Why should white potatoes have all the fun? Take Pommes Anna. The classic version will always be with russets, but we can have some fun and make it with sweet potatoes, beets, apples, or squash.
If you haven’t enjoyed this wonderful way to dine on potatoes, I should add, Pommes Anna is a French dish of layered thin slices of white potatoes interleaved with butter, salt, pepper, and an optional flurry of herbs. It typically starts on the stove top, but not always, and finishes in the oven.
And then there’s the drama. You flip it upside down with a flourish onto a serving plate, ready to be sliced into pie shaped pieces. The result is magnificence in potato-land. Tender, buttery potatoes inside, crispy on the edges, and perfectly seasoned.
All that said, and I love my white potatoes, I went with sweet potatoes this time for a little extra nutrition and fun. And no regrets. In fact, the result surpassed my white potatoes dish (sorry, russets!). The sweet potatoes slightly caramelized on the edges as they crisped up in the skillet, were tender enough to be cut with a fork, and melted in my mouth with a marvelous balance between sweet and savory.
I may never use white potatoes in this dish again.
Cook’s Tips:
I don’t use a coated pan as I don’t know how the coating is affected by the high oven heat. To help prevent the sweet potato slices from sticking the bottom when you flip the pan over, heat the pan first without any butter. Once it’s hot, reduce the heat to low, and add the butter.
To flip, place the serving plate over the pan. Quickly flip upside down onto a counter or table with vigor. Tap a couple of times, and carefully lift the pan.
If some potatoes remain in the pan, loosed them with an offset spatula to get under the potatoes without burning your fingers on the side of the pan.
It’s important to use clarified butter or ghee to prevent any smoking and burning of the milk solids of the butter. The clarified butter can be done in advance.
Use a mandolin to slice the potatoes in evenly thick slices to ensure they all cook at the same rate. I used the second thinnest setting on my handheld one.
Use a sharp knife to slice the Anna into pieces.
Sweet Potatoes Anna with Apples and Raisins
Ingredients
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 large sweet potatoes peeled
- 1 apple peeled and cored
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- kosher salt
- pepper
- brown sugar
- fresh thyme leaves or minced sage leaves
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Lower the heat to low and skim the foam off the top. I keep a bowl of water on the side to dip the spoon in. Pour the clarified butter into a container. If you don't use all of the butter for the potatoes, reserve it for other recipes that call for butter.
- Preheat the oven to 450˚F. Slice the potatoes on a mandolin. If you don't have one, slice 1/8" thick, being careful to slice the slices in an even thickness. I use a small mandolin that rests on the counter, and it works great. Peel and core the apple, and slice the same way.
- Place a clean 6 inch, oven-proof skillet on a stove top over medium-high heat for 30 seconds, flip the pan over on the stove to directly heat the inside of the pan for 15 seconds. Return the pan, right side up, on the stove over the heat. Lower the heat to low, and 2 tsp of melted clarified butter to the pan. Add the first layer of potatoes, overlapping the slices by about 40% over each other. Spread on one-quarter of the apple slices and 1 Tbsp raisins. Lightly salt and pepper, and add a pinch of the herbs. Carefully brush generously with butter.
- Add another layer of potatoes, one-quarter of the apples, raisins, and salt the pepper. Sprinkle on a little brown sugar. I used about 1/2 tsp, but feel free to adjust for your amount of sweetness. Generously brush with butter.
- Repeat for at least 2 more layers, depending on the height of the sides of the pan. I ended up with a total of 5 layers, alternating the brown sugar and herbs every other layer. Press down on the layers to add the final layer. Finish with a layer of potatoes, salt and pepper, and a generous brushing of butter.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is crispy along the edges, and the potatoes are tender. Remove from the heat, wait a couple minutes, place a plate over the top of the skillet, and a towel around the handle. Flip the plate and pan so that the pan rests on the counter, and the potatoes are now upside down. Gently tap the skillet on the plate a couple of times, and carefully remove the skillet. If some potatoes are stuck to the bottom, gingerly remove with a small offset spatula, and arrange on the top of the dish.
- Finish with a flurry of herbs and serve warm. Be sure to have a sharp knife handy to slice the Sweet Potatoes Anna into pie-shaped slices.
We’re celebrating potatoes today on The Food Network’s blog, FN Dish, and have kicked off our #ComfortFoodFeast series which will continue until mid-March. Go check everyone’s dishes in the FN Dish roundup, and try something new tonight. And don’t forget to visit (and follow) our Pinterest board here at The Food Network.
POTATOES !
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In Jennie’s Kitchen: Slow Cooked Baked Potatoes
Taste with the Eyes: Flatbread Pizza: Potato, Arugula, Sour Cream, Chives, Olive, Truffle, Lemon
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Mashed Russet and Sweet Potato Casserole
Red or Green: Taco Stuffed Baked Potatoes
The Wimpy Vegetarian: Sweet Potatoes Anna with Apples and Raisins
From My Corner of Saratoga: Air Fried French Fries
FN Dish: 5 Downright Perfect Potato Dishes
Liz Schmitt says
A beautiful dish – can’t wait to try it…
Susan says
This looks so gorgeous as well as delicious!!
cheri says
Hi Susan, I’m a huge potato fan, this looks delicious. Love that you added apples and raisins to the mix.
Catherine says
Dear Susan, I am a big fan of sweet potatoes and love that you used them in this dish..what a splendid and delicious treat. This would be a hit in my house. xo, Catherine
Terra says
Oh heck yeah, I’m loving this recipe! Hubs and I were just talking about recipes that exclude bread and such, and this would be perfect for us! Yum, Hugs, Terra
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
This is gorgeous!