Bubble and Squeak

Bubble and Squeak

A thrifty British classic made from leftover Sunday roast potatoes and cabbage, pressed into a pan and fried until crisp and golden. The name comes from the bubbling and squeaking sounds it makes as it cooks.

Prep

10 min

Cook

15 min

Total

25 min

Serves

4

Difficulty

Easy

Recipe ingredients

• •500 g (1 lb 2 oz) cold leftover mashed potato, day-old works best
• •200 g (7 oz) cooked green cabbage or kale, leftover boiled or steamed greens, finely chopped
• •1 medium onion, finely chopped
• •40 g (3 tbsp) butter, plus a little extra if needed
• •0.5 tsp salt, or to taste
• •0.25 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or null

Steps

1. 1 Melt 20 g (1½ tbsp) of the butter in a large non-stick or cast-iron frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened and lightly golden.
2. 2 Add the cooked cabbage or kale to the pan and stir to combine with the onions. Cook for 2 minutes to drive off excess moisture, then tip into a large bowl.
3. 3 Add the cold mashed potato to the bowl along with the salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon or your hands until evenly combined - the mixture should hold together when pressed.
4. 4 Add the remaining 20 g (1½ tbsp) of butter to the same frying pan and place over medium heat. Once melted and foaming, add the potato and cabbage mixture, pressing it down firmly into an even layer with a spatula.
5. 5 Cook undisturbed for 5-6 minutes until the underside is deep golden brown and crisp. You should hear the characteristic bubbling and faint squeaking sounds.
6. 6 Flip or break up: either invert the cake onto a plate and slide it back into the pan to brown the other side, or cut it into portions with a spatula and turn each piece to crisp the edges, pressing down again.
7. 7 Cook for a further 4-5 minutes until the second side is crisp and the centre is hot through (internal temperature around 75°C / 165°F if checked with a thermometer).
8. 8 Serve immediately with fried eggs, HP or brown sauce, and grilled tomatoes for a traditional breakfast.