Tartiflette

Method

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1. Boil the potatoes in well-salted water for 8 minutes — they should still meet a knife with some resistance. Drain and steam dry.

   Mark done Start 8 min timer

2. Heat the oven to 190°C / 375°F. Rub a gratin dish with the cut garlic clove.

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3. Fry the lardons in the olive oil over medium heat until the fat has rendered and the edges are crisp, about 8 minutes. Lift out.

   Mark done Start 8 min timer

4. Add the onions to the fat and cook for 12 minutes until soft and golden, adding the crushed garlic for the last minute.

   Mark done Start 12 min timer

5. Pour in the wine and let it bubble away almost entirely, scraping the base of the pan.

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6. Add the potatoes and lardons back, fold in the crème fraîche and plenty of black pepper, then taste before adding any salt — the lardons and cheese bring most of it.

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7. Tip into the dish. Halve the Reblochon horizontally through its equator and lay both halves rind side up on top.

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8. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese has flowed across the surface and is bubbling at the edges. Rest 5 minutes before serving.

   Mark done Start 20 min timer

Chef’s Tips

• If Reblochon is unavailable, a whole small Camembert or a Tomme de Savoie works, though the flavour is milder.
• Leave the rind on. It holds the cheese together as it melts and tastes of the mountain cellar it came from.
• Slice the onions with the grain so they hold their shape rather than dissolving into the cream.

Common Substitutions & Variations

• An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.
• A dry vermouth keeps for longer than an open bottle of white wine and is the closer swap than a random white left in the fridge; for an alcohol-free version, use the same amount of stock with a squeeze of lemon.

Pairing Suggestions

• A simple green salad with a sharp vinaigrette
• Cornichons and charcuterie
• A cold Savoie white such as Apremont

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat covered at 170°C / 340°F for 20 minutes. It freezes acceptably for 1 month but the cheese loses its stretch.

Common questions

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.