Bubble Squeak Recipes

BUBBLE AND SQUEAK

Steps:

• Put a 28cm non-stick frying pan on a medium heat with 1 tablespoon of oil and the butter (or, even better, any leftover dripping you have in the fridge).
• Pick in the fresh herb leaves and let them crisp up for a minute, then add the potatoes, veg, and any leftover chestnuts you've got. There's no need to chop anything first, as now we're going to mash it all up with a potato masher into a nice, flat, even layer.
• Season well with sea salt and black pepper, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until a lovely golden crust starts forming on the bottom.
• Now we get into the rhythm of the secret to good bubble & squeak. Use a fish slice to fold those lovely crispy bits back into the mash, then pat and flatten everything down again. Let it crisp up again, then repeat the process, and - importantly - keep repeating it over a period of about 20 minutes, until it's golden, super- crispy and delicious. About halfway through, nick a bit, taste it, and correct the seasoning if you need to. When it's looking good, you can serve it right away, or you can leave it on the lowest heat for a while - the flavour will only improve.
• You can serve this any which way you like - let's be honest, it's going to be amazing whatever you have it with. I like mine with fried eggs, a little lemon-dressed watercress and a few bombs of Piccalilli. Slices of leftover cooked ham are always going to go down a treat, too.

BUBBLE & SQUEAK

Steps:

• Melt 1 tbsp duck fat, goose fat or butter in a non-stick pan, allow it to get nice and hot, then add 4 chopped streaky bacon rashers. As it begins to brown, add 1 finely sliced onion and 1 chopped garlic clove.
• Next, add 15-20 sliced cooked Brussels sprouts or shredded boiled cabbage and let it colour slightly. All this will take 5-6 mins.
• Add 400g cold mashed potato. Work everything together in the pan and push it down so that the mixture covers the base of the pan.
• Allow the mixture to catch slightly on the base of the pan before turning it over and doing the same again. It's the bits of potato that catch in the pan that define the term 'bubble and squeak', so be brave and let the mixture colour.
• Cut into wedges and serve.

BUBBLE 'N' SQUEAK

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, cook cabbage in a small amount of water for about 5 minutes, or until tender. Drain, and set aside.
• In a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, cook bacon and onion until onion is soft and bacon is cooked. Add ham, and cook until heated through. Add butter, then mix in the cooked cabbage and potatoes. Season with paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until browned on bottom, turn, and brown again.

QUICK AND EASY TRADITIONAL BUBBLE AND SQUEAK DISH

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat and make sure it doesn't brown. Add the finely chopped onion and fry gently for about 3 minutes or until soft and translucent.
• Turn the heat up ever so slightly and add the mashed potato and all of the chopped-up leftover vegetables. Add the chopped meat if using. Fry for at least 10 minutes, turning everything over continuously in the melted butter to ensure that the potato and vegetables are thoroughly reheated. You are also aiming to brown (but not burn) the outside edges of the vegetables, so occasionally press the mixture into the pan to brown a little before turning.
• Finally, when the mixture is heated right through, give the vegetables one long final press onto the base of the pan with a spatula and leave to cook for 1 minute. Flip over and repeat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with either a fried or poached egg on top. Enjoy.

BUBBLE AND SQUEAK

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a bowl and wash under cold, running water until water runs clear. Place in a medium saucepan with salt. Add enough water to generously cover. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, uncovered, until soft, about 15 minutes.
• Peel and mash the boiled potatoes, using a fork or food mill, and while potatoes are hot, add butter and cream and mix well. Meanwhile, fry bacon until crisp and drain on paper towels, leaving half the fat in the skillet and reserving remaining fat. Add onions to skillet and saute until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add celery, sage, and pepper, and saute 2 more minutes. Add Brussels sprouts and saute 5 more minutes. Add lemon juice, and then combine vegetables with mashed potatoes. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Shape potato mixture into 10 patties, and heat reserved fat in clean skillet. Add patties to skillet and cook until brown and crispy, about 5 minutes per side. Crumble bacon on top and serve immediately.

BUBBLE AND SQUEAK

Steps:

• Finely chop the potatoes and crush slightly. In a frying pan melt half the fat and lightly fry the onion. Mix in the potato and greens and season well. Add more dripping or lard. Press the bubble into the hot fat and fry over a moderate heat until browned underneath. Turn the bubble over, add the last of the fat and fry until the other side is browned.

