I’ve always been fascinated with the life of Antoine Augustin Parmentier who introduced potatoes into the cuisine of France. Click the link above to see more about his life and his tombstone in the famous Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
I’ve made numerous “Parmentier” dishes while in France; my favorite ones contained boudin noir. I miss boudin noir 🙁 However, this Parmentier with veal and spinach was very good.
In the meantime, here in Honesdale, Pa, my neighbor Caroline Romano gifted me with some golden, baby beets that she found at The Cooperage, our town’s Farmers’ Market.
The beets, oven roasted, were a great addition to my simple salad of greens, tomatoes and feta cheese.
Veal Parmentier with Spinach
4 large potatoes, cut into chunks
4 tbsp butter
1 cup grated parmesan or more
4 cups spinach, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp pine nuts
1 onion, chopped
1 1/4 lb ground veal
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp all spice
Salt and pepper
Boil the potatoes until cooked. Add 2 tbsp of the butter and 1/4 cup of the parmesan, then coarsely mash. Set aside.
Cook the garlic in the olive oil until soft, add the spinach and cook until wilted. Set aside.
In the remaining 2 tbsp of butter, toast the pine nuts until brown, remove and set aside. Add the onions to the pan and saute until soft. Add the veal, cinnamon and all spice, then cook until all the pink is gone. Stir in the pine nuts, salt and pepper to taste.
Layer 5 individual casseroles with the veal, the spinach, parmesan and the potatoes. Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minute.
You’ll win all the men’s hearts with that one!
You are away from France at a good time – there will be an all out national strike soon (most probably). I lived in Paris during the last one and it was no fun at all 😉
Thank you Mad. There is no bad time to be in France 🙂
I wouldn’t wish a French national strike on anyone, though I’m sure its not so bad out of town.
No, Sens is self-contained and nothing much ever happens there, even when Paris is exploding.
Yes, but lack of power and petrol = no food – quelle horreur!
There is no such thing as no food. Hush your mouth 😀 We’ll take everything out of our freezers, gather up some candles and meet at the promenade for a town wide “picque nicque.”
Ha ha – sorry, I forgot the freezers 😉
No need to worry. We have felt zero effect here in the countryside at all. Luckily😃
Just looked at the Paris news and heard from friends in Sens. Catastrophe!
Oh, that sounds wonderful. Haven’t eaten any veal for ages. Lovely combinations to try. Plus– flooding in Paris. And rain, rain.
Thank you jm. I saw on the news that there are a few flooding problems in our region of Burgundy. Looks like there are going to be a few problems with the grape harvest.
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This looks great!! You have given me an idea for some left over minced beef that i have…thanks for this share:))
You are welcome shy.
My favourite parmentir is a duck confit parmentir. I think I might have to make one this weekend now.
I like that too Nadia 🙂
This sounds like the French cousin to shepherds pie…delicious.
It is Karen. Try a layer of squash or pumpkin, a ground meat and then the potatoes. Delicious.