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24 Aug
Potato-Bacon Torte
Posted as Savory Pies and Tarts
It is unlikely that I will ever utter a bad word about a dish that combines potatoes, bacon, cream, and buttery pie crust, and this torte is no exception. The only bad thing, really, is that it’s so fabulous you’ll be in danger of eating the entire thing by yourself. Multiple layers of thinly sliced potatoes and crispy bacon are given a healthy drink of thick cream, and encased in one of the flakiest pie crusts I have ever eaten. You tell me if you can think of anything not fantastic about that combination. I love the rustic nature of this dish – it’s simple yet hearty and satisfying; a meal that not only fills your stomach but also warms your soul. Some dishes just have that indescribable element, and this is one of them.
This recipe comes from the winner of The Next Food Network Star, Melissa d’Arabian, and was featured on the first episode of her new show, Ten Dollar Dinners. Since I had done a recap of some of the winning dishes from the show for my FoodBuzz 24,24,24 event, I thought it only fitting that I give the first recipe from the new show a shot too. I actually watched the episode and thought Melissa did a great job – I learned a few different tid bits (a splash of soy sauce in a vinaigrette can pump up the flavor!) – and I was obviously enthralled by this dish. It looked fabulous and I was thrilled that it tasted even better than it looked on the show! A definite must-try if there ever was one.
I would now like to shamelessly show off my new Le Creuset pie dish:
Isn’t she pretty? This is my second Le Creuset piece (I have a 7.25-quart dutch oven in the same color – Flame Red) and I can’t wait add more pieces! Thank you, Chief Culinary Consultant, for the best pie dish ever!
Okay, enough talk, go make this torte and enjoy a big forkful for me!
Hungry for more savory pies? Check these out:
Eggplant Lasagna Tart
Chicken Pot Pie
Polenta Ricotta Tart
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Potato-Bacon Torte
Serves 8
2 pie crusts, recipe follows
4 slices bacon, cooked crisp
3 medium baking potatoes, peeled
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup grated Swiss cheese
2/3 cup heavy cream
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
1 egg yolk, whisked with a splash of water1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Remove the pie pan from the refrigerator. Slice the potatoes in half lengthwise, and then thinly slice into half moons. Working in circles, arrange the potato slices in the pie crust to cover the bottom. Season with salt and pepper, and crumble one piece of the bacon over the potatoes. Repeat the layers three more times. The pan should be nearly full. Top with the shredded cheese.
3. Whisk the dried thyme into the cream and slowly pour the cream around and over the entire pie, allowing it to seep down between the potato slices.
4. Roll out the remaining disk of refrigerated dough. Cover the pie with the dough and crimp the edges closed. Brush the top and edges of the crust with egg wash. Make a few slits in the center of the top crust, for the steam to escape, and put the pie pan on a baking sheet.
5. Bake the torte until the crust is browned and crispy and the potatoes are cooked through, 50 to 60 minutes. If the crust edges get too brown, cover them with some strips of aluminum foil. Remove the pie from the oven and let rest at least 15 minutes before serving.
Pie Crust:
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cubed and chilled
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
8 to 10 tablespoons ice waterPut the flour and salt in a food processor and pulse briefly to combine. Add the chilled butter and pulse 5 to 10 times until the mixture resembles looks like coarse crumbs. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing briefly after each addition. Continue adding water until the dough just begins to gather in large clumps.
Divide the dough into 2 equal amounts, shape into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Remove one of the disks and place on a floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to a 10-inch circle. Gently lift the dough into a 9-inch pie pan, and refrigerate while you prepare the torte ingredients.
(Adapted from Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d’Arabian)
SOunds perfect- I’ll have to catch her show. I love delicious economical meals.
I have wanted to make this since I first saw it on her show too. It looks amazing. Beautiful new pie pan!
That looks so good! You really can’t go wrong with that combination of ingredients!
Wow that loos delish! I have been wanting the le creuset pieces myself!
Um . . yeah . . I’d eat the whole thing myself. Looks tasty!
Simple and scrumptious… I feel a lot like cooking with potatoes lately.
That’s funny I just blogged about this last week…and I switched out the cheese to swiss as well! Did you see this on my blog!
http://lieslsconfectiondissection.blogspot.com/2009/08/potato-bacon-torte-parisian-dinner.html
Hi Liesl, I hadn’t seen your post, but your torte looks great! I did the Swiss switch because I didn’t want to spring for Gruyere
Your crust looks great – I really need to practice my crimping!
That looks great! I saw the show, and I had leaned toward wanting the guy to win, but she appears to be doing a good job.
I saw her make this and thought it looked awesome, but your torte looks even better!! I love that you used Swiss instead. Gruyere is so expensive. Bacon + potatoes + cheese = win, win, win situation!
Oh my, I’d like to cancel the corn on the cob I’m having for dinner and eat this instead!
I like your Le Creuset pie dish
That thing would be way to dangerous to let myself get near. LOL it sounds so good!
This is one good lookin savory pie! I think it would be great for breakfast.
You adapted Melissa’s recipe! I loved her on the Next Food Network star! The dish looks delicious. You can never go wrong with bacon and potatoes.
oh that sounds amazing! I love how simple and easy it is to make. It makes such a stress free meal on a busy weeknight
Sounds and looks like a great dish! I love potatoes, I love bacon, I love cheese, I love savory pies… I’ll make this!
I saw bacon and came running! your torte looks fantastic!!
This looks really good, it’s making me hungry for some comfort food! Nothing hits the spot like potatoes and cheese!
Similarly, but not in torte form, Nigella Lawson has a recipe called “Back from the Bar Potatoes” that is a mixture of potatoes, cheese, egg, bacon, and peas that is also delicious! Also, for any vegetarians out there like me, I use Morning Star veggie bacon in a lot of recipes and if you cook it very well is a great substitute for real bacon! Even my non-veggie boyfriend loves when I cook with it! And much healthier (not that health is an issue when consuming a meal like this haha)
Love the torte! Love the dish! I agree there’s no way to go wrong here. Can’t wait til I have time to make this!
That looks amazing, and then I remind myself that I just got back from a weekend of eating crazy amounts of cheese so I really shouldn’t be making anything with potato and bacon anytime soon. Looks fantastic though. I just stumbled upon your blog through food buzz and I love your writing style.
This looks outrageously good. And so simple — just the comfort food goodies that make a bad day not-so-bad after a heaping forkful of potato n’ bacon! Thank you for sharing and taking such om-nommy photos!
This was wonderful! I made it last week. Thanks for posting it.
This was definitely delicious, and even reheats well!
I am DYING for some Le Creuset cookware. I did find some at TJ Maxx about 40-50% off the original prices but still too expensive for me at this point!