Description
Crispy, golden pommes anna showcases French culinary elegance with layers of buttery potatoes. Delicate potato petals melt together, creating a luxurious side dish that delights diners with complex textures and rich, harmonious flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) Yukon Gold potatoes
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) unsalted butter
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ teaspoons (6 grams) kosher salt
Herbs:
- A few crushed rosemary leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating it to 425°F (218°C), ensuring the rack is positioned in the center.
- Thoroughly wash and peel 2 pounds (907 grams) of Yukon Gold potatoes, then slice them uniformly into thin, almost translucent rounds using a sharp knife or mandoline slicer.
- Melt 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) of unsalted butter, then generously brush the bottom and sides of a 10-inch (25 centimeters) nonstick frying pan, creating a thin, even coating. Lightly sprinkle kosher salt across the buttered surface.
- Arrange potato slices in a precise circular pattern starting from the center, carefully overlapping each slice to create a visually appealing and tightly packed layer. Drizzle melted butter between layers and season with a pinch of salt.
- Repeat the layering process three additional times, building four distinct potato layers with consistent buttering and seasoning.
- Gently crush dried rosemary leaves and sprinkle them over the top layer for an aromatic enhancement.
- Cover the potato arrangement with butter-brushed aluminum foil, then place a weighted object like a cake pan filled with pie weights on top to ensure even compression.
- Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, allowing the potatoes to steam and soften underneath the weighted cover.
- Remove the weights and foil, then return the pan to the oven for an additional 20 minutes until the potatoes become tender and the bottom develops a rich golden-brown color.
- Switch the oven to broil and cook for 5 minutes, creating a crisp, caramelized top with beautiful golden edges.
- Test the potato cake’s doneness by gently shaking the pan; if it moves freely, carefully loosen the edges with a spatula.
- Place a cutting board over the pan and swiftly invert it in one confident motion, allowing the potato cake to release onto the board.
- Slice the potato cake into wedges similar to a pie, presenting a stunning, golden-brown culinary creation ready to be served.
Notes
- Master this French potato cake by starting with room temperature ingredients for even cooking.
- Preheat your skillet before adding potatoes to jumpstart the crispy exterior development.
- Slice potatoes paper-thin to guarantee delicate, melt-in-your-mouth layers that stack perfectly.
- Clarified butter provides superior browning and prevents burning during the lengthy cooking process.
- Drain excess moisture from potato slices to ensure maximum crispiness and structural integrity.
- Experiment with different herb combinations like thyme or sage to personalize the flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 267 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 313 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg