Potato and Bacon Pie

Potato and bacon pie is a rich and comforting dish, perfect for a hearty dinner. Here’s how to prepare it.

Ingredients

• 1 kg of potatoes
• 200 g of smoked bacon, diced
• 250 ml of cooking cream
• 150 g of grated cheese (preferably Parmesan or pecorino)
• 1 finely chopped onion
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• Butter as needed for greasing the pan
• Salt and pepper as needed
• Grated nutmeg (optional)
• Extra virgin olive oil as needed

Preparation

1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into thin slices, about 2-3 mm thick. Keep them submerged in cold water to prevent them from turning black.
2. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
3. In a pan, heat a drizzle of oil and add the chopped onion and garlic. Sauté until they become translucent.
4. Add the bacon and sauté until it becomes crispy.
5. Melt some butter in a small saucepan, add the cooking cream and bring almost to a boil. Season with salt, pepper, and add a pinch of nutmeg if desired.
6. Grease a baking dish with butter.
7. Arrange a layer of potatoes at the bottom of the dish, sprinkle with some of the bacon and sautéed onion, then dust with a bit of grated cheese.
8. Continue to layer the potatoes, bacon, onion, and cheese, ending with a layer of potatoes.
9. Pour the hot cream and butter mixture over the top layer of potatoes so it filters through the layers.
10. Dust the final layer of potatoes with plenty of grated cheese.
11. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 1 hour.
12. Remove the aluminum foil and continue baking for another 20-30 minutes or until the surface is golden and crispy.
13. Let the pie rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Fun Fact

This recipe has many variations depending on the Italian region where it is prepared. In some versions, instead of bacon, you can use diced cooked ham or crumbled sausage for a different taste.