Sauteed Potatoes Provençale Recipes

NEW POTATOES WITH HERBES DE PROVENCE, LEMON AND COARSE SALT

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a large sauce pan or medium stockpot with salted water to cover; bring to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce the heat to a gentle boil and cook until potatoes are just tender, about 10 minutes, depending on size.
• Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
• In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.
• Add the herbs de Provence, and cook, stirring constantly, for about 10 seconds.
• Add drained potatoes, coarse salt, and lemon juice; stir well to coat.
• Cook tossing and stirring constantly, until the potatoes are heated through, 1- 2 minutes.
• Season with pepper to taste.
• Serve immediately.
• For advance Preparation: You can boil the potatoes and let them stand for up to one hour at room temperature before completing the recipe.
• Or, you can refrigerate the boiled potatoes overnight.
• Bring them to room temperature and finish the recipe.

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.

PROVENCAL POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place potatoes, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and olives in a medium bowl. Add olive oil, salt, and pepper and toss to coat vegetables.
• Fold parchment piece in half, cut into a half-heart shape, and open. Place vegetable mixture on parchment, 2 to 3 inches from the crease, and scatter rosemary and thyme sprigs on top. Fold the other half of parchment over the ingredients. Make small overlapping folds to seal the edges, starting at the top of the heart.
• Two inches from the end, twist the parchment twice, gently but firmly, to seal the packet. Place packet on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and open packet. Use your fingers to crumble the herbs, discarding the stems. (Don't worry about burning your fingers; the sprigs will have dried during cooking and the leaves will come off the stems easily.) Carefully pull off the skin of the tomatoes, which will have loosened. Using a fork, break up the tomatoes and stir into the potatoes. Serve immediately.

PROVENCAL POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Rub 1 of the garlic cloves all over the inside of a large 1 1/2 quart oval casserole dish. Smear some of the olive oil all over the inside of the dish. Mince the rest of the garlic.
• Heat the rest of the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, and pepper, season with the salt and pepper, and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the vermouth and simmer to reduce by about half.
• Using a mandoline or vegetable slicer, slice the potatoes about 1/8-inch thick and add them to the pan with the water, salt, pepper to taste. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring, until the mixture has thickened slightly, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the basil.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and shake the pan to distribute the potatoes evenly. Season with salt and pepper. Slice the tomatoes about a 1/4-inch thick and arrange them in a shingled pattern on top of the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil.
• Bake, uncovered, until the potatoes are tender about 1 1/2 hours. Sprinkle the cheese over the top and bake until brown and bubbly, about 15 minutes more. Remove from the oven and let casserole cool 10 minutes before serving. This can also be served at room temperature.

SAUTEED POTATOES PROVENçALE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan combine the vinegar, the garlic, the zest, and salt and pepper to taste, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer it for 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in 1/4 cup of the oil. In each of 2 large skillets heat 2 tablespoons of the remaining oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it cook the potatoes in one layer in batches over moderate heat, turning them, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are golden brown on the outside and tender within. Transfer the potatoes to a serving dish, pour the garlic mixture over them, and toss them with the parsley.