Classic French Aligot

By
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin
Rebecca Franklin is a freelance lifestyle writer and recipe developer. Her expertise is in French cuisine, which she writes about and teaches.
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Updated on 11/26/21
Classic french aligot recipe

The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings

A classic French aligot isn’t so much a side dish as it is a work of art. Humble potatoes and cheese are beaten together with crème fraîche until they form silky, smooth ribbons of puréed potato.

The aligot a deliciously hearty recipe, and it’s tempting to eat it all by itself in the dead of winter for its sheer comfort value, or accompany it with a rich steak for a luxurious meal. Once you do, it will be hard to go back to regular mashed potatoes.

Traditionally, Cantal, a semi-firm cow's milk cheese from the region of the same name of south-central France, is used in this recipe. Cantal has a mellow nutty flavor; if it isn't available to you, cheddar cheese can be substituted.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds mashing potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters

  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper 

  • 4 tablespoons butter

  • 1/4 cup crème fraîche, or substitute equal parts sour cream and heavy cream

  • 1 clove garlic, lightly crushed, but kept intact

  • 3 cups Cantal cheese, or substitute good-quality grated sharp cheddar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Classic French aligot ingredients
    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

  2. Place the potato quarters into a pan of cold, lightly salted water.

    Potatoes in cold water
    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

  3. Boil for 20 minutes, until they are tender. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don't start to break up and become mealy.

    Boil
    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

  4. Once cooked, drain them in a colander.

    Drain
    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

  5. Mash the drained potatoes with a masher.

    Mash the drained potatoes
    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

  6. Add the salt, white pepper, and butter, and then vigorously mix for 2 to 3 minutes until the potatoes fluff up a bit. Set them aside in the pan for a moment.

    Add salt
    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

  7. In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, bring the crème fraîche and garlic to just steaming. Do not boil, or the creme fraîche may break.

    Milk
    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

  8. Remove the garlic, and pour the hot crème fraîche into the mashed potatoes.

    Remove garlic
    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

  9. Transfer the pan of potatoes to the stovetop over low heat; using a sturdy wooden spoon, beat the crème fraîche into the potatoes. By now, the potatoes will start to turn glossy. 

    Transfer potatoes
    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

  10. Raise the heat to be medium, and beat in the cheese, 1/2 cup at a time.

    Mash
    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

  11. Continue beating the mixture over the heat until it forms a smooth, velvety texture, about 10 minutes. Do not skimp on this process. It is the sturdy beating that makes aligot so deliciously velvety. 

    Continue beating mixture
    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

  12. Pour onto warm plates and serve immediately.

    Pour onto plates
    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

Tips

  • Ensure the potatoes you are using are specifically for mashing, not for fries or salads. If they are not the floury type, the potatoes will turn waxy and greasy when whipping rather than fluffy and light.
  • Aligot does not keep very well. However, if you must, it can be held for a short time by placing grease-proof paper like parchment on the surface of the potatoes, making sure it is in direct contact with the aligot. This method will help prevent a skin forming on the potatoes, which would make the aligot unpleasantly lumpy if you stir it in. This technique is suitable for all milk- and cream-based dishes which are prone to skin-forming. 
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
371 Calories
24g Fat
26g Carbs
14g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 371
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g 31%
Saturated Fat 14g 72%
Cholesterol 70mg 23%
Sodium 567mg 25%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 14g
Vitamin C 11mg 55%
Calcium 350mg 27%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 651mg 14%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)