Crisp 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.

CRISP POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Peel the potatoes and place them in a pan of cold, salted water. Bring to the boil, simmer for 3 mins and drain. When cool enough to handle, slice a few very neatly. Coat the bottom of a round, ovenproof, non-stick pan with butter, then place a sprig of thyme in the middle. Cover with a slice of potato in the middle, then arrange the rest of the slices over the base of the pan, overlapping the slices in concentric circles. Slice the rest of the potatoes and tip into a bowl, then pour over the rest of the butter, the nutmeg and the thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper. Toss everything together, then tip the seasoned potatoes over the arranged slices and press down gently to flatten. The potato cake can be prepared up to a day ahead and kept covered in the fridge.
• Cook the cake in the oven below the beef. Every now and then, remove it, press it down with a fish slice and drizzle the surface with a little olive oil. Cook for 1hr-1hr 15mins, until the sides look brown and crispy. Carefully invert the cake onto a serving dish or board, scatter with sea salt and serve cut into wedges.

CRISPY TWO-POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and grate on the large holes of a box grater. Transfer to a clean dish towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Place the squeezed potatoes in a medium bowl and mix in the chopped thyme, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and chipotle. Toss well to combine.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat until the oil is very hot but not smoking. Add the potato mixture and press down firmly using a spatula. Cook until browned and crispy on the bottom, 8 to 9 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally so it does not stick. The cake should move around as one piece when the skillet is shaken. Slide the cake out of the skillet onto a plate and add the remaining oil to the skillet. Flip the cake onto a second plate and slide back into the skillet, crispy side up. Continue to cook until the bottom side of the cake is browned and crispy and the cake is cooked through, another 8 to 9 minutes, lowering the heat if the cake is browning too quickly.
• Slide onto a wire rack and cool until still warm but not hot. Cut into 6 wedges, lightly season with salt and fresh thyme leaves and serve.

CRISPY MASHED POTATO CAKES

Steps:

• Peel and dice potatoes and add to a large pot. Cover with water and salt the water. Bring to boil over medium heat, and cook until tender. Drain the potatoes and return to hot pot to dry. Transfer potatoes to a bowl. Soften cream cheese in a microwavable bowl and microwave the cream cheese for 20 seconds on high. Add to the potatoes along with sour cream, scallions, zest, egg, salt and pepper, to taste. Mash potatoes to combine mixture.
• Heat the oil and butter in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Drop 2-inch mounds of potatoes into skillet and gently press down to flatten a bit. Crisp potatoes until deeply golden on each side, about 7 to 8 minutes total. Mixture makes 8 golden cakes.

CRISP POTATO CAKE (GALETTE DE POMME DE TERRE)

Steps:

• Pat potatoes dry if very starchy or moist. In a sauté pan large enough to fit potato slices in just two layers, spread 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle with nutmeg and pepper to taste. Starting in center, arrange potato slices in a closely overlapping, attractive spiral. When pan is filled, repeat to make a second layer.
• Place pan over medium heat and cover. Slowly cook potatoes until well browned on underside, about 15 minutes, occasionally shaking pan gently to avoid sticking. Wipe inside of lid as needed to keep it dry.
• Press potatoes down with a flat spatula and remove from heat. Place a larger platter over pan and flip it upside down, transferring potatoes to the platter. Check pan to make sure it is clean and has enough oil to keep potatoes from sticking.
• Slide galette, raw side down, back into pan, and return to medium heat. Cover and cook until well browned, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare a persillade by combining parsley and garlic in a small bowl. To serve, slide galette onto a serving platter, season to taste with salt, and garnish with persillade or thyme.

CRISPY POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• In a nonstick 10-inch saute pan, heat the vegetable oil and butter over medium heat. Press grated potato into pan. Season with salt and pepper. Let cook undisturbed until crisp on bottom, 8 to 10 minutes. Gently flip onto a plate and then slide other side into pan to cook. Salt and pepper second side. Cook another 5 to 10 minutes, until potato cake is cooked through and nicely browned. Cut into wedges, sprinkle with parsley and serve.

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.

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.

CRISP POTATO CAKE WITH A SURPRISE INSIDE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Scoop up 1/3 cup of mashed potatoes, press a slice of cheese in the center and pat the mashed potatoes around the cheese to enclose it.
• Flatten the potato cake slightly.
• Repeat with the remaining potatoes and cheese.
• In a medium skillet, (cast-iron is best), melt the butter in the oil over high heat.
• When fat begins to brown, carefully scoop two 1/2-cup mounds of shredded potato into the skillet; flatten them with a spatula and season with salt and pepper.
• Top each with a mashed potato round and cover with another 1/2 cup of the shredded potatoes. Lightly press the shredded potato into the mashed potato.
• Season with salt and pepper, reduce the heat to low and cook, turning once, until the cakes are crisp and golden, about 8 minutes.
• Transfer the potato cakes to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven.
• Repeat to make the remaining 2 cakes.
• Plate the potato cakes and sprinkle with the chopped green onion.
• Serve hot.
• If you are tempted to use frozen hash browns, don't. I tried it and was sadly disappointed with the results.

CRISP MASHED POTATO CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add green onions to pan and cook 2 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
• Place mashed potatoes in a medium bowl. Stir in onions, cheese, salt, pepper, and bacon. Divide potato mixture into 6 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty.
• Place panko in a shallow dish. Dredge patties in panko.
• Place patties on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake for 12 minutes. Carefully turn patties over and bake for an additional 12 minutes or until golden.