Crackling Potato Cake Food

CRISPY POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Clarify the butter: Melt the butter in a small saucepan and bring it to a gentle simmer.
• Shut off the heat and allow it to sit a minute on the stove. The milk solids should start to sink to the bottom. Slowly pour the butter into a bowl, keeping as much of the white milky liquid as possible in the saucepan. Discard the milk solids. These are prone to burning and by clarifying the butter, the potato cake will be less likely to overbrown. Keep the butter warm on the stove.
• Prepare the potatoes: Using a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife, cut the potatoes into thin 1/8-inch-thick slices. Transfer them to a bowl, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and black pepper, cover with all but 2 tablespoons of the melted butter and toss to coat.
• Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the bottom of an 8-inch nonstick skillet and swirl it around to coat the bottom and sides. Add the thyme and a pinch of salt. It will start to crackle a little. Cook until it is no longer crackling, about 5 minutes, then remove the thyme from the butter and let cool slightly, about 1 minute. Strip half of the thyme leaves from the stems into the bowl with the potatoes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Assemble: Remember that the bottom layer will be the top when you unmold this cake so it should be done with extra care. Beginning in the center of the skillet, layer the potatoes in an overlapping circle following the edge of the skillet. Continue with the remaining potatoes, switching the direction and adding some salt and add a few spoonfuls of the potato liquid in between each layer. Gently press down on the potatoes as you're layering to make sure they stick together and form a cake. Pour any remaining potato liquid on top.
• Cook: Place the skillet on high heat and cook until the water starts to release itself from the potatoes and you can see the edges browning, 10 to 12 minutes. Place the skillet on a baking sheet, transfer the baking sheet to the oven and cook, undisturbed, for 15 minutes.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and carefully pour off any excess butter from the skillet into a bowl; save. Carefully line the hot baking sheet with parchment paper, then flip the skillet onto the sheet in one deft motion. Lift off the skillet and pour the reserved butter over the cake. Return the baking sheet to the oven to cook until the top of the cake is golden brown and crispy and the potatoes feel completely tender in the center when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 15 minutes.
• Serve: Carefully transfer the cake to a cutting board, season with salt and cut into wedges like a pie. Serve with roe or creme fraiche if desired.

CRISPY POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oil and butter over medium heat in a nonstick 10-inch skillet. Once the butter is melted, sprinkle the grated potatoes into the pan in an even layer and, using a spatula, gently press them into the pan. Season with about half of the salt and pepper and let the potatoes cook without shaking or stirring the pan, until they're crisp and browned on the bottom, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Slide the potato cake onto a large plate and invert it onto another plate. Slide the potato cake back into the pan, browned side up, and season the top with the remaining salt and pepper. Continue to cook until the underside is nicely browned and the potato cake is cooked through, 7 to 9 minutes longer.
• Slide the potato cake onto a cutting board. Cut into wedges, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

CRACKLING POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 8. Cut a circle of baking parchment to fit the base of a 20-23cm ovenproof frying pan. Using a mandolin or sharp knife, slice the potatoes as thinly as possible. Pour a little of the butter over the parchment on the base and neatly overlap slices of the potato on the first layer. Then pile on one-third of the remaining potatoes, season, drizzle with a little butter and repeat until all the potatoes are used.
• Put the pork skin, skin-side up, on top of the potatoes and roast everything for 1 hr 30 mins until the crackling is crispy and the potatoes are really crisp and golden. Set the crackling aside, turn the potatoes out onto a tray or board and serve the crackling on top.

FULL ENGLISH POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Bring a big saucepan of salted water to the boil. Tip in the potatoes and simmer until almost tender, about 20 mins. Drain really well and steam dry for a few mins. Return to the pan and toss with 2 tbsp of the oil, the spring onions, thyme leaves and lots of seasoning.
• Grease your largest baking tray with some melted butter and press the potatoes into it. Put a baking sheet on top and gently press down to squash the spuds into a cake. Cover and chill until ready for breakfast.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Drizzle the melted butter and remaining oil over the potato cake and bake for 30 mins until golden.
• Add the bacon in a few piles and bake for another 15 mins. Dot over the tomato halves and the remaining thyme sprig, sprinkle with plenty of pepper, then crack the eggs among the gaps and bake for 5-8 mins, depending how you like your eggs.
• To serve, cut the potato cake into portions and pile onto 6 plates, along with the eggs, bacon, tomatoes and some buttered toast. Serve with brown and tomato sauce, tea and orange juice, if you like.

ROASTED BABY POTATOES WITH CRACKLINGS AND CHIVES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Toss together halved baby potatoes and room-temperature reserved skimmed pork fat. Season with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Cut reserved skin into 1-inch pieces, and toss with room-temperature reserved skimmed pork fat and heated reserved shredded pork.
• Transfer to a separate baking sheet. Roast until potatoes are tender and golden and skin pieces start to crisp, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add collard greens and water. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until wilted, about 7 minutes.
• Transfer greens to a platter, and top with potatoes and cracklings. Drizzle with heated reserved jus, and garnish with chives.