Brunede Kartofler (Danish Caramelized Potatoes)
Local name: Brunede kartofler
In short: Small boiled potatoes rolled in golden caramel and butter until glossy and sweet, the Danish side dish for the Christmas roast pork. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 255 kcal
Brunede kartofler are a fixture of the Danish Christmas table, served beside roast pork, red cabbage and gravy. Small boiled potatoes are rolled in a pan of golden caramel and butter until they are glossy, sweet and faintly salty. The contrast with the rich roast is the whole point. Boil the potatoes a day ahead and chill them, so they hold their shape in the caramel.
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes in salted water for 15 to 20 minutes, until just tender. Drain, peel while warm, then cool and chill uncovered for at least 2 hours or overnight so the surface dries.
- Spread the sugar in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Without stirring, swirl the pan now and then for 5 to 7 minutes, until the sugar melts into a deep amber caramel.
- Add the butter. It will bubble and spit, so stand back, then stir until it is melted and combined with the caramel.
- Add the potatoes in a single layer. Roll them in the caramel over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes, until evenly coated, glossy and hot all the way through.
- Sprinkle with the flaky salt and serve at once.
Tips
- Cold, dry potatoes hold their shape and pick up the caramel better than hot ones. If the caramel clumps when the potatoes go in, keep turning them over medium heat and it will melt again.
- Watch the caramel closely, because it goes from golden to bitter in seconds. Take the pan off the heat the moment it turns deep amber.
Questions and answers
Which potatoes are best?
Small, firm, waxy potatoes such as new potatoes, about 3 cm (1 1/4 in) across. Floury potatoes fall apart in the caramel. If yours are larger, cut them in halves.
Can I make them ahead?
Boil and peel the potatoes up to 2 days ahead and keep them chilled. Caramelize them just before serving, or reheat finished potatoes in a covered pan over low heat with a spoonful of water.
What do you serve brunede kartofler with?
Roast pork with crackling, duck or goose, alongside sweet and sour red cabbage and gravy, which makes the traditional Danish Christmas dinner.
How long does it take to make Brunede Kartofler (Danish Caramelized Potatoes)?
About 50 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Brunede Kartofler (Danish Caramelized Potatoes)?
About 255 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 45 g of carbohydrates and 7 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 255 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 45 g |
| Fat | 7 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 17 g |
| Sodium | 230 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
