Description
Victorian stewed potatoes bring rustic comfort from English kitchens of yesteryear. Gentle herbs and butter create a simple side dish that connects modern palates with delightful historical culinary traditions you can savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes:
- 2 lbs (907 grams) Yukon Gold or red potatoes, peeled and sliced into thick rounds
Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme (or 1/4 teaspoon dried)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth (or enough to cover potatoes)
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg for a traditional Victorian touch
Instructions
- Create a flavor foundation by gently melting butter in a spacious cooking vessel over moderate warmth.
- Introduce thinly sliced onions to the butter, allowing them to transform into a translucent, aromatic mixture, softening for approximately 5 minutes while releasing their delicate sweetness.
- Carefully layer the sliced potatoes into the onion-infused base, ensuring even distribution across the cooking surface.
- Cascade broth over the potatoes, providing just enough liquid to submerge the vegetable layers completely.
- Reduce heat to generate a subtle, rhythmic bubbling, then seal the pot with a tight-fitting lid.
- Allow the potatoes to gently simmer and absorb the liquid’s essence, periodically rotating the contents to promote uniform cooking and prevent adherence to the pot’s bottom.
- Monitor the cooking process for 25-30 minutes, testing potato tenderness by piercing with a fork – the ideal texture maintains structural integrity while offering a soft, yielding interior.
- Once potatoes reach perfect consistency, remove from heat and let the stew rest momentarily, allowing flavors to harmonize and liquid to slightly reduce.
Notes
- Swap white potatoes with sweet potatoes or parsnips for a nutritional boost and unique flavor profile.
- Choose waxy potato varieties like Yukon Gold or red potatoes to maintain their structure during slow cooking.
- Enhance the dish’s richness by adding a splash of cream or crème fraîche in the final minutes of cooking for a velvety texture.
- Customize the herb blend by incorporating fresh thyme, rosemary, or dill to complement the potatoes’ natural earthiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg