Duchesse Potatoes

• 1½ lb (700 g) potatoes
• salt
• freshly milled pepper

Potatoes prepared in this way can be made in advance and browned when ready to serve.

Scrub and peel the potatoes and cut up any large ones. Place in cold salted water, bring to the boil and cook until tender – about 15–20 minutes. Drain at once, then return the potatoes to the pan and set over the heat for a minute to dry off excess moisture. Press the potatoes through a sieve into a m