The racy goodness of aligot, a French product

Aligot is a typical dish of France, a symbol of conviviality. It consists of a mashed potatoes, enriched with cream, butter and a stringy cheese.

A typical French recipe with a long history is that of aligot. It consists of a single dish to be made with mashed potatoes . Other poor and genuine ingredients are added to this main component, such as cream, butter and cheese, traditionally the toma variety . The latter must be melted in the pot, becoming extraordinarily stringy .

Originally, bread instead of potatoes was among the ingredients of the original aligot recipe. The result was almost the same and was prepared by the monks for the pilgrims, who passed directly through Santiago de Compostela. These travelers always asked for ” ali quid “, or “something to eat”. From this expression originates the name of the dish which was then transformed into “aliquot” and, finally, aligot. The typical product was eaten from the same dish and shared with several people, so it was considered a symbol of conviviality .

Are you curious? Let’s find out now how to prepare it!

Preparation of the recipe for aligot

1. To begin, boil the potatoes. Without peeling them, put them in a pot full of cold, salted water. Put on the fire and let it cook for 35 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, cut the cheese into thin slices and set aside.
3. Pour the cream into a saucepan, heat it on the stove and bring it to a boil.
4. When the potatoes are cooked, peel and mash them to purée them.
5. Transfer this puree to a saucepan and spread over the cold butter, cutting it into chunks . Turn on low heat and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring.
6. In the meantime, turn off the cream and pour it over this mixture when it is still hot .
7. Incorporate it to obtain a denser dough.
8. Add the slices of cheese and the minced garlic.
9. Continue to cook the cheese and potato aligot over low heat. Work with a spoon, mixing from the bottom up .
10. Meanwhile, the cheese will melt and the dough becomes elastic, so you have to bring it as high as possible.
11. When the cheese is completely melted, turn off and season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

storage

Are you wondering what to serve this tender aligot with? As per tradition, it is an excellent side dish for meat dishes , such as succulent sausages. You can keep it in the fridge for 1-2 days , covered with cling film.

Are you a fan of puree? Try the famous recipe from the “Friends” series for mashed potatoes and peas .