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Vegetarian, South and mountains

Savoyard potato matafans with green salad

Matafans are thick savory pancakes from the French Alps, made from mashed potatoes and pan fried, then served with a green salad. This recipe serves 4, takes 40 minutes, is easy to make, and costs about €1.50 per person. The key to success is letting the batter rest, which makes the matafans more tender.

Savoyard matafans, those thick pan fried potato pancakes, with a green salad for an easy, satisfying meal.

Savoyard potato matafans with green salad
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.50
Calories per person
550 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

A matafan is the mountain version of a pancake, thick, filling, and completely unfussy. Mashed potatoes give it a soft, dense inside, while pan frying builds a golden, slightly crisp edge on each side. A touch of parsley keeps it fresh without weighing down the dish.

This is the kind of recipe you turn to on a weeknight when you have leftover potatoes and no energy for anything complicated. Kids generally love this thick, soft pancake, and a simple green salad on the side rounds out the meal. It also works nicely for a relaxed Sunday dinner at home.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Potatoes 500 g
  • Parsley 1 sprigs
  • Green salad 1

Pantry

  • Flouroften in the pantry 150 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Eggs 2
  • Milk 25 cl
  • Butter 30 g

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Boil the potatoes and mash them into a smooth puree. 20 min

    Let them dry out for a moment to evaporate excess water.

  2. Mix the mashed potatoes with the flour, eggs, milk, parsley, salt, and pepper.

    The batter should be thick but pourable.

  3. Let the batter rest. 10 min

    It becomes smoother and more even.

  4. Melt butter in a skillet and pour in ladles of batter.

    Shape thick pancakes about 1 cm high.

  5. Brown each side and serve with the dressed salad. 10 min

    Flip gently using a wide spatula.

Our tips to get it right

  • Mash the potatoes while they're still warm, but let them cool slightly before adding the eggs so they don't start to cook.
  • Make sure the pan is hot and buttered before pouring the first ladle of batter, since the first matafan tends to stick more than the rest.
  • Keep the heat at medium, since high heat browns the outside before the inside finishes cooking.

The variations

  • Swap the parsley for chives or tarragon to change the flavor of the batter.
  • Stir grated Comté or Beaufort cheese into the batter for a richer, more mountain style version.
  • For kids, make smaller matafans, they cook faster and are easier to handle on the plate.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with vinaigrette
  • Cured or smoked ham
  • A bit of mountain cheese

Storage

Matafans keep for 2 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. They can be frozen once cooled, then reheated in a skillet over low heat to restore their texture, or warmed for a few minutes in the oven.

Questions about this dish

Can you use gluten free flour instead of wheat flour?

Yes, a gluten free all purpose blend works well in this recipe. The texture will be slightly less elastic, but the matafans stay soft and tender.

Can you make the batter ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the batter the night before and keep it refrigerated in a sealed container. It actually turns out better, since resting makes the matafans more tender.

What type of potato works best?

Choose a starchy potato suited for mashing, like Russet or Yukon Gold, which breaks down easily without turning gluey. Waxy potatoes are less suited for this recipe.

How do you know when to flip the matafan?

The bottom should be golden brown and the edges slightly set before you flip it. Use a wide spatula and a confident motion so it doesn't break apart.

How long does it take to make savoyard potato matafans with a green salad?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in savoyard potato matafans with a green salad?

About 550 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does savoyard potato matafans with a green salad cost?

About €1.50 per serving, or €6.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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