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Pommes dauphine

Yes, that's mashed potato lightened with choux pastry, then deep-fried.

By Emma Knowles
  • 30 mins preparation
  • 45 mins cooking plus cooling
  • Serves 4 - 6
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Pommes dauphines
Not to be confused with pommes à la dauphinoise, pommes dauphine are little mouthfuls of mashed potato, lightened with choux pastry, then deep-fried. They puff into little feather-light balls of potato goodness, and are excellent served in place of roast potatoes as a side dish, or on their own as a snack or appetiser. We've seasoned ours with a fragrant herb salt; they're also amazing with kombu butter.

Ingredients

  • 500 gm floury potatoes, such as sebago or royal blue, scrubbed
  • ½ quantity basic choux pastry
  • 1 tsp finely chopped thyme
  • 1 tsp finely chopped rosemary
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp finely grated nutmeg
  • Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
  • Dijon mustard, to serve
Herb and lemon salt
  • 1½ tbsp sea salt flakes
  • ½ tsp finely chopped thyme
  • ½ tsp finely chopped rosemary
  • Finely grated rind of ½ lemon

Method

  • 1
    Cover potatoes generously with cold salted water in a saucepan, bring to the boil and cook until tender when pierced with a skewer or sharp knife (25-30 minutes). Drain, then, when cool enough to handle, peel and coarsely chop. Return to a clean pan, mash, then stir over low heat to steam off excess moisture (1-2 minutes).
  • 2
    Meanwhile, make the choux pastry, then beat in mashed potato, herbs, baking powder and nutmeg. Season generously to taste.
  • 3
    Heat oil in a large, deep saucepan to 180C. Add rough tablespoonfuls of potato mixture in batches of 5 or 6 and deep-fry, turning occasionally, until golden brown (2-3 minutes; be careful, hot oil will spit). Drain on paper towels.
  • 4
    Meanwhile, for herb and lemon salt, rub ingredients together in a bowl with your fingertips until fragrant and combined, and season to taste with freshly ground black pepper. Scatter mixture over pommes dauphines and serve hot with Dijon mustard for dipping.