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Jansson's Temptation (Janssons Frestelse)

Name: Jansson's Temptation (Janssons Frestelse)
Prep time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Cuisine: Scandinavian
Ingredients: 2 lbs potatoes, julienned; 1 can (3.5 oz) Swedish anchovy fillets (sprats in brine); 2 large yellow onions, sliced; 1 1/2 cups heavy cream; 1/2 cup breadcrumbs; 2 tbsp butter

Jansson's Temptation (Janssons Frestelse) reads umami 6.8, richness 6.2 and salinity 5.6 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Scandinavian main, about 1 hr 35 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 8.4 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 2.9 / 10
Sour & Bright — 1.5 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 2.9 / 10
Rich & Fat — 6.4 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.2 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 6.8 · Richness 6.2 · Salinity 5.6 · Marine & Briny 5.6 · Funk & Ferment 4.9 · Allium 4.2 · Sweetness 2.9 · Earthy 2.7 · Sourness 1.5 · Bitterness 0.8 · Nutty 0.7 · Floral 0.5

What's in it (6)

2 lbs potatoes, julienned
1 can (3.5 oz) Swedish anchovy fillets (sprats in brine)
2 large yellow onions, sliced
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 tbsp butter

Time & effort: about 1 hr 35 min (35 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 316.8 kcal, 2.8 g protein, 9.4 g fat, 57.1 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Layer julienned potatoes and sliced onions in a buttered baking dish, tucking anchovy fillets throughout and pouring their brine over the top.
Pour cream over the layers, top with breadcrumbs and dots of butter.
Bake at 200°C for about 1 hour until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden and bubbling.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Herring Under a Fur Coat (Шуба) — Russian
Banh Cuon (Steamed Rice Rolls) — Vietnamese
Cha Gio (Fried Spring Rolls) — Vietnamese
Ramen (ラーメン) — Japanese
Thai Spring Rolls (Por Pia Tod) — Thai

Keep reading: what umami, richness, salinity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.