Ingredients:
- 200g onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
- 10g olive oil
- 10 Charlotte-type potatoes (or other waxy potatoes), peeled and sliced into thin strips
- 500g water
- 1 bouquet garni (thyme, bay leaf, parsley)
- 3 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 tbsp milk
- Pepper, to taste
- Paprika, to taste
- 5 smoked sausages, sliced
- Comté cheese, a few strips for topping
Preparation:
For Conventional Cooking:
- Prepare Vegetables:
- Peel and finely chop the onions.
- Peel the garlic cloves, remove the germ (sprout in the center), and finely chop.
- Sauté:
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onions and garlic. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until the onions become translucent and soft.
- Prepare Potatoes:
- While the onions are cooking, peel the potatoes and slice them into thin strips.
- In a saucepan, bring 500g of water to a boil. Add the bouquet garni and sliced potatoes.
- Pre-cook the potatoes for about 10 minutes until they begin to soften. Drain and set aside.
- Layering the Casserole:
- In a gratin or baking dish, spread a layer of sautéed onions and garlic at the bottom.
- Arrange a layer of pre-cooked potato strips over the onions.
- Slice the smoked sausages and layer them over the potatoes.
- Use a vegetable peeler to shave some Comté cheese and sprinkle it over the sausages.
- Cream Mixture:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, milk, pepper, and paprika.
- Pour this mixture evenly over the layered sausages and potatoes.
- Final Layering:
- Add the remaining potato strips to create another layer.
- Top with grated Comté cheese to cover the casserole.
- Baking:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (356°F).
- Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
- Serving:
- Let the casserole cool slightly before serving to allow it to set for easier slicing.
- Serve with a side of fresh salad or steamed vegetables.
For Thermomix (TM5):
- Prepare Onions and Garlic:
- Peel and halve the onions, peel and remove the germ from the garlic.
- Place both in the Thermomix bowl and blend for 5 seconds at speed 5. Scrape down the sides.
- Add olive oil, then sauté for 5 minutes at 90°C on speed 1.
- Prepare Potatoes:
- Peel and slice the potatoes into thin strips, placing them in the Thermomix cooking basket.
- Cooking in Thermomix:
- Once the onions are sautéed, transfer them to a gratin dish.
- Without rinsing the bowl, add 500g water and the bouquet garni. Place the cooking basket with potatoes in the Thermomix and cook for 25 minutes at Varoma temperature on speed 1.
- Assemble and Bake:
- Follow the conventional instructions for layering and baking the casserole.
Enjoy your delicious Cheese, Potato & Smoked Sausage Casserole!