Janssons Frestelse (Swedish Potato and Sprat Gratin)
Local name: Janssons frestelse
In short: A creamy gratin of matchstick potatoes, soft onions and sweet-spiced Swedish anchovies, baked until golden and served hot at Christmas. It takes about 1 h 20 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 55 min
- Total
- 1 h 20 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 280 kcal
No Swedish Christmas table is complete without this creamy potato gratin. Matchstick potatoes and soft onions bake in cream with spiced Swedish anchovy fillets (ansjovis), which are really sprats cured with sugar and spices, so the dish tastes savory and faintly sweet rather than fishy. It also appears at Easter and at parties, and it reheats well.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and butter a 2-liter (8-cup) ovenproof dish, about 23 x 18 cm (9 x 7 in).
- Melt 1 tbsp butter in a skillet over low heat. Cook the onions for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until soft and pale but not browned.
- Layer half the potatoes in the dish, scatter over the onions and sprat fillets, and top with the remaining potatoes. Sprinkle with the white pepper.
- Pour over half the cream and 2 tbsp of the brine from the tin. Sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and dot with the remaining 2 tbsp butter.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Pour the rest of the cream around the edges, then bake for 25 to 30 minutes more, until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife and the top is golden.
- Rest for 10 minutes so the cream settles, then serve hot.
Tips
- Outside Sweden, look for spiced sprat fillets in Scandinavian shops or online. If you cannot find them, chop 8 to 10 salted anchovy fillets in oil and add 1 tsp sugar and a pinch of allspice.
- Cut the potatoes just before assembling and do not rinse them, because their starch helps thicken the cream. Keep the matchsticks about 5 mm (1/4 in) thick so they cook evenly.
Questions and answers
Can I make Janssons frestelse ahead?
Yes. Bake it fully, cool, cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat, covered with foil, at 160°C (325°F) for about 20 minutes.
What are Swedish anchovies?
In Sweden, ansjovis are sprats cured in a sweet, spiced brine, which makes them milder and sweeter than Mediterranean anchovies. Salted anchovies work as a substitute, but use fewer and add a little sugar.
What do you serve with Janssons frestelse?
At Christmas it sits on the buffet beside ham, meatballs and pickled herring. For an ordinary meal, serve it with a green salad and a sharp pickle such as pressed cucumber.
How long does it take to make Janssons Frestelse (Swedish Potato and Sprat Gratin)?
About 1 h 20 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 55 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Janssons Frestelse (Swedish Potato and Sprat Gratin)?
About 280 kcal per serving, with 7 g of protein, 29 g of carbohydrates and 15 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 280 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 29 g |
| Fat | 15 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 480 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
