Matafan
It’s Friday once again and you know what that means: it’s time for French Fridays with Dorie! This week’s recipe is a fluffy mashed potato pancake called Matafan.
Matafan are a flexible dish that can be served in many ways: hors d’oeuvre, side dish, or snack. I think they could also be good served with brunch or as part of a “breakfast for dinner” meal. I served mine as a side dish with beef, with a swipe of butter on top.
Cakes on the Griddle...
When my husband saw what I was making he said it looked like I was making pancakes. He was a little disappointed when I told him yes, a potato pancake that I’m serving as a side dish. He was thinking maple syrup! He perked up a bit when I told him Dorie’s husband eats his with syrup. As we were eating dinner I noticed he had his pancakes in a stack on the side of his plate but was not eating them. I asked about it and learned he was saving them until the rest of his food was gone so he could eat them with syrup! I did make him eat one without syrup for comparison, but he said he preferred them with the syrup.
I really liked these! I thought all they needed was a bit of butter. My daughter really enjoyed them too. It was a fun, different way to serve potatoes for dinner, but I can see them served with bacon and eggs too.
French Fridays with Dorie is an online cooking group, cooking our way through Dorie Greenspan’s book Around My French Table.
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From Scratch 
Your dinner looks wonderfully delicious. I loved this recipe and plan on making them again for a party I’m doing for Christmas. So simple and yet so very good!
I’m in the mood to make these again and with syrup. Earlier today savory sounded best, but after reading about all the sweet toppings I’m in the mood!
When I read that your husband saved his pancakes for “dessert”, I had to smile. I might have done the same had I not decided these are savoury treat from the get go! Glad it was well-received by the whole family.
Too funny about your husband! Sounds like something mine would do! I need to try them with syrup one day. Yours look so perfect!
I think you should have let him have them with syrup!
I did! I only made him eat one without it. 🙂
I’m with your husband! Loved them most soaked in maple syrup!
My son asked if he could have them for dessert with whipped cream!
Your husband is funny! You could say I did the same thing, but only held a short stack to eat the next day for breakfast. That steak looks delicious – bet the matafan would have been great with the meat sauce/juices.
What a cute story about your husband. 🙂 I want to try them next time with syrup because I have never eaten potato pancakes sweet before. Your dinner looks delicious. I hope you are having a great weekend!
The whole dinner looks great – saving the cakes is something my D would do if it was something he relaly liked and wanted to save for last, but he isn’t a fan of pancakes. I’ve been eating most of them on my own. Might need to test the leftovers with syrup and bacon tomorrow.
Looks like a fantastic meal! I think they would be great for breakfast too!