Jansson’s Temptation or Janssons Frestelse is comfort food at its best and one of my favourite dishes, a gratin made with potatoes, onion, anchovies, and cream. The anchovies are what make the dish special adding depth and saltiness while the cream rounds it off. This recipe is my adaption of a Swedish classic, which we serve at key celebrations of the year, including Midsummer. It is also the perfect late-night party food to keep the party going. We served it at midnight at our wedding. Serve with IKEA Knäckebröd or Ryvita.

Serves: 4-6    Prep: 20 min    Cook: 30 – 40 min

INGREDIENTS

Serves: 4-6 as a main meal or 8 as part of a Smörgåsbord

500 g potatoes + potatoes to line the baking tray.
2 yellow onions or 3 small
150 - 200 g anchovies in oil, which depending on the size of the can usually amounts to 1 or 2.
300 ml double or whipping cream
White pepper to taste
Butter for frying and to grease the pan
1 tbsp of oil from the anchovies' can
Anchovies paste to taste (optional)

Tips: The decorate slices of potato lining the tray provide a tasty crust.
If you want a lighter dish, use half cream and half full-fat milk.
If you can find Swedish anchovies in brine, you do not need to add anchovies’ fillets to the frying pan mix. Just add the brine.

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 175°C / 160°C Fan.

Peel the potatoes and use slices from two potatoes to line the edges of a buttered baking tray. Cut the rest of the potatoes into thin strips.

Peel and cut the onions into rings and fry in the oil from the anchovies can and the butter. Add 4-6 anchovies’ fillets and cook until dissolved. Then add the potato strips and the cream and cook for 5 minutes, Season with white pepper to taste, and add anchovies paste for additional flavour.

Use a third of the potato and onion mix as the first layer in the baking tray, followed by a row of anchovies. Repeat once more and end with a top layer of potato mix.

Sprinkle generously with dry breadcrumbs or Knäckebröd or Ryvita. Cook for 30 – 40 minutes or until the gratin is golden and crisp and the potatoes soft.

Serve with Knäckebröd or Ryvita with butter and cheese, and beer and/or snaps (flavoured vodka).