6 people
APPETIZER
Ina Garten Modern Comfort (p. 39)
Russet potatoes - 1 1⁄4 lbs
Chives - 8 sprigs
Canola oil - 2 tbl
Unsalted butter - 1⁄2 stick
Creme fraiche - 4 tbl
Smoked salmon - 3⁄4 lb
Russet potatoes - peel, cut lengthwise into long matchsticks using the finest blade of a mandoline
Chives - mince
Unsalted butter - melt
Spread the potatoes out in one layer on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, roll the towel up and squeeze lightly to dry the potatoes without breaking them up. Put the potatoes into a bowl and toss them with 1 tsp salt and 1⁄2 tsp pepper.
Heat 2 tbl of canola oil in a small omelet pan (small saute pan with sloped sides) over medium heat. Add half of the potatoes to the pan and press lightly with a large metal spatula to make the shreds lie flat. Cook them undistrurbed for 5 minutes. Drizzle 1 tbl of the butter around the edges of the pan and cook the potoates for another 3 to 5 minutes, until nicely browned on the bottom. Loosen thte galette gently around the edge with the spatula and flip it over. Be careful - the oil and butter underneath are very hot. Add anotehr 1 tbl of butter around the edge and cook the gealette for 4 to 5 minutes longer, until the second side is nicely browned. With the metal spatula, transfer the galette to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Repeat with the rest of the potatoes and butter to make the second galette.
Place the two galettes on a cutting board. Spread each with 2 tbl of the creme fraiche and a layer of smoked salmon, covering the galette completely. Spirnkle with minced chives and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Use a large chef's knife to cut each galette into 6 wedges and serve.