Janssons Temptation
Making a Smorgasbord this Christmas? Then you should most certainly add Jansson's Temptation - it's so very delicious.This is one of the most famous dishes in Sweden – and considering it’s only really a side dish, that says something. It’s truly delicious and unlike other potato gratins. The flavour of the dish comes from the ‘Ansjovis’, which are pickled sprats (and not to be confused with anchovies). Serve as part of a traditional Swedish Smörgåsbord or with roast lamb.
Ingredients
- 700 g potatoes such as King Edward or similar
- 25 g butter
- 200 g onion finely sliced
- 125 g Abba Grebbestad Ansjovis pickled sprats in brine or small pickled herrings
- salt
- black pepper
- 300 ml double cream
- 300 ml whole milk
- 2 tbsp dried breadcrumbs
- 30 x 20 cm baking dish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) Gas 6.
- Peel the potatoes and chop them into small 0.5-cm piece sticks (a bit thinner than French fries). Put them on a baking sheet and place in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to pre-cook them. Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the onion and cook until soft. Take care not to burn the onion – it should be cooked, but shouldn’t turn brown.
- Add the pre-cooked potatoes to the onion mixture and fold together. Layer half of the onion and potato mixture in the bottom of an ovenproof dish, then top with half the sprat fillets placed at even intervals. Season with salt and pepper and pour over half the cream and milk. Add another layer of onion and potato, then the remaining sprats on top. Pour the remaining sprat brine, then the remaining milk and cream over the dish. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top and season.
- Bake for about 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the potatoes are cooked. If the dish is looking dry, you can add more milk – the aim is to get a creamy consistency.