BUBBLE AND SQUEAK

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large saucepan; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, until tender, 15-20 minutes. Drain potatoes; return to pan and stir over low heat 1 minute to dry. Mash potatoes with milk, butter, salt and pepper. , Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil; add cabbage. Return to a simmer. Cook until just tender, 3-5 minutes; drain. Stir cabbage into potato mixture. Add enough flour until mixture holds it's shape when squeezed together. , In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil oil over medium heat; add onion. Cook and stir until tender, 3-5 minutes. Stir into potato mixture. With floured hands, shape into twelve 1/2-in.-thick patties. Add remaining oil to skillet and heat over medium heat. Add patties in batches; cook until golden brown, 3-4 minutes on each side.

BUBBLE AND SQUEAK CAKES

Steps:

• Finely chop the bacon; thoroughly wash and dry, then trim and finely slice the leeks; beat the egg; cut the mushrooms into quarters; cut the tomatoes in half; and finely shred the cabbage.
• Place the serving plates in a low oven so that they will be warmed when required.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil (less if the bacon is fatty; see notes below) in a heavy-based, non-stick pan, add the bacon pieces, fry for about 4 minutes, until crisp, then remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper kitchen towelling.
• (Optional departure: If you want to add finely chopped onion and/or garlic, add them 1-2 minutes BEFORE adding the leeks to the pan.).
• Add the leeks to the pan and sauté for 2 minutes.
• Transfer the bacon and leeks (and onions & garlic) to a large bowl, add the mashed potatoes, cabbage and egg (see notes below), season to taste and mixing together with wet hands, shape into 4 round cakes, 10cm/4" across. (If you've been imprecise or overly generous in the quantity of some of the ingredients, you may well have enough for five or six cakes. You may also choose to make smaller cakes, but remember to then adjust the cooking time: they'll cook much faster, of course.).
• Heat the remaining oil in the pan, add the bubble and squeak cakes and cook for about 6 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Remove the cakes from the pan and keep warm.
• Add the mushrooms and tomatoes to the pan and sauté for 4 minutes. (I add basil here, probably about 1 tablespoon of fresh basil)
• Place the bubble and squeak cakes on warm serving plates, top with the mushroom and tomatoes and serve immediately.
• Chef's notes: I always buy middle rashers and remove ALL the fat, so I do need a little oil, probably about 1/2 tablespoon. If you use streaky bacon, I can't see that you'd need much oil at all, if any, certainly not the full tablespoon specified in the recipe. Because I've usually been imprecise in my measurements of one or other or several of the vegetables, I usually add 2 eggs. If tomatoes are just not looking very good or you cannot find a flavoursome variety (isn't the tasteless tomato the bane of all our lives?) canned, drained tomatoes are fine.

SCOTTISH BUBBLES AND SQUEAK PATTIES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes into a saucepan and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium heat until tender enough to pierce with a fork, about 10 minutes. Drain and mash potatoes, then set aside.
• Meanwhile, combine cabbage and carrot in another saucepan and add just enough water to barely cover the bottom of the pan. Cook over medium heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain off liquid and stir into the mashed potatoes along with the onion, mustard and Cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
• Shape the mixture into 4 patties. Heat a greased grill pan over medium-high heat. Place the patties on the pan and grill until heated through and golden brown, about 5 minutes on each side. Serve right away.

BUBBLE AND SQUEAK - TRADITIONAL BRITISH FRIED LEFTOVERS!

Steps:

• Mix the cabbage or sprouts with the mashed or diced cooked potatoes and season to taste with salt and black pepper.
• Method if using mashed potatoes:.
• Heat the butter in a large frying pan, add the potato mixture and smooth it flat with a spatula.
• Fry over a medium heat for about 8 to 10 minutes or until underside is brown, and the Bubble and Squeak sizzles, bubbles and squeaks! (Sorry, could not resist that!).
• Place a large plate over the pan and turn the pan and plate over so that the bubble and squeak is on the plate.
• Heat the remaining butter in the pan and carefully slide the bubble and squeak back in the pan.
• Cook again over a medium heat until the other side is golden brown.
• Cut into wedges and serve with eggs and bacon for breakfast, or bread and butter for a light snack or supper dish. This is also wonderful as an accompaniment to stews and casseroles.
• Method for diced boiled or roast potatoes:.
• If using diced boiled or roast potatoes, mix all the vegetables together as above, and just fry them in a frying pan together; there is no need to press them down into a cake - stir them regularly to achieve an all over colour; then serve them with a spoon, rather than cut into slices. They still taste the same!