Crocche Aka Italian Fried Mashed Potatoes Recipes

ITALIAN LOADED MASHED POTATO CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Make both potatoes pouches as directed.
• Stir cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese, the Italian seasoning and rosemary into potatoes. Spoon mixture into baking dish. Top with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until heated through (at least 165°F in center of casserole).
• Meanwhile, in 8-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add bread crumbs; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes or until toasted. Remove from heat. Top casserole with tomatoes, toasted bread crumbs and basil.

CROCCHE (AKA ITALIAN FRIED MASHED POTATOES)

Steps:

• working with cold mashed potatoes helps to shape it better than freshly made potatoes.
• 1 cup potatoes per serving. evenly around cheese "stick" like a twinkie shape. place on cookie sheet lined with wax paper.
• freeze for up to an hour to firm up but you don't want it frozen completely through or the outside will cook faster than it takes to melt the cheese inside.
• i use my delonghi roto- fryer so that the food its always moving and i don't have to flip it! but you will want a deep type fryer so the roll can float.
• heat oil to around 350*.
• make batter in deep bowl, by mixing flour, milk, eggs, salt and pepper and parm cheese and basil.
• roll each potatoes roll around in the batter very quickly you only want a thin layer on it, let drain off mostly. roll in bread crumbs.
• fry until a deep golden brown, and serve sprinkled with a little more parm and a good helping of fresh marinara.

CRISPY FRIED MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat a heavy, thick frying pan until a droplet of water evaporates immediately if you flick it inches (DO NOT put any oil or fat of any sort in the pan, the potatoes WILL stick if you do).
• Tip in your mashed potatoes and spread out to cover the pan base.
• Cook on a medium heat and turn and shake occasionally.
• Turn over in parts (it isn't like an omelette, don't worry if it breaks).
• Keep frying until you have a solid crispy shell around it and a nice creamy center.
• Enjoy with a spicy tomato sauce or ketchup and mayonnaise.

ITALIAN PAN-FRIED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Stab the potatoes with a fork and microwave until cooked, about 9 minutes. Let cool, about 10 minutes. Slice into wedges.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil and butter in a small pan over medium-low heat. Saute onion and garlic with salt and pepper until tender and sweet, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Heat enough remaining oil to coat the bottom of a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Cook potatoes in batches, making sure they aren't crowded in the pan. Turn carefully until golden and crispy, 7 to 10 minutes. Keep the first batch in the preheated oven until the second batch is done.
• Add olives to the second batch and cook for 1 minute. Add potatoes from the oven and onion-garlic mixture. Toss in the pan until everything is heated. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with parsley, salt, and pepper.

ITALIAN MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and allow to steam dry for a minute or two. Return the drained potatoes to the pot.
• Pour the vegetable broth, thyme, rosemary, oregano, basil, onion powder, parsley, sage, and garlic over the potatoes; mash with a potato masher.