Cheese Potato Slab Pie Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the potatoes into a pan of cold water, bring up to the boil and cook for 2 mins. Drain well, tip back into the saucepan and mix with the crème fraîche. Season, sprinkle over the nutmeg and set aside.
• Dust your work surface with flour, roll the first block of pastry to a circle about 28cm wide and place on a baking tray. Arrange a third of the potatoes in the middle of the pastry, then sit the cheese on top. Pile the rest of the potato around the cheese, leaving a 1cm border at the edge of the pastry.
• Roll the remaining pastry out to a circle about 30cm wide, dusting with more flour if needed. Brush the edges of the pastry on the tray with egg, then drape over the larger circle and seal the sides well, crimping as you go round. A tight seal is important to stop the cheese escaping.
• Brush all over with egg and lightly score a spiral into the pastry with the back of a knife. Bake the pie for 30 mins until golden brown and puffed up. As soon as the pie comes out of the oven, glaze with a little more egg and leave to cool for 5 mins.
• Meanwhile, whisk the shallot, mustard, vinegar and oil together. Place the chicory in a bowl and toss with the dressing. Serve the pie cut into oozy wedges, with the salad on the side.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. In a small bowl, mix the grated cheddar with the crème fraîche, then set aside. Grease and lightly flour a ceramic or metal pie dish, or shallow cake tin, about 23cm wide. Roll out two-thirds of the pastry on a lightly floured surface until large enough to line the tin with a little overhang.
• Place a layer of potatoes over the tart and scatter over some of the sliced onions, spring onions and chunks of cheese. Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg and paprika. Layer over more potatoes, scatter again with more onions and cheese, then splodge over half the crème fraîche mix. Repeat with 2 more layers (the potatoes will come up way above the pastry), pushing the filling down slightly, then finish with the remaining crème fraîche mix.
• Roll the remaining pastry so it fits over the potatoes. Brush the sides with egg, then lay the pastry over the top. Squeeze the edges together and trim with a knife. Crimp the sides and brush the top all over with egg. Place the pie on a baking sheet, bake for 30 mins, reduce the temperature to 180C/ fan 160C/gas 4, then carry on baking for 1 hr until golden. Leave the pie to rest for 10 mins, then serve straight from the dish cut into slices, with a salad or baked beans on the side.

Steps:

• Prepare the crust: Unroll 2 pieces of pie dough on a lightly floured surface. Brush 1 piece with half of the melted butter, then set the other piece directly on top. Roll the 2 pieces together into a 12-by-14-inch rectangle. Repeat with the remaining 2 pieces of pie dough. Line an 8-by-11-inch baking dish with 1 rectangle, leaving an overhang on all sides. Transfer the remaining rectangle to a baking sheet. Chill both crusts until the dough is firm, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and 1 cup water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has evaporated and the shallots start to brown, about 20 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 teaspoon sugar. Cook, stirring, until glazed, about 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, parsnips, celery root and the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables start to soften, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Gradually stir in the heavy cream and 1 cup water until smooth. Tie the thyme sprigs and bay leaves together with kitchen twine; add to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the liquid is thick, about 15 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Discard the herb bundle. Stir in the lemon zest and juice, scallions and parsley.
• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Spread the shallots evenly over the crust in the baking dish, then add the root vegetable filling in an even layer. Cover with the prepared top crust; use kitchen scissors to trim the excess pastry so there is a 1-inch overhang. Pinch the 2 crusts together, then fold the overhanging dough under itself. Chill 20 minutes.
• Brush the top crust with the beaten egg. Score decoratively with a paring knife, being careful not to pierce completely through; poke a few vents in the crust to allow steam to escape. Bake until the crust is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven, place a baking sheet on the rack and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Brush a 9 1/2-inch deep-dish pie plate (preferably with ruffled edges) with some of the melted butter. Stir together the cinnamon and 2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons of the sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Place the sheets of phyllo on a baking sheet and cover with a barely damp kitchen towel or several paper towels to keep from drying out.
• Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough with a long side closest to you on a work surface. Brush the phyllo sheet with some of the melted butter until completely coated, then sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon-sugar. Using your hands, gently bring the long sides toward one another, scrunching the phyllo as you go to create a ruffled effect. Gently coil the phyllo into a rose shape about 3 1/2-inches in diameter. Place the phyllo rose in one corner of the pie plate. Repeat to make 3 more phyllo roses. Arrange them so they fill the bottom of the pie plate in a single layer. If the phyllo dough tears or breaks, it is okay since it will just add to the ruffled effect of the final pie. If there are any spaces between the phyllo roses, gently spread them with your hands until the roses cover the entire bottom of the pie plate.
• Brush the 8 remaining phyllo sheets with melted butter, sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar and shape into a slightly smaller rose (2 1/2 to 3-inches). Place 1 rose in the center of the pie plate on top of the first layer, then surround it with the remaining 7 roses. If there is any remaining melted butter, drizzle it on top of the roses.
• Bake on the preheated baking sheet until deep golden brown and crispy, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating the baking sheet once after 15 minutes. Allow to cool slightly on the baking sheet while you prepare the custard.
• Place the milk and cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until it just starts to steam, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Whisk together the vanilla, salt, eggs and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a large bowl. While whisking constantly, gradually add the milk and cream mixture a little bit at a time until smooth and combined.
• Pour or spoon the custard between the crispy phyllo layers; this will ensure that the phyllo on top stays nice and crispy. Bake until the filling is just set, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the baking sheet after 10 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with the almonds if using and dust with confectioners' sugar.
• Cut into 8 wedges and serve warm.

Steps:

• Thinly slice the potatoes and place in a greased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. In a small skillet, melt butter; stir in the onion, salt, thyme and pepper until onion is coated with butter. , Spoon over potatoes. Cover and bake at 425° for 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Sprinkle with cheese and parsley. Bake, uncovered, 15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, mustard, salt and pepper; cook until onion is tender, 6-8 minutes. Add garlic; cook until fragrant. Whisk in flour; continue whisking 3-5 minutes., Whisk in milk; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until thickened slightly, 8-10 minutes. Gradually stir in 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese; stir in Monterey Jack cheese. Add potatoes and toss to coat. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring frequently., Transfer potato mixture to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour. Top with bread crumbs; return to oven until potatoes are tender, 10-15 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. If desired, sprinkle with chives.