Jansson's Temptation
by NigellaIntroduction
Known as chip gratin in my house, this is the most fabulous potato bake, and an indispensable part of Christmas celebrations in Sweden: the potatoes are cut as if you were making French fries, then layered up in a dish with onions that you’ve cooked in butter until soft, along with a couple of tins of Swedish ansjovis, with cream and milk (or all cream, if you prefer) before being topped with breadcrumbs (although I must admit I forgot to add them for this photograph!) and butter, and baked.
As for these ansjovis, these are not — as you might think — anchovies, but sprats that come in a spicy, sweet brine, which give them a light pickled flavour. If you can’t get hold of them, then you can best replace them by chopping up a couple of pickled herrings. I should also tell you that for my fishphobic family, I simply forgo this element, and stir three tablespoons of grated parmesan into the cream and milk instead. I wouldn’t dare serve it like this to a Swede, but I can vouch for its (inauthentic) deliciousness this way. But if you can get hold of the Swedish ansjovis, do; you can find them online or at some Ikea branches.
For US cup measures, use the toggle at the top of the ingredients list.
Known as chip gratin in my house, this is the most fabulous potato bake, and an indispensable part of Christmas celebrations in Sweden: the potatoes are cut as if you were making French fries, then layered up in a dish with onions that you’ve cooked in butter until soft, along with a couple of tins of Swedish ansjovis, with cream and milk (or all cream, if you prefer) before being topped with breadcrumbs (although I must admit I forgot to add them for this photograph!) and butter, and baked.
As for these ansjovis, these are not — as you might think — anchovies, but sprats that come in a spicy, sweet brine, which give them a light pickled flavour. If you can’t get hold of them, then you can best replace them by chopping up a couple of pickled herrings. I should also tell you that for my fishphobic family, I simply forgo this element, and stir three tablespoons of grated parmesan into the cream and milk instead. I wouldn’t dare serve it like this to a Swede, but I can vouch for its (inauthentic) deliciousness this way. But if you can get hold of the Swedish ansjovis, do; you can find them online or at some Ikea branches.
For US cup measures, use the toggle at the top of the ingredients list.
Ingredients
Serves: 4-6
- 2 large onions (approx. 400g / 4 cups sliced)
- 4 x 15ml tablespoons butter plus more for greasing
- A good grinding of pepper
- 2 x 125 grams tins of Swedish ansjovis
- 300 millilitres full fat milk
- 2 teaspoons Maldon sea salt flakes plus ½ teaspoon (or 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus ¼ teaspoon)
- 1¼ kilograms potatoes
- 300 millilitres double cream
- 2 - 3 x 15ml tablespoons breadcrumbs (optional)
- 2 large onions (approx. 400g / 4 cups sliced)
- 4 tablespoons butter plus more for greasing
- A good grinding of pepper
- 2 x 125 grams tins of Swedish ansjovis
- 1¼ cups whole milk
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt plus ½ teaspoon (or 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus ¼ teaspoon)
- 2¾ pounds potatoes
- 1¼ cups heavy cream
- 2 - 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs (optional)
Method
- Peel the onions and slice into fine half-moons, and melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a large frying pan; I use a non-stick one of 28cm / 11in diameter. Add the onions to the pan, sprinkle with the ½ teaspoon of sea salt flakes (or ¼ teaspoon of fine sea salt) and stir for a few minutes over medium-high heat. Once they start to lose their raw look, turn the heat down to low and cook very gently for 15–20 minutes. Keep an eye on them, and stir regularly: they should be soft and pale gold. If you think they are beginning to catch, you can sprinkle a very little water into the pan, or simply add more butter. Once they’re ready, use a bendy spatula to scrape them and their buttery juices into a bowl to stop them burning in the hot pan.
- Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200℃/180℃ Fan/400°F. Butter an oven dish of about 2½ litres / 2½ quarts capacity; I use one (an old friend that you may have seen in a few of my books) of 34 x 20 x 6cm / 13 x 8 x 2½in.
- Peel the potatoes, cut them into narrow strips rather like French fries, then mound them into three roughly equal piles.
- Put a third of the potatoes into the bottom of the buttered dish. Season with 1 teaspoon of sea salt flakes (or ½ teaspoon of fine sea salt) and a good grinding of pepper.
- Spread half the soft onions over the potato strips, followed by one tin of ansjovis; it is up to you whether you add the liquid in the tin or not (see recipe intro).
- And now layer up again: so, the second third of potatoes, salt and pepper as before, followed by the rest of the onions and the second tin of ansjovis.
- Top with the final third of potatoes, then mix together the milk and cream in a jug and pour it over, although it won’t cover the potatoes completely. Push any that are poking up down into the creamy milk, just so that they’re lightly covered, but don’t worry if they pop up again.
- Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs if using (I confess I forgot to add them for the photo) and dot over the remaining tablespoon of butter, then bake in the oven for 1 hour, making sure you check at 45 minutes; push a fork in, and if it meets with no resistance, the potatoes are cooked. They’ll certainly be golden on top, but it’s essential they’re soft underneath.
- The gratin will stand for a while until needed, and tastes just as good, if not better, warm rather than hot. Leftovers are easily reheated for repeated rapture. For many Swedes — and those of us who are not Swedish — it is these reheated leftovers that are the real Christmas treat.
- Peel the onions and slice into fine half-moons, and melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a large frying pan; I use a non-stick one of 28cm / 11in diameter. Add the onions to the pan, sprinkle with the ½ teaspoon of sea salt flakes (or ¼ teaspoon of fine sea salt) and stir for a few minutes over medium-high heat. Once they start to lose their raw look, turn the heat down to low and cook very gently for 15–20 minutes. Keep an eye on them, and stir regularly: they should be soft and pale gold. If you think they are beginning to catch, you can sprinkle a very little water into the pan, or simply add more butter. Once they’re ready, use a bendy spatula to scrape them and their buttery juices into a bowl to stop them burning in the hot pan.
- Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200℃/180℃ Fan/400°F. Butter an oven dish of about 2½ litres / 2½ quarts capacity; I use one (an old friend that you may have seen in a few of my books) of 34 x 20 x 6cm / 13 x 8 x 2½in.
- Peel the potatoes, cut them into narrow strips rather like French fries, then mound them into three roughly equal piles.
- Put a third of the potatoes into the bottom of the buttered dish. Season with 1 teaspoon of sea salt flakes (or ½ teaspoon of fine sea salt) and a good grinding of pepper.
- Spread half the soft onions over the potato strips, followed by one tin of ansjovis; it is up to you whether you add the liquid in the tin or not (see recipe intro).
- And now layer up again: so, the second third of potatoes, salt and pepper as before, followed by the rest of the onions and the second tin of ansjovis.
- Top with the final third of potatoes, then mix together the milk and cream in a jug and pour it over, although it won’t cover the potatoes completely. Push any that are poking up down into the creamy milk, just so that they’re lightly covered, but don’t worry if they pop up again.
- Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs if using (I confess I forgot to add them for the photo) and dot over the remaining tablespoon of butter, then bake in the oven for 1 hour, making sure you check at 45 minutes; push a fork in, and if it meets with no resistance, the potatoes are cooked. They’ll certainly be golden on top, but it’s essential they’re soft underneath.
- The gratin will stand for a while until needed, and tastes just as good, if not better, warm rather than hot. Leftovers are easily reheated for repeated rapture. For many Swedes — and those of us who are not Swedish — it is these reheated leftovers that are the real Christmas treat.
Additional Information
MAKE AHEAD:
Assemble dish (without breadcrumbs) up to 2 days in advance, press food wrap onto surface to submerge potatoes and refrigerate. Add breadcrumbs and bake as directed in recipe, allowing an extra 15-20 minutes, until piping hot.
STORE:
Refrigerate leftovers, covered, for up to 2 days. Reheat in microwave or transfer to ovenproof dish, cover with foil and heat in 180°C/160°C Fan/350°F oven until piping hot.
FREEZE:
Freeze leftovers only in airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in fridge. Reheat as above.
MAKE AHEAD:
Assemble dish (without breadcrumbs) up to 2 days in advance, press food wrap onto surface to submerge potatoes and refrigerate. Add breadcrumbs and bake as directed in recipe, allowing an extra 15-20 minutes, until piping hot.
STORE:
Refrigerate leftovers, covered, for up to 2 days. Reheat in microwave or transfer to ovenproof dish, cover with foil and heat in 180°C/160°C Fan/350°F oven until piping hot.
FREEZE:
Freeze leftovers only in airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in fridge. Reheat as above.
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What 3 Others have said
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Posted by Annukos on 19th October 2023
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Posted by mikka2 on 7th December 2022
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Posted by paultpeden on 9th December 2021
Show more commentsI live in Finland and grocery stores here have frozen potato strips, with or without chopped onion added, in 500 gram bags. We often make these potato bakes with a bit of smoked ham or chicken cut into thin strips instead of fish, and it's a popular lunch dish in schools and workplace canteens. Easy to make for a crowd or a family with minimal preparation. Of course hand-cut potatoes, butter and Parmesan elevate this to another level.
A bit 'fishphobic' myself but my partner insists on this (sliced potatoes mind) for Little Xmas Eve - the 23rd. Family tradition. Was never too keen until last year. There was a bit of a shortage of ansjovis until a new batch was available. Bit of an oxymoron, fresh canned pickled fish, but it does make a world of difference if you can get them. Looking forward to it this year
This is incredibly good. I made it for Christmas dinner last year and everyone was stunned.