Italian Potato Cakes Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Boil the potatoes whole, in their skins, in gently simmering water until tender - about 30-40 mins depending on size. Meanwhile, fry the pancetta cubes until golden.
• Drain the potatoes and set aside. Put the milk and most of the butter in the potato pan to warm. Peel the potatoes, cut into big chunks, then tip back into the pan with the milk. Mash them (as long as you've used a floury potato you will get a light and fluffy mash by using an electric hand whisk, or a masher). Mix in the pancetta, eggs, garlic and all of the other ingredients except the breadcrumbs and thyme.
• Use the remaining butter to butter the bottom and sides of a 23cm springform tin. Coat the inside of the tin with about ¾ of the breadcrumbs and fill with the potato mixture. Smooth down the surface and sprinkle with the remaining breadcrumbs, pressing them gently into the potato.
• Bake for about 1hr 10 mins until the potato cake is set, with a slight wobble in the middle. Let it rest for 5 mins then loosen from the sides with a knife before releasing the tin. Slide onto a plate and sprinkle with the thyme leaves. Serve hot or warm. Can be prepared up to the end of step 3 the night before and kept covered in the fridge.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Boil the potatoes until fork tender and let cool. Heat up half the olive oil in a saucepan. Add the diced pancetta and chopped onions. Cook until the onions are golden in color and the pancetta is crisp. In a mixing bowl, mash the potatoes. Add an egg, the cooked onions and pancetta, the grated Parmigiano cheese, Parmigiano chunks and salt, and black pepper, to taste. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly distributed. Grease a baking dish with the remaining olive oil and add half the bread crumbs to the base of the dish and set aside. Transfer the potato mixture to the baking dish and spread the mixture evenly over the pan, packing the mixture so it serves as a solid bed. Add the remaining breadcrumbs on top. Bake for 20 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are golden brown.

Steps:

• Set a rimmed baking sheet on the top oven rack; preheat to 475 degrees F. Put the potatoes and 1 tablespoon water in a large microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and pierce a few times with a knife to vent. Microwave until very tender, 10 to 13 minutes. Meanwhile, generously butter an 8-inch-round cake pan; sprinkle in 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs and shake to coat, then tap out the excess.
• Add 4 tablespoons butter and the parmesan to the potatoes; season with salt and pepper and mash. Gradually mash in the beaten eggs. Spread half of the mixture in the prepared pan; top with the provolone, peppers and parsley, leaving a 1-inch border. Top with the remaining potato mixture and smooth evenly. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs. Dot with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
• Set the pan on the hot baking sheet and bake until puffed and golden, about 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edge to loosen, then unmold. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing. Meanwhile, toss the salad greens, olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Serve with the potato cake.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 415º F.
• Slice the onion, break it into rings, and, in a strainer, rinse the rings under cold water.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan, add the garlic, and set aside.
• Place a layer of potato on the bottom of an 8" springform pan, followed by layers of onion, butter, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
• Grind some black pepper and a little sea salt.
• Repeat the layers until you have used up all the ingredients, keeping a bit of butter to drizzle on the top.
• Finish with potato and then drizzle on a little butter.
• Spoon the milk over the top.
• Place the springform pan on a baking sheet with a lip or flat pizza pan with a lip.
• Bake for 1 hour, or until the top is golden brown and the potatoes are tender.
• Check in 45 minutes; if the top is getting too brown, cover with foil.
• Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
• Unclip the sides of the pan and remove, and transfer to a plate for serving.

Steps:

• Mix mashed potatoes, flour, onion, egg, black pepper, and salt together in a bowl until batter consistency.
• Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Drop 4-inch circles of batter into hot oil. Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining batter.

Steps:

• Move oven rack to middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter a 9-inch springform pan and sprinkle with 1/4 cup bread crumbs.
• Shake the pan to evenly spread out the crumbs.
• Put the potatoes in a large pot and add cold water to cover by 1 inch.
• Bring to a boil over high heat then lower heat to a simmer.
• Cook until tender, around 15 minutes.
• Drain the potatoes and return to the pot.
• Mash them with 4 tablespoons butter until smooth.
• Add the cream, salt and pepper and stir until well mixed.
• Let it cool for 5 minutes then stir in the eggs one at a time.
• Spoon half the potatoes into the prepared springform pan.
• Layer the slices of fontina cheese over the potatoes and then layer the salami pieces over the cheese.
• Cover with the rest of the potatoes.
• Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and mix with the rest of the bread crumbs (1 tablespoon).
• Mix in the Parmesan cheese and sprinkle this mixture over the top of the potatoes.
• Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the casserole is very hot and puffede and the top is golden brown.
• Remove from oven and run a paring knife around the casserole to loosen from the sides and let it stand for 10 minutes before removing the sides of the pan.
• Serve hot.