Potato-leek comfort: Effortless family dinners unveiled
Casseroles are the perfect solution for dinner when you're short on time and ideas. A few simple ingredients, a short bake, and a dish lands on the table that will satisfy the whole family. You don't need to spend a fortune on ingredients or spend hours over the stove.
Casseroles can be made in many different ways, but the one with potatoes and leeks appears most frequently in my home. I add some vegetables and slightly crispy bacon, then toss it in the oven. No one leaves the table hungry, and if there's any left for the next day, reheating it is as easy as pie.
Potato and leek casserole
The base of the casserole is potatoes. You can cook them, especially for it or use leftovers from a previous meal. It's an excellent way to use up leftovers and prepare a quick meal. All the ingredients come together quickly, and the casserole is baked in the oven. It's the perfect dinner for busy people.
Combining potatoes, vegetables, meat, and cheese creates a hearty and wholesome dish. Leek introduces a hint of sharpness, complementing the taste of onion. You can also use any colour of pepper, and if you have a forgotten piece of courgette, leftover corn, or carrot in the fridge, feel free to add them to the casserole.
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds of cooked potatoes
- 1 large leek
- 1 red pepper
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1-2 onions
- 5 ounces of smoked bacon
- 1/2 pint of 30% cream
- 2 eggs
- 3.5 ounces of grated cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- A pinch of nutmeg
- Sweet, smoked, and hot paprika
- Herbes de Provence
Instructions:
- Slice the cooked potatoes into fairly thick slices.
- Chop the onion, dice the pepper, and slice the leek into half-moons.
- Fry the chopped vegetables (except the potatoes) in a pan, adding the pressed garlic.
- Slice the bacon and fry until it begins to become crispy.
- Pour cream into a bowl, add the eggs, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and the remaining spices, then mix thoroughly.
- Grease the bottom of an ovenproof dish with oil.
- Place a layer of potatoes, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then add half of the fried vegetables and bacon slices.
- Next, place the remaining fried vegetables on the bacon, season with pepper, and add more potatoes.
- Pour the cream and egg mixture over everything and bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
- After this time, add the grated cheese on top and bake for another 10 minutes.
Your casserole is now ready. Serve it warm, and you can additionally sprinkle it with chopped parsley. Enjoy!
