Description
Comfort meets British tradition in this bubble and squeak recipe, where leftover mashed potatoes and vegetables dance together in a crispy, golden skillet. Rich potato patties sizzle with nostalgia, offering hungry diners a delicious way to reinvent yesterday’s meal with zero waste.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) mashed potatoes
- 1 cup leftover vegetables
- 6 tablespoons (90 milliliters) unsalted butter
Protein and Seasonings:
- 1/2 cup (75 grams) finely chopped onion
- Bacon, leftover roast, bangers, and/or ham, chopped (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Serving Option:
- Fried or poached eggs (optional)
Instructions
- Warm a skillet over medium heat, melting butter or heating oil until it shimmers.
- Sauté diced onions gently, allowing them to become translucent and soft, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Incorporate cold mashed potatoes and leftover vegetables into the pan, ensuring even distribution and mixing thoroughly.
- Add cooked meat pieces if desired, folding them into the potato mixture.
- Continue cooking the mixture, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until everything is heated through and developing golden edges, around 8-10 minutes.
- Compress the mixture firmly into the pan, creating a compact, even layer that allows for crispy caramelization.
- Let the bottom develop a rich, golden-brown crust without disturbing, about 4-5 minutes.
- Carefully flip the entire potato cake, revealing the beautifully bronzed surface underneath.
- Cook the reverse side until equally crisp and golden, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Season generously with salt, black pepper, and any preferred herbs or spices.
- Transfer to serving plates and crown with a perfectly fried or delicately poached egg.
- Serve immediately while piping hot, allowing the runny egg yolk to mingle with the crispy potato mixture.
Notes
- Save leftover roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes from a previous meal to create this budget-friendly dish that reduces food waste.
- Use a cast-iron skillet for the best crispy golden-brown exterior and even heat distribution when browning the mixture.
- Experiment with different vegetable combinations like Brussels sprouts, carrots, or peas to add variety and nutrition to the classic recipe.
- Consider making this dish gluten-free by ensuring all ingredients are certified gluten-free and using a non-stick pan for easier flipping.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 283 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg