Potato Ragout

Ah, the French ragout. Be still my heart.

A ragout is simply a stew, with or without meat, and this one is perfect for summer new potatoes, and wonderful with a salad with bitter greens tossed in a lemony-dijon mustard vinaigrette.

Ingredients — Ragout

• 1 1/2 lbs. potatoes (either Red or Yukon Gold), one-inch dice
• 6 slices of bacon, cut in 1/4 inch strips
• 1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 Tbsp. flour
• 2 Tbsp. water
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 Tbsp. chopped parsley

Prep everything: dice the potatoes, chop the onion, slice the bacon, mince the garlic, and chop your parsley. Cover the potatoes in cold water and set aside.

I used a small Dutch oven pot to make my ragout.

Cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon to paper towel to drain. Drain bacon grease from pot.

Add onions and crisp bacon back to pot, cook until onion is translucent. Dissolve flour in 2 Tbsp. of water, and add to onions. Cook for 2 minutes.

Drain the potatoes. Add potatoes, garlic, and tomato paste. Stir until well-mixed together.

Add chicken broth, bay leaf, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.

Makes four servings.

Watercress & Endive Salad

Ingredients

• 1 large bunch of watercress
• 1 head of endive
• 3/4 cup cucumber, sliced
• 1Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 2 tsp. good Dijon mustard
• 4 Tbsp. walnut oil (or Canola oil)
• salt and pepper

Wash and drain watercress, endive, and cucumber. Slice cucumber. Remove stems from watercress. Remove stem end from endive, and chop into bite-sized pieces. Put everything into a salad bowl.

Put lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper into a small bowl. Whisk together. Gradually whisk in walnut oil. Dress salad, toss well, and serve.

I served the potato ragout and salad along with a pork sausage.

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	Click for a printable version of the Potato Ragout recipe.
	Click for a printable version of the Watercress & Endive Salad recipe.