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Matafan
Savoie's thick potato pancake with mountain cheese (matafan savoyard)
The name is said to come from 'mate faim', 'kills hunger', and that is what this thick pancake did for farmers in the Savoie and Bauges mountains, who ate it for breakfast before a day in the fields or the high pastures. Every valley makes it differently; this version is a golden cake of grated potato, egg and a little milk, cooked slowly in butter and finished with Beaufort, served cut into wedges with a green salad or a fried egg. Beaufort is made with animal rennet; a vegetarian mountain-style cheese works too, or leave it out and serve the matafan with jam for a sweet version. Chef's tip: squeeze the grated potato really hard in a tea towel; the drier it is, the crisper the crust.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Coarsely grate 1 ⅓ lb potatoes, then wrap in a clean tea towel and twist hard over the sink until no more liquid drips out.
8 minStep 2: Whisk 3 eggs, ½ cup whole milk, 2 ⅛ oz plain flour, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper and 1 pinch ground nutmeg into a smooth batter. Stir in the potato and 2 tbsp chives.
Step 3: Melt ⅔ oz butter in a 24 cm non-stick frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add the mixture and press it flat with a spatula into an even cake.
Step 4: Cook for 10–12 minutes, until the base is deep golden and the top is starting to set. Common mistake: cooking it on a high heat, which burns the outside while the middle stays raw.
12 minStep 5: Slide the cake onto a plate, put a second plate on top and flip it. Melt ⅔ oz butter in the pan and slide the matafan back in, uncooked side down.
Step 6: Scatter with 2 ⅞ oz Beaufort or Comté, cover with a lid and cook for 10 minutes more, until the base is crisp, the cheese has melted and a knife in the centre meets no resistance.
10 minStep 7: Cut into wedges and serve hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 360 kcal
- Protein
- 14 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does matafan take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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