Aligot

Aligot

Aligot

French cheese and potato dish

Aligot[1][2] (Occitan: Aligòt) 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.

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Background

Traditionally made with the Tomme de Laguiole (Tomme fraîche), or Tomme d'Auvergne cheese, aligot is an Occitan speciality highly appreciated in the local gastronomy with Toulouse sausages or roast pork.[4] Other cheeses are also used in place of Tomme, including Cantal,[5] mozzarella[6] and Laguiole. The choice of cheese is important, and strongly affects the 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;[7] other cheeses will be needed where neither Tomme nor Lancashire are available. Floury, rather than waxy, potatoes are preferable.[7]

Ingredients

Aligot is made from mashed potatoes blended with butter, cream, crushed garlic, and 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.

Serving history

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.[5][8][7][9] 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.

Etymology

The name aligot may have been derived from the Occitan alicouot, from the Latin aliquid, or from the Old French harigoter.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Vongerichten, Jean-Georges; Bittman, Mark (2000). Simple to Spectacular: How to Take One Basic Recipe to Four Levels of Sophistication. ISBN 0767903609.
  2. [2]
    "Martha Stewart - Aligote on Toast". 19 April 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  3. [3]
    "Larousse Gastronomique". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  4. [4]
    "Regions of France: Aveyron Aligot". Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  5. [5]
    Wells, Patricia (18 November 1981). "Celebrating Regional Cooking of France". The New York Times.
  6. [6]
    "Too Many Chefs". Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  7. [7]
    Felicity Cloake (5 February 2020). "How to cook the perfect aligot". The Guardian.
  8. [8]
    Gaudry, François-Régis (16 October 2018). Let's Eat France!: 1,250 specialty foods, 375 iconic recipes, 350 topics, 260 personalities, plus hundreds of maps, charts, tricks, tips, and anecdotes and everything else you want to know about the food of France. ISBN 9781579658762.
  9. [9]
    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.
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