Oven Fries with Beer-Cheese

Oh, you heard me. BEER-CHEESE, people! Humble oven-baked cottage fries are slathered with a robust lager cheese sauce and fresh herbs for a finger-licking game day favorite.

Servings: 4
Allergy Info: soy-free

Potato ingredients:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, smashed
12 large red skinned potatoes, cut into wedges
Salt and pepper to taste

Beer Cheese Ingredients:
2 tablespoons salted butter
1/4 cup minced yellow onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 (8 oz) bottle of favorite lager beer, room temperature
1 cup shredded white sharp cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup chicken stock (to thin out sauce if needed)
Chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Directions:
Turn on the oven broiler and set rack at the second-highest level. In a large bowl, toss the oil and garlic with the potatoes until well coated. Season with salt and pepper and place on a single layer on a baking sheet. Broil for 7-10 minutes or until the potatoes are golden brown on one side. Turn the potatoes to cook the other sides evenly. Continue to broil for another 5 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through (soft when a knife is inserted into the potato).

Prepare the cheese sauce. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Sweat the onions and garlic in the butter. Increase the heat to medium and add the flour to make a roux. Stir vigorously with a whisk to distribute the flour in the butter mixture and continue to cook for one minute.

Add half of the bottle of beer and whisk the mixture until smooth. Add the remaining beer, whisk to incorporate and allow to come to a boil. Add the cheese and stir until melted. Add salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce is too thick, whisk in small amounts of chicken broth until you reach the desired consistency.

Pour over the oven fries and garnish with fresh herbs.

Notes:
Julienne strips of apple (skin on) adds another dimension of texture and a subtle sweetness that balances out the sharp cheese.

1. 

   janelle says:

   February 6, 2010 at 4:10 AM

   >OMG this sounds fantastic!

   reply