Hachis Parmentier is a French casserole dish made of ground beef and mashed potatoes layered together and topped with cheese. Similar to the British Cottage Pie, Hachis Parmentier may not be considered typical of French cuisine but it is well loved by families across the country as it is hearty and warming.
Hachis Parmentier is typically served with bread and a basic green salad.
History of Hachis Parmentier
Hachis Parmentier is named after the nutritionist Antoine-Augustin Parmentier. It was he who began promoting the consumption of the potatoes to the French people that were imported from South America in the late 18th century.
Antoine-Augustin Parmentier was convinced of the nutritional value that potatoes possess and that it could be a solution to the hunger epidemic of the time. Since then the French have grown to love potatoes and have blessed the world with a whole host of different dishes centred around the humble potato.
The name “hachis” means minced since minced beef is the primary ingredient besides potatoes. Hachis Parmentier is very versatile and is eaten all year round as the main dish in a three course meal.
French Hachis Parmentier Recipe
Hachis Parmentier is a French casserole dish made of ground beef and mashed potatoes layered together and topped with cheese.
Ingredients
- Garlic - 1 bulb
- Onion - 1 large
- Carrots - 2
- Ground Beef - 1.5 lbs.
- Green Beans - 1 handful
- Leek - 1
- Thyme (fresh)
- Rosemary (fresh)
- Salt
- Pepper
- Potatoes - 2 lbs
- Cream - ½ cup
- Milk - 1 cup
- Butter - 2 tbsp
- Nutmeg - ¼ tsp
- Parmesan Cheese (grated) - ¾ cup
Instructions
- Peel and cut the potatoes then boil for 15 minutes or until it becomes tender.
- After boiling, mash the potatoes thoroughly with some of the water used in boiling then add the milk depending on preference.
- Next, add cream, butter, nutmeg, salt and pepper and set aside.
- Chop the leeks, carrots and green beans finely.
- In a pan, saute the garlic, onion and ground beef with a little olive oil. Wait until the beef turns brown then discard its fats.
- Add the leeks, green beans, carrots, 2-3 sprigs of broken up thyme, and one sprig of rosemary.
- Saute all the ingredients over medium heat then cover for 15 minutes or until the carrots and green beans become slightly tender.
- To assemble the casserole, oil up one or two Pyrex pans at the bottom and on the sides.
- For the first layer, set it with one layer of beef mixture in the bottom of each pan about 1 inch thick.
- Layer the mashed potatoes on top of the beef mixture and inch thick.
- Spread the preferred amount of grated cheese on top of the mashed potato layer. Make sure to save some for the top layer.
- Repeat the process of layering the beef, mashed potatoes and cheese until you have everything up and cheese on the very top.
- Preheat the oven to 180 C and cook it uncovered for 30-35 minutes until the casserole is already bubbling and the cheese on top turns brown.
- It is now ready to serve with some green salad with balsamic vinegar, pumpkin seeds and cranberries. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 651Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 148mgSodium: 508mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 5gSugar: 7gProtein: 41g