All week long, Mimi Thorisson -- the blogger behind the beautiful blog Manger -- will be sharing recipes and stories from her new book, A Kitchen in France. Follow along to win a book + a bundle of Staub cookware each day, so you can pretend like you also live in the French countryside.
Today: Mimi shares the buttery French potato dish that goes with everything.
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What can you say about a simple potato dish that goes with everything? That it’s the little black dress of side dishes -- but wouldn’t that be a cliché? I think it’s best to say that it is a dish I would happily welcome at my table anytime. I can’t think of a meal that would not be improved if served alongside Lyonnaise potatoes. Frankly, as I am writing this, I realize I can’t serve dinner tonight without these. That’s how good they are.
More: Pair the little black dress of side dishes with the little black dress of roasting dishes.
Serves 4
2 pounds new potatoes, peeled
About 11 tablespoons unsalted butter
Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 onions, thinly sliced
A bunch of fresh parsley, leaves removed and finely chopped
See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.
Photo by Oddur Thorisson
Every day this week, we're giving away a copy of A Kitchen in France and a bundle of Mimi's favorite Staub cookware! To win today's copy, tell us in the comments: What's your favorite way to cook potatoes? We'll choose winners this Friday, October 31st. (U.S. entrants only, please!)
Update: Lakelurelady, onetinyspark, Double Helping, TerryKes, and rhubarb! rhubarb! rhubarb! are our winners! Enjoy your copies of A Kitchen in France and Staub cookware.
Written by: Mimi Thorisson
Popular on Food52
167 Comments
Phillie F.
October 31, 2014
Mashed potatoes made with yukon gold potatoes, tons of butter, truffle salt, heavy cream and creme fraiche and pressed through a sieve- so creamy and not at all gummy.
lakelurelady
October 30, 2014
I love a Gruyere cheese gratin of sliced potatoes cooked in my iron skillet.
Jessi
October 30, 2014
I absolutely love to par boil and then roast them in ghee or butter, sea salt, pepper and fresh herbs until they are a lovely crispy brown all over. The flavor is perfectly warm and comforting.
Michele H.
October 30, 2014
I love making fried cubed potatoes with salt, pepper and cayenne for breakfast burritos or plain old bacon & eggs. ( Being Latina, I love to reheat them in cheese quesadillas for lunch the next day!)
anne
October 30, 2014
In the summer, fingerlings simply boiled. Serve them warm or at room temp with a pat of butter and a pile of salt on the plate. Dip and enjoy. Round out with hard boiled eggs and whatever raw veggie is growing in the garden or in the CSA bag.
Mariel S.
October 30, 2014
Halved (fingerlings are my favorite!), roasted in duck fat and tossed with thyme, rosemary and Maldon's.
Bklynbean
October 30, 2014
Au gratin in my cast iron skillet! Or boiled and then mashed with sautéed garlic and olive oil.
Mirakol
October 29, 2014
Chopped or cubed and thrown into a Dutch oven with herbs de Provence, chicken broth, fresh lemon juice, a bit of dry white wine, salt and pepper and cooked in a very hot oven for maybe 2 hours covered then uncovered the last 45 minutes maybe. DIVINE! Found the recipe on Pinterest!
Morgan B.
October 29, 2014
Roasted with herbs and olive oil for weeknights. Potato pavé to impress the dinner guests.
Jenna C.
October 29, 2014
My favorite way is to make parchment-lined foil packets, fill them with chopped potatoes, onions, carrots, herbs, and olive oil, then cook them in the coals of a campfire. It always seems so decadent to have potatoes and steak while camping, but it is really very easy.
Kelsey T.
October 29, 2014
I love potatoes roasted with olive oil, salt, pepper, chopped garlic, chives, and some Dijon mustard. So good!
onetinyspark
October 29, 2014
I love to simply roast potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper. Then dip them in a bit of mayo!
Karen V.
October 29, 2014
My mom's au gratin potatoes are my go-to recipe. They are very easy to make and have a short ingredient list.
Sara S.
October 28, 2014
I like to roast them in duck fat or make a Persian pancake called Kuku sibzamini.
KitchenKim
October 28, 2014
Tonight I boiled and mashed them with unsalted butter, organic cream, and a sprinkling of sea salt. They were devoured quickly!
Pamela
October 28, 2014
I try to keep it simple by roasting potatoes with herbs until they're nice and crispy, either as fries or diced. But honestly, potatoes are tasty no matter how they're cooked!
