Reblochon is a delicious soft French cheese which is wonderful eaten “as is” but when cooked in a typical dish of Tartiflette, reaches another level of gorgeousness. Well, if you love soft creamy melted cheese it does!
The weather in England taunted us with its spring like warmth and Big Man decided that it was perfect weather to start painting the outside of our seaside house. Of course, day one was perfect as we prepared. We covered what felt like miles of guttering with newspaper and masking tape. We bought paint and thinner and got our brushes and rollers ready. Day two the painting commenced. And the clouds moved in, the temperature dropped and rain looked ominous. We were working at the back of the house which gets the sun, so at least when there was a break in the clouds we could enjoy a little of its warmth.
Day three, second coat of paint. The clouds were there to stay. The odd splash of rain (or was it a passing seagull?…I prefer not to dwell on it). But we persevered. Luckily the paint was made for British Weather (oh yes, the word Weather deserves a Capital Letter) and dries in 20 minutes.
Job done but we were chilled through. Time for some hearty Alpine food, and to hell with the calories!
Ingredients (to serve 3-4 people)
- ½ Reblochon cheese (the original recipe calls for a whole one but we found half to be plenty)
- About 700g small or medium potatoes in their skins
- 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced thinly
- 4 shallots, peeled and sliced thinly
- 6 rashers of smoked streaky bacon, cut into small strips (or use a packet of lardons)
- About half a glass of dry white wine
- 100ml cream
- Black pepper
Boil the potatoes in their skins until just cooked (timing will depend on their size but probably 15-20 mins). Drain and leave to cool slightly before peeling them. These can also be prepared ahead and left to go cold before peeling and slicing not too thinly.
In a frying pan with a little oil, add the bacon, garlic and onions and fry until the bacon starts to go crispy and the onions brown a little at the edges. Pour in the wine and cook until about half the wine has evaporated.
In an ovenproof dish put about half the potatoes, then the bacon and onion mix and then the rest of the potatoes. Now slice your cheese in half so that you have two half moon shapes and lay these on top of the potatoes. Keep the skin on the cheese and if it helps to distribute over the top more evenly, cut into triangles.
Pour the cream over the whole thing and season with black pepper. Bake at about 200C for around 30 minutes or until the cheese is starting to become golden and the cream is bubbling. Delicious with a simple salad.
And don’t forget to wash your paint brushes or you won’t be able to use them again….
For a vegetarian version of this dish, pop over to Promenade Planting and see Claire’s great version!
Chica Andaluza 
I will definitely be giving this a go. The best Tartiflette I have had is from L’Experience in Douglas on the Isle of Man.
I remember one Maria made for me a while back as being pretty good!
Hope to see some photos of your seaside home during its renovation Tanya and them tatties are the business – scrumity!
Have a beautiful day and here’s to more sunshine for you.
🙂 Mandy xo
Yes, I need to sort out some photos J Rain today here …. L
I love tartiflette but it has to be a very occasional treat!
Very occasional indeed!
That sounds so good I could eat it now 😉
It was a most welcome dish to chase away the cold chills!
I’m still wondering how Reblochon could be substituted here in Italy…
I’d never heard about this miraculous dish before , but it sounds so splendid!
No doubt ,I’ll look for it !
Ooh I think fontina would be good!
Thanks for the shout out! Had I known this was on the menu in Bexhill I would have hoped on a train.
The outside of ours is due for painting this year. … so I’m wondering if its ok to eat tartiflette in summer 🙂
Tartiflette in the summer is allowed – as long as you schedule a siesta afterwards!
Mah-velous!
J
Oh yum! That looks delicious xx
Ooh it was!
Tartiflette has everything…cheese, cream, tatties, wine, garlic. So, so lovely…I can feel the extra weight settling on my middle just looking at the photos! 😉
I removed the calories from the photos before posting J
You so good to us! 😄😉
😉
Tartiflette is my favourite thing in winter! I really like Rachel Khoo’s version as it is a little lighter.
Ooh I will have to look up Miss Khoo’s version!
good for dinner yes, should it so want to buy
really hungry if you see good food
I am in love. Alas…it is a love that can’t be consumated. Je Suis desole…
Best not to think about it too much L
When it comes to comfort food, there’s no counting calories! I can’t almost taste this delicious sauce with a crusty bread to mop it up:) Lovely recipe…
Thanks Peri – it was very much comfort food!
wonderful, i must have some.. I have not eaten this cheese .. YET! c
I bet some of your lovely farm cheese (when you start milking) would be fabulous too!
And just imagine some of the fresh goats cheese when I start to milk them! Though we have to wait a YEAR! c
The best things are worth waiting for!
I am busy painting as well! I will look out for this cheese next month when we are in France 🙂
Oh you’ll definitely come across this cheese!
Very good dish indeed….although I feel exhausted after eating eating it ! Seriously heavy…but delicious:)
Yes, it’s a dish which always needs to end with a good lie down!
Ohhhhh….kill me now cause this is not in my belly! All the things I love in one plate. Can you believe I have never tried this??? Looks amazing….but alas, I am watching the calories now. But will have to make this next winter when I want a significant pudge in my middle to keep me warm!
Yes, this is most definitely not one for calorie counters L
Lovely! I’ve heard of Tartiflette, but unfortunately never tried it before… thanks for the recipe Tanya – this will be a great winter warmer! 🙂
It’s worth trying – even i it’s just once!
Oh this looks lovely and so hearty! Wow. Perfect comfort food!
nice post,….
look deliciouse
Potatoes, bacon and cheese! What more could a gal want? 😍
emm,…..i want potatos too
I agree!
yups,…..
i like it 🙂
Well deserved decadence and I’m glad you were able to get the painting done in spite of threatening weather.
We don’t like to quit once we’ve started 😉
Oh wow.
whether foods like this could make fat ? Hmmmmm looks delicacies once.
when i show this article to my close friend. without thinking she asked me to make this food
hemmm delicacies once so wanted to taste the food like that