Description
Hearty leek potato and bacon bake delivers comfort straight from French countryside kitchens. Crispy bacon, creamy potatoes, and caramelized leeks meld into a soul-warming dish you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 400 grams (14.1 ounces) bacon or double-smoked ham, diced
- 535 grams (18.9 ounces) country chicken soup
Vegetables and Base Ingredients:
- 800 grams (28.2 ounces) sebago potatoes, peeled
- 1 leek, trimmed, halved, washed, and thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 100 grams (3.5 ounces) tasty cheese, grated
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 180C (160C fan-forced) and lightly coat a 6-cup baking dish with cooking spray.
- Fill a saucepan with water and bring to a rapid boil over high heat. Submerge potatoes and cook for 12-15 minutes until just fork-tender. Drain thoroughly and let rest for 10 minutes, then slice into even rounds.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high temperature. Sauté leeks until they become soft and translucent, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add chopped bacon and minced garlic to the leeks, continuing to cook for an additional 2 minutes until bacon edges crisp slightly.
- Pour cream soup into the skillet, mixing with the leek and bacon mixture. Transfer entire contents to a large mixing bowl.
- Gently fold sliced potatoes into the mixture, seasoning generously with freshly ground black pepper. Ensure potatoes are evenly coated.
- Transfer the combined mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle shredded cheese across the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until cheese turns golden and bubbly. Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes for a creamier, firmer texture that holds shape during baking.
- Slice potatoes uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Pat bacon dry before cooking to achieve maximum crispiness and prevent excess grease in the final bake.
- Consider using reduced-sodium soup and low-fat cheese for a lighter, healthier version of this comforting dish.
- Prep Time: 17 minutes
- Cook Time: 37 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1100 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg