A classic of French gastronomy, the Hachis Parmentier is one of my favourite dishes. “Hachis” comes from “hâché”, meaning minced. Parmentier comes from Antoine Auguste Parmentier, an 18th century apothicary. He popularised the potato in France as a rich nutrient vegetable, ideal in times of famine. He supposedly even cooked his hachis parmentier and served it to King Louis XVI himself!
You can make hachis parmentier from scratch, or adapt the recipe to finish rests from the day before. Traditionally, it is made with beef and mashed potatoes. However, nowadays, you can find variations with just about anything: pork, chicken, duck, mashed carrots, butternut, sweet potatoes, and so on.
French Potato and Beef Casserole | Hachis Parmentier
A French classic, the Hachis Parmentier (Potato and Beef Casserole) is a hearty dish made of a layer of savoury beef, and a layer of mashed potatoes, oven baked and broiled under the grill. It is the perfect cold weather comfort food, loved equally by adults and youngsters!
Equipment
- Gratin dish
Ingredients
- 600 gr potatoes
- 100 ml liquid cream
- 1 tsp butter
- 400 gr minced beef
- 1 onion
- 1 carrot
- 1 garlic clove
- olive oil
- 1 tsp thyme
- grated cheese (to gratinate)
Instructions
- Peel, wash and cut the potatoes. Cook them in boiling salted water for 20/25 minutes. Keep some of the boiling water.
- In a bowl, mash the potatoes with a fork or a potato masher. Add a few tablespoons of water, the butter, and the cream, until reaching the desired consistency (personally I like it when the mashed potatoes still have some bits in it). Salt and pepper according to taste. Optional: add a pinch of nutmeg.
- Preheat you oven to 180°C.
- Chop your onion and your carrot in tiny little pieces. Sauté in a pan with a little bit of olive oil, until tender.
- Scrub the garlic clove at the bottom of your gratin dish. Then chop it thinly.
- Add the minced meat, the chopped garlic, and the thyme. Season with salt and pepper according to taste. Let it cook for about 8 minutes.
- Place and flatten the mixed meat at the bottom of the dish. Add and flatten a layer of mashed potatoes on top. Sprinkle some gratted cheese on top.
- Bake in the oven at 180°C for 25 to 30 minutes. Finish by placing under the grill to gratinate for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Bon appétit!
