Serves 8 as a first course, more as part of an antipasto buffet
Notes
This makes a nice first course cut into larger squares with simply dressed greens on the side. Cut it into smaller squares or triangles to pass, or to include in a buffet. My grandson Lorenzo has perfected this recipe, and it is hard to keep any on the plate when all the grandkids are over.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound russet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 1 pound mixed mushrooms (white, cremini, shiitake, oyster, etc.), thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed in the refrigerator
- All-purpose flour, for rolling
- 1 cup grated Italian Fontina
- 1/2 cup grated Grana Padano
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the potatoes, and cook, tossing frequently, until they are crisp and golden (but they don’t need to be entirely cooked through at this point), about 7 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt.
Wipe the skillet clean. Over medium heat, melt the butter. When it is melted, add the onion and cook until it begins to wilt, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms, and season with the thyme and remaining salt. Cover, and cook until the mushrooms have given up their juices, about 2 to 3 minutes. Uncover, and increase the heat to reduce the liquid away, about 2 to 3 minutes more. Add the cream, and boil until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Pour the mixture into a bowl, add the potatoes, and toss to combine. Let cool.
Line a flat sheet pan with parchment. Unroll the puff pastry, lightly flour both sides, and line the two pieces up side by side on the parchment. Roll to fuse the two pastry sheets together, all the way to the edges of the cookie sheet.
In a medium bowl, toss together the Fontina and Grana Padano. Spread the filling over the puff pastry, leaving a 1-to-2-inch border. Fold the edges of the pastry over to form a crust. Sprinkle the exposed part of the filling with the cheese mixture. Bake until pastry is crisp and golden and cheese is brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Slide off the cookie sheet and onto a cooling rack. Cool at least 15 minutes before cutting into squares to serve.
