Warm potato terrine with smoked bacon and dried fruit

Photograph: Harry Weir Photography
Photograph: Harry Weir Photography
Serves: 8
Course: Side Dish
Cooking Time: 3 hrs 0 mins

Ingredients

  • Drizzle of rapeseed oil
  • 1 packet smoked bacon lardons (125g)
  • 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
  • 6 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
  • 600g Rooster potatoes, peeled
  • 1 parsnip, peeled
  • 125g mixed dried fruits. I have used prunes and apricots (cut into small chunks). Cranberries would be lovely too
  • 2 eggs
  • 80ml cream
  • 50g grated Parmesan
  • Salt and pepper
  • A little grated nutmeg or mixed spice
  • A little melted butter for reheating

1 Set the oven to 160 degrees.
2 Put the rapeseed oil, bacon and onion into a frying pan and cook for 10 minutes over a medium heat until soft, with no colour.
3 Add the sage and remove from the heat.
4 Meanwhile, grate the potatoes and parsnip coarsely and place in a bowl.  Squeeze the excess water out, then add the onion and bacon mixture.
5 Add the dried fruit, eggs, cream and Parmesan and mix well. Season with the salt, pepper and the nutmeg.
6 Line a 2lb loaf tin with parchment paper and brush it with a little oil or a spritz with oil spray.
7 Pack the tin with the potato mixture and place in the oven to cook for 1½ hours, until it's completely tender when tested with a small knife.
8 Leave to cool completely and put in the fridge overnight.
9 To serve, cut the terrine into 2cm slices, brush with butter and place under a hot grill until golden and crisp.

Paul Flynn

Paul Flynn

Paul Flynn is a chef, restaurateur and contributor to The Irish Times. He and his wife, Máire, run the Tannery restaurant and cookery school in Dungarvan, Co Waterford