Aligot Recipe: Creamy French Mashed Potatoes with Cheese 2026

Aligot is a classic French side dish from the Aubrac region, and it is pure comfort on a plate. It looks like mashed potatoes, but the generous amount of melted cheese gives it a distinctive elastic, stretchy texture that makes it unlike any purée you have tried before.

The traditional version uses Tome fraîche, a French cheese that can be hard to find outside France, so this recipe swaps in mozzarella. Any cheese that melts well and gives that signature stretch will work beautifully here.

Everything is done by hand, from mashing the potatoes to stirring in the cheese at the end. It takes a little effort, but the rich, silky result is absolutely worth it. Serve it hot alongside roasted meats or simply with crusty bread.

Ingredients for Aligot

For 4 servings

• 600 g potatoes
• Salt
• 300 g mozzarella cheese
• 50 g butter at room temperature
• 1 garlic clove
• Ground black pepper
• 150 g crème fraîche (or liquid cream as a substitute)

How to Make Aligot Step by Step

1. Boil the potatoes

Wash the potatoes very well since they will be boiled with the skin on. Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat, add a little salt and the potatoes, and cook for about 20 minutes. A knife should slide in and out easily when they are done. Remove them from the pot and let them cool slightly before peeling.

2. Cut the cheese and butter

While the potatoes cool, cut the 300 g of mozzarella into shavings and the 50 g of room-temperature butter into small cubes. Grate the garlic clove and set everything aside.

3. Mash the potatoes

Place the peeled potatoes in a bowl and mash them with a potato masher or a fork. A potato ricer would also work well here.

4. Add the butter and garlic

Once the potatoes are perfectly mashed, add salt, ground black pepper, the butter and the chopped garlic, and mix well with a spatula or wooden spoon.

5. Add the crème fraîche

Next, add the 150 g of crème fraîche and mix again until you have a smooth, homogeneous purée.

6. Add the cheese

Now place the mashed potatoes in a pot over low heat and add the chopped mozzarella.

7. Cook until the cheese melts

Mix and stir continuously with the wooden spoon so the cheese melts and blends into the mashed potatoes, which can take between 10 and 15 minutes.

8. Serve immediately

Once you achieve the characteristic elastic texture of aligot, it is ready to serve. It is important to serve aligot freshly made so it keeps that particular texture.

Tips for the Best Aligot

Choose the right potatoes

Boil the potatoes whole and with the skin on so they absorb less water and keep all their flavor. Try to use potatoes of a similar size so they cook evenly.

Work by hand for the best texture

You do not need a food processor for aligot. Everything is done entirely by hand, from mashing the potatoes to the final cooking with the cheese. Traditionally a spatula or wooden spoon is used, and while it is a bit laborious, the result is worth it.

Serve it right away

Aligot is at its best freshly made, when the cheese is still molten and stretchy. If it sits too long, it loses that special elastic texture, so plan to bring it to the table as soon as it is ready.

30 Top Recipes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a balanced lineup ready to go: simple comfort dishes, well-known international plates, and desserts that make everyone happy.

On nights when I want something rich and indulgent, my picks tend to be this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this elegant Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever something fruity and soothing sounds good, this classic French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I keep coming back to.

For quick breakfasts and lighter plates, these fluffy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular in my rotation, along with a satisfying Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe and these fresh Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, this simple Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I like to prepare.

When tapas and Mediterranean flavors are calling, I move between this bold Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, creamy Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and refreshing Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is also a favorite of mine to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more special.

For filling lunches and cozy dinners, these are the ones I always point people toward: this comforting Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, rich Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and creamy Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. And if I'm after something even heartier, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the ultra-comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street food and party-style plates are another mood I cook for often, and that usually means this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, flavorful Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crunchy Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These easy Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another one I like to set out as a no-fuss appetizer or snack.

And when I'm building drinks and a full spread for company, dinner often gets paired with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this bold Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the table, this tangy French Remoulade Sauce recipe works great on the side, and this striking Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe makes a beautiful finish.

Additional Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of testing and fine-tuning recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the strongest dishes rely on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more special for friends and family.

On the dessert side, the rich and silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I reach for when I want something elegant without much effort. Another sweet favorite is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something fresh and unfussy is what I'm after, I usually reach for the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a perfectly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For heavier comfort food, I'm quick to suggest the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the quick weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Traditional dishes from around the world are another thing I love to share, among them the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the classic Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is a category I turn to often too, since it saves time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my comforting Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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