Judi
October 28, 2014
Slice smallish potatoes on thicker setting of mandoline; toss with olive oil, salt/pepper, grated garlic, & fresh dill; microwave 15 mins in casserole w/lid. Always get compliments; leftovers are rare!
Michael J.
October 28, 2014
Today I'm roasting fingerling potatoes tossed with olive oil and fresh clipped rosemary... in my small cast iron skillet. And... that's my favorite today!
Natalie
October 28, 2014
Just like this, actually!
Boiled, then roasted or panfried- soft inside and crispy outside.
Boiled, then roasted or panfried- soft inside and crispy outside.
leucadia
October 28, 2014
Deep fried french fries, vinegar and sea salt..simple and always satisfying
Melanie
October 28, 2014
Roasted, with olive oil, sea salt and rosemary, with some sliced shallots thrown in towards the end (so they don't burn). Sometimes I rough them up a little near the end, too, to get crispy edges.
aobermeyer
October 28, 2014
I loving eating pretty much any preparation of potatoes, but am partial to just simple roasted potatoes.
lapadia
October 28, 2014
Gratin Potatoes = layered potatoes, grated mozzarella and parmesan cheese with oven dried roma tomatoes that have macerated in garlic, basil and olive oil...
Heather G.
October 28, 2014
Roasted fingerlings that have been tossed with olive oil, Herbes de Provence + salt or lavender salt, and tons of lemon zest.
leslierose
October 28, 2014
There's hardly a way I won't eat potatoes...but right now I'm in the mood for roasted garlic mashed!
Kristina
October 28, 2014
I'm a big fan of oven fries, preferably alongside a portobello burger (or, if we're feeling fancy, an actual beef one).
thzhou
October 28, 2014
latkes, tater tots, home fries, or regular fries, I love potatoes with a crunchy outside and soft inside.
Margaret
October 28, 2014
I love making smashed curried potatoes! I cook the potatoes with some olive oil, butter, and curry powder, and once they're cooked through, I smash them with the flat of my knife and add a curry sauce. Divine!
A
October 28, 2014
Boiled whole, without skin, then gently smashed with cooked down chopped onion(not caramelize, just cooked until translucent), a little salt, good olive oil (maybe a tbsp butter), fresh ground black pepper, and a generous amount of chopped parsley at the end. They go well with fish, pork, or just as a light meal in itself.
Reece
October 28, 2014
My favorite is still just roasted with a bit of salt, olive oil and rosemary.
Anne H.
October 28, 2014
Crispy EVOO roasted Yukon Golds smashed and sprinkled with Celtic Flake Sea Salt. Great, now I'm hungry again. ;)
Yooinn H.
October 28, 2014
I like to cook potatoes as an ingredient of thai curry soup! Comforting with a kick, Yum!
The G.
October 28, 2014
I love to whip my potatoes into a fluffy mash that holds gravy or jus or sauce of any kind really – anything that makes dinner a dream, with extra butter.
Angela G.
October 28, 2014
It's definitely not the fanciest method, but I love love love chopping red potatoes, tossing them in some good olive oil, fresh rosemary, salt and pepper, and roasting them. The way the sides get all crispy just makes me so happy!!
Susan H.
October 28, 2014
Brunch taters...sauté chopped onions and bell pepper in butter til translucent, add leftover boiled or roasted new potatoes, quartered, s and p, and cook until browned and crispy around edges. Eat with big smile ... And ketchup!
Allison
October 27, 2014
Julia Child’s gratin dauphinois - a perfect example of how a simple, uncomplicated dish can elevate a weeknight dinner.
Geri
October 27, 2014
Organic Russian Fingerlings roasted after a generous coating of deep gold olive oil so buttery. Gilded with Fleur de Sel and course cracked black pepper. I cannot be more in love!
Melina H.
October 27, 2014
smashed, seasoned with smoked paprika, black pepper, and sea salt, and pan fried. in duck fat, if i have some lurking in the back of the fridge….
aretz
October 27, 2014
roasted sweet potatoes with olive oil, Maldon salt, pepper and smoked paprika.
Susan B.
October 27, 2014
BBQ potatoes!! Take two sheets of foil lay upon each other spray with Pam, sliced potatoes thinly gratin style, lay out on foil, sprinkle salt, pepper and dry ranch season, top with dollops of sour cream throughout, repeat layer one more time last layer add shredded cheese and thinly sliced onions top with foil and seal all edges lay on medium grill(350 degrees) cook 45 minutes. No flipping and no pan to clean up!! Hint lay the two sheets of foil on cookie sheet for support to get to grill and take off grill!!
You can change out season to you liking!
