Sformato Di Patate
"The Spanish call it 'tortilla', the Italians from whom I learned it call it 'sformato' (literally 'deformed').
It's basically a mess of potatoes and onions held together with eggs. But once you try it you'll see that it's oh so much more than that!
This is a very versatile dish. Cut it into small squares for appetizers, or in wedges for a main course or a side dish. Serve it hot, room temp, even cold. Cut out the bacon and it's vegetarian; add spinach or pesto for extra color and flavor.
Have fun, and buon appetito!"
- Ready In:
- 1hr 10mins
- Ingredients:
- 8
- Yields:
-
1 sformato
- Serves:
- 4-8
ingredients
- 4 medium potatoes
- 2 medium yellow onions
- 8 ounces thick-cut bacon
- 4 eggs
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1⁄4 cup grated parmigiano
- salt
- black pepper
directions
- Steam or boil whole unpeeled potatoes until not quite tender. When cool enough for handling, slice potatoes on a mandolin (or on the bladed side of a box grater), no more than 1/8 inch thick, preferably thinner.
- Chop bacon into matchsticks or cubes.
- Slice the onions and saute' with bacon and olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan.
- Add the potatoes when the onions and bacon are about half cooked. Blend ingredients with 1 tbsp salt, being careful not to break up the potato slices too much.
- Whisk the eggs with the parmigiano and pour over the potato and onion mixture.
- Cover and cook over very low flame for 15 minutes (or until deep golden on the bottom).
- Here's the only tricky part:.
- Uncover and turn off flame. Place a plate or platter upside-down over the pan, keeping one hand firmly on the bottom of the plate, and the other on the pan handle, as close to the pan as you can - you need a strong grip.
- Now, flip the plate and pan in a single, decisive motion so that the plate is now on the bottom.
- You should now have the golden brown bottom of the sformato on top, and the uncooked top on the bottom.
- Remove the pan and replace on stove.
- Slide the 'sformato', now a more or less cohesive unit, back into the pan so that the uncooked side is now in contact with the pan. Sprinkle browned side with black pepper.
- Cover and cook for 15 more minutes.
- Slide the finished 'sformato' onto a clean platter.
- Let cool for at least 30 minutes (the longer the better), slice into wedges and serve as a side dish or as a main course.
- Tips: Best at room temperature, and it tastes better the next day!
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Reviews
-
Thank you Jedley, we loved this. It was nice to have a easy main dish that everyone enjoyed. (I did have trouble flipping it, but your directions were very helpful.)
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
I'm a freelance translator living in Milan, the best part of which is easy and affordable access to incredible ingredients.
I'm a man of extremes - my food tends to be either clean, simple and unadulterated or a big artery-clogging mess.
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