Duchess Potatoes

17/11/2023

Duchess potatoes are an elegant and tasty side dish, perfect to accompany meat or fish dishes, or to make a formal dinner special. Here is how you can prepare them:

Ingredients

1 kg of floury potatoes
100 g of butter
2 egg yolks
Salt and pepper to taste
Grated nutmeg (optional)
1 pinch of paprika (optional, for browning)

Preparation

Start by peeling the potatoes and cutting them into uniformly sized pieces. Boil them in plenty of salted water until they are tender, which should take about 20-25 minutes.
Once cooked, drain the potatoes well and pass them through a potato ricer or food mill to obtain a very fine and lump-free puree.
Add the butter in pieces to the still hot potato puree and mix until it has completely melted.
At this point, incorporate the egg yolks into the puree, and season with salt, pepper, and grated nutmeg to taste.
Preheat the oven to 220 °C.
Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. On a baking tray lined with parchment paper, form tufts of puree giving them an elegant shape.
If desired, sprinkle the duchess potatoes with a pinch of paprika to give a nice golden color.
Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the duchess potatoes are well browned and crispy on the surface.

Curiosity

Duchess potatoes take their name from their French origin and their refined appearance which makes them suitable for aristocratic tables. They were created as a variation of the classic Parisian potatoes and can be customized with the addition of aromatic herbs or other spices according to personal preferences.

I recommend serving the duchess potatoes hot to enjoy their crispy exterior and soft interior. Bon appétit!