You can change out season to you liking!
Lindsay L.
October 27, 2014
I love to roast potatoes with other root vegetables. A little olive oil, salt and pepper.. Perfection!
Anna
October 27, 2014
Fingerling potatoes in 1 inch diced cubes with the skin on, pan seared with butter, of course, high heat at first to give them a crispy exterior, then medium-low to finish them off. Secret spice blend includes salt, pepper, nutmeg and herbs de Provence!
Michael J.
October 27, 2014
Freshly dug, skins on, lots of butter and a couple splashes of buttermilk, freshly cracked black pepper and good salt, mashed in the pan with an electric hand mixer; served up with gravy drawn from drippings of the main course!
malvinaspeaks
October 27, 2014
Finnish new potatoes: tiny, boiled. Topped with melty, salty butter and snipped fresh dill. Preferably accompanied by smoked perch.
Laura M.
October 27, 2014
Grilled with diced onions, olive oil, and herbes de Provence, wrapped in foil on a hot grill!
Nina E.
October 27, 2014
For breakfast sautéed in butter along with peppers and onion and served alongside eggs and homemade sausage.
Greenstuff
October 27, 2014
After I lived in Belgium, I didn't eat potatoes for more than 30 years. I've recovered, but this summer, when we were served a gratin with Bleu d'Auvergne, I still surprised my family by saying they were delicious.
Megan
October 27, 2014
Either in a German style potato salad with bacon and onions, or mashed for thanksgiving dinner. Also love crispy hash browns!
Amanda T.
October 27, 2014
I love to make a gratin with leeks and good Swiss Gruyere. Great with ham at Christmas!
Jackie M.
October 27, 2014
Sliced russets, in the bottom of the roasting pan. Spatchcocked Chicken on top. All the juices and garlic and herbs from the chicken seeping into the potatoes.
Cathy
October 27, 2014
Small red potatoes, halved, tossed in (excellent) olive oil, fresh thyme and Maldon sea salt (divine!). Bake cut size down for 30+ mins at 375. Every 8 mins or so loosen from bottom of pan with a spatula.
DelicateFlowah
October 27, 2014
I've never met a potato dish I didn't like but lately, I've been loving sage augratin potatoes.
amysarah
October 27, 2014
For me, classic roast potatoes are still the one to beat. Red skin, Yukon Gold, of fingerlings roast until well browned and crispy, with only a little olive oil, s&p, sometimes a few garlic cloves or a couple sprigs of fresh rosemary or thyme.
Jason P.
October 27, 2014
Baked purple potatoes, roughly chopped or very lightly smashed, with lotsa' garlic, good EVOO, and vinegar of choice! :D
Susan R.
October 27, 2014
I'll take potatoes any way I can get them. If I had to pick one, twitched backed with cheese & bacon.
Alex
October 27, 2014
Par-Boiled, Smashed/Seasoned, and finished in a chili oil until crisped on both sides. #FireFries
Devon B.
October 27, 2014
Simply! I love eating the all blue roasted potatoes with butter and coarse salt.
Suzanne C.
October 27, 2014
Chunked, tossed with chicken schmaltz, garlic, smoked paprika, salt. Roast @ 450 until crispy & tender.
gingerella
October 27, 2014
Potato galette. Layers of fanned out potatoes with a butter/olive oil slathered in between the layers, with truffle salt and black pepper. Five minutes on top of the stove, finished in the oven. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Ooh la la!!!
Lorrie B.
October 27, 2014
At the moment, my favorite is Yukon Golds (either chunked or quartered), tossed in olive oil, kosher salt, pepper (along with whatever other vegetable I'm doing) and thrown on the Traeger to grill with the meat du jour.
sexyLAMBCHOPx
October 27, 2014
Classic Steak-style French fries are my favorite with a side of mayo & ketchup.
Elena C.
October 27, 2014
Quartered and roasted with coconut oil, salt, pepper and a little bit of dill.
enbe
October 27, 2014
On the one hand, potato salad is one of my favorite foods, but to cook potatoes? Au gratin.
Marsha L.
October 27, 2014
I am from the Maritime Canadian Province of Nova Scotia..Potatoes are the main staple food ..(I am currently living in California)
My favourite simple potato recipe: Complete Peace of Mind Potatos
small golden Yukons
steamed for a while until 3/4 cooked
A fresh bundle of THYME/ Kosher salt/ ground black pepper
Finish in the oven by roasting ..
drizzle sweet butter for serving
garnish with fresh thyme..
