the truffle cream with a background of potatoes. I buttered some small ramekins and placed one layer of thinly sliced potatoes in the bottom of each and seasoned that layer. Then, I spread some truffle cream on top and repeated the layers. I poured a little cream into each ramekin until it came about half way up the side of each and topped each with a bit of butter and salt and pepper. They baked on a baking sheet at 425 degrees F for about 20 minutes.


The flavor was just outstanding. I could have eaten these potatoes forever. The silky texture of the truffle cream layered between the tender, thin potato slices enriched with the cream and butter was beyond all expectations for a simple Sunday night dinner. Everything else on the plate, from the roasted baby beets to the rosemary chicken, was delicious too, but it all faded away once I tasted this potato gratin. I haven’t tried any other products found on the la Boutique de la truffe web site, but I can highly recommend La Tartufata.




28 comments:

  1. I bet this is going to have robust flavors ;)

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  2. Oh, wow...that looks really good. Super good. I would love to get my hand on some of that truffle cream!!

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  3. This look absolutely delicious!!! gloria

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  4. This looks so divine and elegant. Wouldn't mind having one of those now...

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  5. Mmm. I've never actually cooked with truffles (in any form), but I do love the earthy flavor when I get the chance to try some (so far I think my favorite has been a mac-n-cheese drizzled with truffle oil. But then I love basics when they are dressed up).

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  6. Oh, I'm a truffle lover too, and can only imagine how good these potatoes taste and smell because they look incredible.

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  7. I've got some of that truffle cream left and I love the idea of using it in this potato gratin.

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  8. Potato gratins with this white truffle cream sounds just heavenly! Excellent!

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  9. I just love the aroma and taste of anything with Truffle Oil drizzled on it! I'm going to have to get some of this Truffle Cream. It sounds amazing! I can only imagine how good these potatoes smell and taste!

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  10. Oh! Like you love truffles...I can almost smell and taste it...I will have to try your recipe :-)

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  11. Potato and truffle, that's awesome! Your gratins look so scrumptious!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  12. Lisa,
    I am going to try these for a dinner party.....I bet the smell was fantastic!

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  13. My mouth is watering just reading your post! I would like to make a meal of just these potatoes!

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  14. I am right there with you on the truffles and truffle oil! These I'm sure were SO GOOD!

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  15. That is a great looking combo! I have to confess that I have only once tried truffles and they were a little bit old... :) So I can't say I was very impressed with the flavor at the time, but looking at this little dishes I am very tempted to try and find that truffle cream!

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  16. Very luxury potato gratin making it stand out the crowd! BTW, I saw you have got the book on 'I Know how to eat', is it very good?

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  17. Is this recipe divine or what! I love the truffle flavor too- even have truffle salt on the table.
    But potatoes and truffles? Yummy! And it looks so creamy and delicious.

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  18. truffle CREAM? wow--sounds like you've happened upon your dream ingredient. heck, even i would be tempted to eat dog food slathered with the stuff…but potatoes are a much more appealing prospect. :)

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  19. Kurt's comment is funny. :) I recently made a similar comment about a friend who loves anything batter-fried, tempura-style.

    Potato, cream, and truffle make a great combination. This looks absolutely delicious and fit for both intimate and formal parties.

    Congrats on having the self-restraint. If La Tartufata ever sends me a jar of this, I doubt I can keep myself from going at it with a spoon.

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  20. So decadent! Thank goodness for the use of ramekins, or I'd certainly eat well over one serving :)

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  21. Ha my husband said something similar! Lets go to Alba right now...I did smuggle three home a few years ago with the help of a chef friend over there...ummm cheese, cream, potatoes!

    I also see cookies below, should I dare venture off into your woods, said Hansel...

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  22. The first time I tried a real truffle was in Paris and it was atop pasta. I truly understood what all the fuss was about. I can' even imagine the pairing with potatoes. What a delicious dish!

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  23. What a delicious dish! You really let the truffle flavor shine through!

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  24. Wow truffle! The flavours must be amazing.

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  25. You're a better woman than me because I WOULD have just eaten it straight from the jar with a spoon. ;)

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  26. White truffle cream, seriously?!?! I'm in love :)

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  27. You said the magic word "truffle". Now I got to make this! Of course, a little(?) cream never hurts. It's the holidays after all...

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  28. Terrific recipe. Excellent use of the truffle cream!
    LL

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