La Truffade

Total Time: 1 hr 8 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 38 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 5 ounces lean bacon, diced (or cut into lardons)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or lard)
• 2 lbs baking potatoes, thinly sliced
• salt
• pepper
• 8 ounces gruyere cheese, diced (or cut into thin, narrow strips, may use cantal cheese)

Recipe

• 1 heat the bacon in a 10-inch frying pan over medium heat until the fat runs, 2-3 minutes.
• 2 do not let them brown; remove them with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• 3 heat the vegetable oil in the pan; add the potatoes and sprinkle them with pepper (the bacon may contribute enough salt).
• 4 decrease heat to low, cover, and cook for 5 minutes.
• 5 stir in the bacon and continue to cook, uncovered, over low heat, tossing or stirring often, until the potatoes are tender and some are browned, 20-25 minutes.
• 6 don't worry it some of them are crusted, as they will help hold the mixture in a cake.
• 7 stir in the cheese; taste, and adjust the seasonings.
• 8 press down on the potatoes to level them in the pan.
• 9 increase heat to high and let them cook without stirring until the bottom is browned, 3-5 minutes.
• 10 press on the cake occasionally to hold it together.
• 11 when done, it should be brown around the edges and starting to pull from the sides of the pan.
• 12 take the pan off the heat, run a knife around the edges to loosen the cake, and turn it out a warmed plate; serve hot.