Aligot

Aligot[1][2] is a dish made from cheese blended into mashed potatoes (often with some garlic) that is made in L'Aubrac (Aveyron, Cantal, Lozère, Occitanie) region in the southern Massif Central of France.[3] This fondue-like dish from the Aveyron department is a common sight in Auvergne restaurants.

Aligot
Place of origin France
Region or stateOccitanie
Main ingredientsMashed potatoes, butter, cream, cheese (Tomme de Laguiole or Tomme d'Auvergne), garlic

Traditionally made with the Tomme de Laguiole (Tomme fraîche) or Tomme d'Auvergne cheese, aligot is a French country speciality highly appreciated in the local gastronomy with Toulouse sausages or roast pork.[4] Other cheeses are also used in place of Tomme, including mozzarella, Cantal[5] and Laguiole. The choice of cheese is important, and strongly affects the end result. Tomme is not easily available outside France; many other cheeses are reported to be too strong. The cheese must be mild, with a lactic tang, but not too much salt, and melt easily. A comparison of the cheeses available in the UK found creamy (rather than the crumbly variety) Lancashire to be best, rejecting most other suggestions;[6] other cheeses will be needed where neither Tomme nor Lancashire are available. Floury, rather than waxy, potatoes are preferable.[6]

Aligot is made from mashed potatoes blended with butter, cream, crushed garlic, and the melted cheese. The dish is ready when it develops a smooth, elastic texture. While recipes vary, the Larousse Gastronomique[3] gives the ingredients as 1 kg potatoes; 500 g tomme fraîche, Laguiole, or Cantal cheese; 2 garlic cloves; 30 g butter; salt and pepper.

This dish was prepared for pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela who stopped for a night in that region.[4] According to legend, aligot was originally prepared with bread, and potatoes were substituted after their introduction to France.[7] Today, it is enjoyed for village gatherings and celebrations as a main dish. Aligot is still cooked by hand in Aveyron homes and street markets.[4] Aligot is traditionally served with Auvergne red wine.

See also

References
  1. Simple to Spectacular: How to Take One Basic Recipe to Four Levels of Sophistication. ISBN 0767903609.
  2. "Martha Stewart - Aligote on Toast". Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  3. "Larousse Gastronomique". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  4. "Regions of France: Aveyron Aligot". Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  5. "Too Many Chefs". Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  6. Felicity Cloake (5 February 2020). "How to cook the perfect aligot". The Guardian.
  7. Mah, Ann (2013). Mastering the Art of French Eating: From Paris Bistros to Farmhouse Kitchens, Lessons in Food and Love. New York: Penguin. ISBN 9781101638156.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.