Bubble and Squeak (Pan-Fried Mashed Potato and Cabbage Cake)
Quick answer
- Total time
- 35 min
- Level
- Easy
- Servings
- 2 servings
- Ingredients
- 7
About this dish
Bubble and squeak is a traditional British household dish made by combining mashed boiled potatoes with blanched, chopped cabbage, pressing the mixture flat in a well-oiled hot pan, and frying each side until a deep golden-brown crust forms across the entire surface.
Read more
The name refers to the noise the dish makes during cooking - moisture from the cabbage hits the hot fat and sends up bubbles and a squeaking hiss. Frying diced onion in butter until soft and lightly caramelized before folding it into the potato-cabbage mixture adds a quiet sweetness that elevates the otherwise modest base ingredients considerably. Pressing the mixture firmly and evenly with a spatula throughout cooking is what creates the crust, and holding back the urge to move or flip it prematurely is the main technique. If the potatoes are particularly wet, a tablespoon or two of plain flour helps the mixture bind and hold its shape in the pan. The dish has been a fixture of British home cooking for generations, rooted in the tradition of using leftover Sunday roast vegetables the following day, and is commonly topped with a fried egg to make a complete one-plate meal.
Ingredients
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Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Season
Peel 400g potatoes, cut them into large chunks, and boil them in salted water for 18-20 minutes.
When a skewer slides through easily, drain well so excess water does not weaken the cake.
- 2Heat
Mash the warm potatoes until mostly smooth, leaving no large dry lumps.
Finely shred 200g cabbage, blanch it for 2 minutes in boiling water, rinse in cold water, then squeeze firmly until it feels dry.
- 3Control
Finely dice half an onion and melt 25g butter in a pan over medium heat.
Cook the onion for 6-7 minutes, stirring often, until soft, golden, and sweet rather than browned too fast.
- 4Season
Combine the potatoes, cabbage, and onion with 0.75 teaspoon salt and 0.5 teaspoon pepper.
If the mixture is loose, let it stand for 5 minutes before spreading it in the pan so the moisture distributes evenly.
- 5Control
Heat 1 tablespoon neutral oil in the pan over medium heat until the surface shimmers.
Spread the mixture about 1.5cm thick, press it firmly with a spatula, and cook undisturbed for 5-6 minutes.
- 6Finish
When the edges feel set and the underside is deep golden, flip it with a wide spatula in one steady motion.
Cook the second side for 4-5 minutes, then cut into wedges and serve warm.
Practical Cooking Checks
The cues that matter most while cooking.
- Key technique
- Bubble and Squeak turns mashed potato and cabbage into pan-fried cakes with a golden crust.
- Finish cue
- When the edges feel set and the underside is deep golden, flip it with a wide spatula in one steady motion.
Cooking decision evidence
Calculated Charim data and applicable official cooking and food safety guidance.
This recipe
35min, 7 ingredients
Category median
40min, 8 ingredients
Based on 168 recipes
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