A hearty Potato and Parsnip Gratin

I feel really excited when I see food bubbling in the oven. I can sit in front of the glass oven door and watch it become golden, rising up and down and filling the kitchen with the kind of smell that you just achieve with oven dishes. Especially with a gratin! For tonight we will have a very hearty gratin with potatoes, parsnip, onions and bacon and enhanced with nutmeg, cloves and brandy. This creates an addictive combination of hearty and sweet through the parsnip and brandy. We always plan to make bigger portions to have some leftovers for the next day but with gratin we never manage. Today is the same - it is all gone already.

Potato and Parsnip Gratin

For 3 as a main, or 4 as a side dish, you need

• large potatoes, peeled or rinsed and sliced, 4-5

• large parsnips, peeled or rinsed and sliced, 4

• small onion, cut into thin rings, 1

• bacon, cut into small cubes, 40g / 1.5 ounces

• butter 30g / 1 ounce

• heavy cream 75ml

• milk 200ml

• water

• garlic, crushed, 1 clove

• nutmeg, preferably freshly grated

• brandy for deglazing

• sea salt and pepper

Set the oven to 220°C / 430°F. Our oven has a Rotitherm roasting setting which works perfectly for gratin, it combines the grill setting with fan circulation, but the top / bottom oven setting works as well.

Heat the butter in a large pan, fry the bacon and onions on medium heat until golden and add the garlic. Add the potato and parsnip slices to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes. Deglaze with brandy and pour the cream and milk on top, add a little water until everything is covered. Now add the spices and season with salt and pepper. Let it simmer until the potatoes and parsnip are almost done. Arrange the potato and parsnip slices in a baking dish or roasting tin and pour the bacon/ milk/ cream mixture over the vegetables. Bake for 8-10 minutes in the oven until golden brown.