Potatoes are dressed with a smooth rich crème fraîche sauce with fresh chopped herbs and a bit of grated lemon zest.
Potatoes aren't new, they aren't trendy, and they don’t garner much attention. The humble little potato as it’s often referred to is the soft-spoken cast member of the "vegetable play," playing the supporting role but never the star. It’s relegated to side dishes where it’s mashed beyond recognition, stuffed with loads of cheese, butter and vegetables or drowned out by bolder flavors in a myriad of other preparations.
One of the most omnipresent and abundant of vegetables, the potato is the essence of simplicity. Which leads me to ask - why is something so splendidly simple not enough? Why drown the potato in things that will mask its true flavor?
If you have good potatoes, like creamy little new potatoes or fingerling potatoes, sometimes the best way to eat them is to steam or boil them and serve them simply.
Growing up, my family would make a meal of potatoes. We would boil small new potatoes in their skins and serve them with butter and parsley or crème fraîche and chives, and if we were feeling particularly indulgent, maybe a little grated Parmesan. There's a great sense of pleasure in the known and anticipated taste of preparing potatoes in this manner that I urge you not to dismiss it because of its simplicity.
The French call potatoes prepared in this manner “pommes de terre en robe des champs,” which refers to potatoes prepared with their skins on, but literally translates to “potatoes in a dress of the fields.” It’s also sometimes referred to as “pommes de terre en robe de chambre” which is most likely a perversion of the first saying but one I find quite charming as it translates to “potatoes in their bathrobes” which I think is a lovely way to describe potatoes.
Oddly enough, although they are prepared and served with the skin on, the French don’t eat the skins and will slip them off before consuming the potatoes. I offer this recipe in the spirit of elevating the overlooked to a more prominent role. Warm creamy potatoes are dressed with smooth rich crème fraîche, fresh chopped herbs and lightly perfumed with a bit of grated lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Potatoes With Crème Fraîche Sauce
Potatoes are dressed with a smooth rich crème fraîche sauce with fresh chopped herbs and a bit of grated lemon zest.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds/1kg small new potatoes or small fingerling potatoes, washed and well scrubbed
- ¼ cup/56g crème fraîche
- 1 TB/15ml fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp finely grated lemon zest
- 1 TB/15ml olive oil
- 1 TB minced chives
- 1 TB finely chopped parsley leaves
- Fleur de sel, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Put the potatoes in a large saucepan, add cold water to cover by about an inch. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer gently until potatoes are tender, anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes depending on their size (test doneness with a fork).
- When the potatoes are done, drain all the water and let them sit in the pot for five minutes to steam and dry.
- Whisk together the crème fraîche, lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, parsley and chives in a small bowl until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss potatoes with the crème fraiche mixture and serve warm.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 93Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 18mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 1g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Asmita says
The photos are beautiful as usual. The recipe sounds great too. I love the idea of creme fraiche with boiled or steamed potatoes. It is a delicious combination.
A long time ago I had made Ina Garten's recipe of bangers and mash in which she puts creme fraiche in mashed potatoes. Simple Divine!
Rosa says
Those potatoes look fantastic! A refined dish. Crème fraîche is so delicious.
Cheers,
Rosa
Kim says
I left my heart in Paris. 🙂
So thank you, because via your post, I'm about to get lost in Leemei's blog.
I should have been born Irish, because potatoes are in my Top 3 all-time favorite foods. And creme fraiche is a lovely way to dress them up.
Tres bien!
[K]
Cooking Rookie says
So simple and elegant with all the right flavors! And the photo is amazing. I love your site. I am so happy I discovered it :-). Will be following you on Flickr.
Sylvie says
Thank you, I'm happy you stopped in for a visit.
Joy says
Gosh what a lovely guest post -- the way those potatoes were swimming in the sauce it makes the entire recipe seem heavenly. You are so inspiring in so many ways. I love simple food that isn't fussy and this is the perfect example. Thank you for sharing Sylvie, you are simply beautiful!!!
Trish says
Beautiful photos. Just gorgeous. I love the simplicity of the potato recipe. The creme fraiche, sea salt, and chives seem like fabulous combination ingredients. It's true about the French not eating the skin...my French in-laws made me feel kind of bad about it at first- because I always eat skin on - but I got over it that pretty quickly 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Joyti says
Delicious! I just tried Carola-c potatoes today - very very creamy. Prepared them simply as you said - boiled, topped with sea salt, pepper, and fresh toasted bread crumbs.
And I agree with you - potatoes with chives and creme fraiche is heavenly! I love the way you photographed this simple, indulgent dish - beautiful...and revealing the beauty in a dish that I always thought looked rather humble.
Priscilla - She's Cookin' says
The humble potato always has a place at our table - esp. enrobed in creme fraiche! Thank you for introducing us to My Cooking Hut - another site full of beautiful images!
Cristina, from Buenos Aires to Paris says
A huge congrats to both of you girls...Awesome photographers!! A pleasure to browse your sites!
Magic of Spice says
Looks like a fantastic dish and gorgeous photos. I will stop over for the recipe now.