Looking for a quick meal? Try La Truffade

Have you had the experience to taste a food or fare that was so good that the memory of it stayed with you throughout the years?!?! I have plenty of those. I will say, however, that being a big fervant of cheese, my favorite recipes are those that I tasted during one of my girl scout trip in the hills and volcanoes of Auvergne. My most favorite one was a dish called Aligot. It is a sort of mashed potato made with potato, cream and melted cheese. The cheese that is used is called “Cantal”. It is difficult to find it here, and even when you do, it is so expensive that it is never anything i can cook here in the States. This week-end however as I was shopping at Costco for various items I found “young Asiago”. The cheese reminded me so much of the Cantal that I purchased with the intention to make the recipe of Aligot. And so this evening, this is what i set up to cook. Except that I realized I had not bought any meats to accompany the potato dish so I changed my mind, and made another similar potato dish called Truffade. Unlike the Aligot, where the potato is mashed and mixed with cream and cheese, truffade is like a potato casserole where all the ingredients are mixed to bake or cook together.

Ingredients for 3-4: 5 large potatoes, 1 big sweet white onion, 1 package of lean bacon uncooked but cut in thin strips and small slices, 2 cups of young asiago cheese diced in small cubes, salt, pepper and fresh or dry parsley.

Peel the potatoes and cut them in small cubes. Place the potatoes in the large round mold. Add 1 tsp of water, a dash of salt, and cover the round mold with the octogonal silpat. Cook in the microwave for 8 minutes. Meanwhile in a large saute pan, cook the bacon. When the bacon is starting to cook and the fat is starting to melt, add the diced onion. Cook both on medium heat until the onion is becoming soft and golden. Drain the fat off the pan, and empty the bacon and the onions in the round mold. Season the potatoes with 1/4 tsp of salt. 1/8 tsp of pepper and 1 tsp of parsley. Toss. Add the diced cheese and mix well. Place in a warm oven at 375 for 15-20 minutes. Serve with a salad.