Provencale Tomato Potato Stew Recipes

SUMMER VEGETABLE TIAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush a large, shallow baking dish with olive oil.
• In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook 8 to 10 minutes or until beginning to soften.
• Add the garlic and cook 1 to 2 more minutes. Add half the thyme and salt and black pepper to taste.
• Drain off any excess oil. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and allow to cool while preparing the vegetables.
• Sprinkle half the cheese over onions.
• Slice the zucchini, tomatoes and potatoes into 1/4-inch slices.
• While the vegetables are on your cutting board, season with salt and black pepper.
• Layer vegetables alternately in the dish on top of the onions and cheese, fitting tightly to make one layer. If any vegetables are left, tuck them in wherever you can to use them up.
• Once they're arranged, sprinkle with more salt, black pepper and remaining thyme.
• Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake 35-40 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
• Uncover the dish, sprinkle the cheese on top, and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until lightly browned.
• Allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.

SLOW-COOKER BEEF STEW

Steps:

• Layer the potatoes, carrots, onion and celery in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Place flour in a large shallow dish. Add stew meat; turn to coat evenly. In a large skillet, brown meat in oil in batches. Place over vegetables., In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, broth, mustard, salt, pepper, thyme and, if desired, browning sauce. Pour over beef. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours, or until the meat and vegetables are tender. If desired, sprinkle with fresh thyme before serving.

PROVENCAL TOMATO POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.
• Brush a shallow baking pan (1/2 to 1 inch deep) with 2 tablespoons oil. Arrange tomato slices in 1 layer in baking pan and sprinkle with a scant 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Roast tomatoes until just tender (not falling apart), about 20 minutes.
• While tomatoes roast, cut potatoes crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and toss with 5 tablespoons oil in a large bowl.
• Remove tomatoes from oven and put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven. Arrange potato slices in 1 layer in 2 shallow baking pans (1/2 to 1 inch deep) and sprinkle each pan with a scant 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Roast potatoes, switching position of pans halfway through roasting, until tender, about 16 minutes total.
• While potatoes roast, mince garlic and mash to a paste with a pinch of salt using a large heavy knife. Transfer paste to a bowl and stir in bread crumbs, basil, thyme, remaining 3 tablespoons oil, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Preheat broiler.
• Arrange tomatoes and potatoes in 1 layer in gratin dish, alternating slices and overlapping them, and spoon any juices from tomatoes into dish. Sprinkle top with bread crumbs and broil 5 to 7 inches from heat, checking frequently after 1 minute (crumbs can brown quickly), until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

JULIA CHILD'S PROVENçAL POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees and place a rack at the middle level. In a large saucepan, combine onions and 2 tablespoons olive oil and stir to coat over low heat. Sprinkle lightly with salt. At a gentle simmer, cook uncovered until onions are softened and lightly golden, 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. Do not brown; lower the heat if necessary. When done, fold in tomatoes just until heated through. Set aside.
• In a small food processor or a mortar, add the anchovies - anywhere from 6 to 12 fillets, depending on their size and your taste. Add garlic, herbs and a dozen grinds of pepper. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil (or use the oil from the anchovy can, if you like). Crush or pulse together into a chunky paste, thinning with oil as needed to make a loose, fluid mixture.
• In a medium-size baking dish, spread a quarter of the onion-tomato mixture. On top, arrange half the potato slices, then half the anchovy mixture. Add half the remaining onion-tomato mixture. Build one more layer with remaining potato slices, anchovy mixture and onion-tomato mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top and drizzle with olive oil.
• If the dish is very full, place on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake, uncovered, until potatoes are tender and have absorbed all of the juices in the bottom of the dish, 40 to 50 minutes. Test by tasting a bit of potato; it should be soft all the way through, with no raw taste. If the top is browning too fast, cover very loosely with a sheet of foil. If the top is not brown enough when the potatoes are cooked, broil briefly until deliciously glazed.
• Serve gratin hot or warm. Can be cooled and reheated later the same day, but do not refrigerate.

CHORIZO-POTATO STEW

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the chorizo and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned around the edges, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until well coated, about 3 more minutes.
• Add the chicken broth, bay leaves and paprika. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium and cook 12 minutes. Add the chard; cover and cook, stirring, until the potatoes are tender and the chard is wilted, 3 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls; top with parsley, drizzle with olive oil and serve with bread.