My favourite simple potato recipe: Complete Peace of Mind Potatos
small golden Yukons
steamed for a while until 3/4 cooked
A fresh bundle of THYME/ Kosher salt/ ground black pepper
Finish in the oven by roasting ..
drizzle sweet butter for serving
garnish with fresh thyme..
christopher S.
October 27, 2014
favorite way it to slow roast in the oven in 1 inch squares with butter and Parmesan
cheese on them
cheese on them
Indian G.
October 27, 2014
Fancy Olive Oil, Fresh Garlic, Parsley, My Special Spice Blend, thinly sliced on a mandolin, pushed face down into this marinade and fried till golden on the bottom, then I cover the pan and let the top steam, so I've got crispy, crunchy, creamy, and spicy all together!!!!
jane M.
October 27, 2014
I love potatoes almost any way but Pommes Anna is my favorite way to fix them.
arishell
October 27, 2014
Roast a chicken and add new potatoes that are halved to the pan. Simple salt and pepper. They roast in the juices from the chicken.
Ellen
October 27, 2014
Small red potatoes, halved, olive oil, salt & pepper, rosemary and a hit of cayenne, roasted....preferably on the bbq...until crunchy & brown on the outside!
Glo C.
October 27, 2014
Roasted in any number of manners. Tossed with Indian-inspired spices and oil and roasted and served with rice and tahini yogurt sauce Roasted simply with oil + S&P and then glazed in a pan with a mix of ancho chile powder and honey. Roasted and then mixed with grilled hatch chiles and onions and a apple cider vinaigrette. I could go on forever.
[email protected]
October 27, 2014
Cubed then roasted with olive oil, salt, pepper and tons of unpeeled cloves of garlic!
Akiko
October 27, 2014
I am now living in a country of potato, Germany and opened this page to get new inspiration :)
My favorite way to eat potato is to fry potatoes with skin on a pan after I sauté pork steak with butter and put them in oven for a while with olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh herbs such as thyme. With rosemary after chicken is also nice!
My favorite way to eat potato is to fry potatoes with skin on a pan after I sauté pork steak with butter and put them in oven for a while with olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh herbs such as thyme. With rosemary after chicken is also nice!
Cari W.
October 27, 2014
French fries wrapped in a pita with corn, salad, falafel, garlic yogurt sauce. Belgian pita snacks!
Francesca M.
October 27, 2014
Thick slices, tossed with olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper. Then roasted in the oven until gbd.
Elaine
October 27, 2014
I think there's a lot to be said for a solid dish of breakfast potatoes. Shoestring, cube or disc--as long as they're fried up on smoking-hot cast iron and served with runny eggs, they're perfect in my book.
Jen
October 27, 2014
Oven baked fries are my favorite - thinly sliced and cooked with a few sprigs of rosemary... Mmmmm!
Angela N.
October 27, 2014
left over baked potato sliced up with onion...cook both in a little butter and oil top with a fried egg. My favorite breakfast!
Sally
October 27, 2014
I love potatoes all ways (always). But home made french fries wrapped in fresh country bread with butter, comfort food from my grandmother that is still magical.
flourpower
October 27, 2014
Julia Child's Gratin Dauphinoise, from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Oh, Baby!! Definitely not for every day, but there are never any leftovers!
Anne
October 27, 2014
I love to cook crash hot potatoes (so simple and delicious!) or simply rub the potatoes in olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then bake them on the oven.
juju1212
October 27, 2014
Whole potato, skin on, drizzle with EVOO, sprinkle with kosher salt, wrap in foil and roast in the hot coals of my firepit!
Peggy N.
October 27, 2014
my husband loves when i slice them thin, pan fry in half butter and half olive oil. then and thin sliced onions, add sea salt with cracked pepper. never have any leftovers with this one!!!
Patt G.
October 27, 2014
I like them twice baked with scallions, cheddar and bacon mixed into the pulp and stuffed back into the jacket.
Jaye M.
October 27, 2014
A nice golden brown dish of scalloped or au gratin potatoes. Yummy, creamy goodness!
Rachael S.
October 27, 2014
Roasted, underneath a whole chicken so they get seasoned with all the yummy chicken juices!
tanager
October 27, 2014
New potatoes - quartered and tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme, and roasted until crispy on the edges.
rose M.
October 27, 2014
roasted with butter and olive oil. salted, lots of pepper and smoked paprika.
Axy
October 27, 2014
Leftover mashed potatoes blended with eggs and grated gruyere, topped with parm and baked into a toasty golden soufflé/gratin hybrid of sorts...taken from one time on Jacques & Julia cooking at home!
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