Mashed Potato Gratin with Minced Meat – Hachis Parmentier

Atsuko

August 28, 2023

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Atsuko

Founder of @Umami Sans Frontières

This dish is a classic in French home cooking, loved for its comforting flavors—and for good reason!　Created in the 18th century by Antoine Parmentier—a French agronomist and nutritionist—it even bears his name. In French, hachis means minced meat, and in this dish, it’s layered with rich mashed potatoes, juicy meat, and melted cheese for the ultimate comfort food. Try it with our mashed potato recipe and enjoy the perfect harmony of flavors!

Expense

💵

Preparation

40 mins

Baking time

20 mins

Rest time

Ingredients

1 Portions

Metric Imperial

125 g

Minced meat
40 g

Onion
1

Clove garlic
7.5 ml

Olive oil
1.25

Butter
25 ml

Beef stock
25 g

shredded cheese (optional)
11.25

Bread crumbs (optional)

Cooking time: about 60 minutes

Ingredients:

For 4 people

Potato purée – Check out our separate recipe for creamy mashed potatoes.
500g of Minced meat
1 Onion
2 to 3 cloves of Garlic
A pinch of Parsley
1 tablespoon of Olive oil
1 to 2 teaspoons of Butter
100ml of water + 1/2 teaspoon of Beef bouillon (for beef stock)
Salt to taste
A pinch of Pepper
50 to 100g of Shredded cheese (optional)
3 tablespoons of Bread crumbs (optional)

How to make it:

1/ Prepare the mashed potatoes: Refer to the recipe for creamy mashed potatoes.

2/ Chop the ingredients: Finely chop the onion, garlic, and parsley.

3/ Make the beef stock: Boil water or heat it in the microwave, then stir in the beef bouillon until dissolved.

4/ Sauté the aromatics: Heat olive oil and butter in a frying pan, add the garlic and onion, and sauté until the onion becomes translucent.

5/ Cook the minced meat: Add the minced meat, sauté, and season with salt and pepper.

6/ Simmer with beef stock: Pour in the beef stock and let it simmer for 10–15 minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated. (This is a key step!)

7/ Add parsley: Once the liquid has reduced, stir in the parsley.

8/ Assemble the gratin: Spread the cooked minced meat evenly in a baking dish.
9/ Layer the mashed potatoes: Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the meat.

10/ Add the finishing touches: Top with shredded cheese and sprinkle with bread crumbs.

11/ Bake to perfection: Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) for 20–30 minutes, until golden and bubbling.

⭐️Hachis Parmentier: Tips for the Best Flavor⭐️

⭐ Keep it juicy!
The key to tender, flavorful meat is simmering it with beef stock after frying. This prevents dryness and allows the flavors to meld perfectly when layered with mashed potatoes.

⭐ Choose your cheese!
This recipe uses Emmentaler, but you can also try Gruyère or any cheese you love. Experiment to find your favorite!

⭐ Breadcrumbs or no breadcrumbs?
If you love the pure taste of melted cheese, feel free to skip the breadcrumbs!

⭐ A hearty dish on its own!
This gratin is filling enough by itself, but it also pairs beautifully with a refreshing green salad.

⭐ Adjust baking time as needed!
Oven performance varies, so keep an eye on your gratin and adjust the baking time accordingly

⭐ A taste of French school days!
For my French husband, Hachis Parmentier brings back memories of school lunches. It seems our kids, who attend a French school, feel the same! No wonder it’s a cafeteria classic—it’s a dish loved by everyone. 😄

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