We ate a lot of mashed potatoes growing up, three or four times a week, easily, and whatever happened to be left over, Mom fried up into cakes as part of breakfast the next morning.
Very simple, this is hardly a recipe at all:
Fried Mashed Potato Cakes
INGREDIENTS
Leftover mashed potatoes, cold
3 TB of fat (I used a TB each of olive oil, butter, and bacon fat)
DIRECTIONS
Heat fat in a skillet (cast iron, if possible) over medium-high heat until shimmering.
Form some of the mashed potatoes (maybe 1/3rd cup) into a small patty, about 1/4-inch thick, and gently lay in the hot fat in the skillet. Reduce heat to medium.
Fry for several minutes, until bottom of cake forms a golden crust (checking occasionally using a spatula to lift the edge - careful, the cakes are fragile).
When crust has developed, use a spatula to flip cakes and fry for several minutes to a golden crust on second side. Serve immediately.
Note: Mom would sometimes mix in a beaten egg to help bind the potatoes, sometimes she'd dust them in a little seasoned flour. It's an easy recipe to customize.
The CookingBites Recipe Challenge: Potatoes
Very simple, this is hardly a recipe at all:
Fried Mashed Potato Cakes
INGREDIENTS
Leftover mashed potatoes, cold
3 TB of fat (I used a TB each of olive oil, butter, and bacon fat)
DIRECTIONS
Heat fat in a skillet (cast iron, if possible) over medium-high heat until shimmering.
Form some of the mashed potatoes (maybe 1/3rd cup) into a small patty, about 1/4-inch thick, and gently lay in the hot fat in the skillet. Reduce heat to medium.
Fry for several minutes, until bottom of cake forms a golden crust (checking occasionally using a spatula to lift the edge - careful, the cakes are fragile).
When crust has developed, use a spatula to flip cakes and fry for several minutes to a golden crust on second side. Serve immediately.
Note: Mom would sometimes mix in a beaten egg to help bind the potatoes, sometimes she'd dust them in a little seasoned flour. It's an easy recipe to customize.
The CookingBites Recipe Challenge: Potatoes