The Ratte potato (also known as La Ratte, La Reine Ratte du Touquet, or Asparges) is a small
potato
The potato () is a starchy tuberous vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Potatoes are underground stem tubers of the plant ''Solanum tuberosum'', a perennial in the nightshade famil ...
with a unique nutty flavor and smooth, buttery
texture
Texture may refer to:
Science and technology
* Image texture, the spatial arrangement of color or intensities in an image
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* Texture (roads), road surface c ...
.
[Paul R. Wonning ] The nutty flavour is said to have come from the types of soils the variety is grown in by the French farmers. This potato has an ovate shape, often with a slight curve and golden speckled skin. The flesh of this potato is a golden yellow and its texture maintains even when cooking.
The variety originated in
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
or
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
,
[ in the late 19th century and is a favorite of French chefs,][ including Joël Robuchon who used them to make potato puree. Other chefs have recommended roughly mashing them or using them in salads or casseroles. The ''New York Times'' reported that its taste "hints richly of hazelnuts and chestnuts".] This variety is known for its excellent texture and flavour, it is normally harvested by hand and low yielding. Because of the low yield and hand harvest this variety fetches a high price and it is known as a boutique potato.
References
Potato cultivars
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