Have you ever heard of bubble and squeak? Spoiler alert: It’s not a kid’s toy! It’s a popular British dish everyone in the UK knows about.
It’s a great way to use leftover potatoes and vegetables. Luckily, it’s also pretty tasty. Let’s talk more about it.
What Is Bubble and Squeak?
Bubble and Squeak is a famous British dish made from leftover potatoes and veggies. (Typically cabbage.) Many compare it to the Ireland-based dish, colcannon.
Usually served for breakfast, it contains potatoes, veggies, and onions. You mix them all together, then fry the mixture until it’s golden brown.
You can make your bubble and squeak into one large pattie or several small ones. Either way, it’s a healthy, hearty breakfast that’ll keep you full almost until dinner.
You can even add some chopped bacon or top it with a fried egg!
Ingredients
To make bubble and squeak, you need:
- Leftover mashed potatoes – Remember, the point of bubble and squeak is to use up leftovers. So you don’t have to make a fresh batch of mashed potatoes. Just use the ones from last night’s dinner instead.
- Leftover veggies – Again, these veggies can be leftover from a previous meal. Just ensure they’re fully cooked. Avoid raw veggies for this recipe.
- Onions – I like red onions but use whichever you prefer.
- Butter & olive oil = For cooking. The butter provides a rich flavor, and both will keep the bubble and squeak from sticking to the pan.
- Salt & pepper – For seasoning.
How to Make Bubble and Squeak
Follow these steps to make this traditional dish:
1. Combine the veggies. Mix the leftover potatoes and veggies with the chopped onions.
2. Cook. Add the butter and oil to a skillet over medium heat. Then, spread the potato mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan.
Cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, flip the bubble and squeak and cook it for another 5 to 10 minutes. When ready, both sides should be golden brown.
3. Season and serve. Season the dish with salt and pepper to taste. Then, serve it while it’s still hot and enjoy!
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips to achieve the very best bubble and squeak:
- Having a hard time keeping it together? You may need more potatoes. If you don’t have any, add a tablespoon or two of flour to help hold things in place.
- Don’t like cabbage? Make it with leftover kale instead or any other veggies you like!
- Make it a meal. Serve it with bacon and eggs. You can also add chopped bacon to the recipe itself. I’ve never tried it with ground-up sausage, but that might also work.
- Work some cast-iron magic. While not a requirement, cast-iron pans work best.
- Don’t be a perfectionist. Normally, I’m a stickler for keeping my measurements accurate. But this recipe was designed to use up leftovers. The measurements are a loose guideline.
How to Store
Keep your leftover bubble and squeak fresh with these tips:
- To Store: Transfer the leftovers to an air-tight container. Refrigerate them for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: Let the bubble and squeak cool completely. Then, transfer it to a freezer-safe zip-top bag. Remove as much air as possible and freeze the leftovers for up to 1 month.
- To Reheat: Let frozen leftovers thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat chilled leftovers in a skillet on the stove over medium heat. (You’ll need to add a bit of oil to the pan.)
Serving Suggestions
If you aren’t familiar with British food, you might not know what to serve with a bubble and squeak. Here are some ideas:
- Bacon and eggs
- Biscuits and gravy
- Other gravies
- Baked beans
- Roast or leftover ham
Easy Bubble and Squeak
4-6
servings10
minutes20
minutes30
minutesAuthentic bubble and squeak is easy and delicious! This dish is full of potatoes, veggies, and onions. Fried to golden perfection, it’s such a delicacy!
Ingredients
2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
1 cup leftover cooked vegetables (e.g. cabbage, carrots, peas, Brussels sprouts, etc.), chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, chopped vegetables, and chopped onion.
- Heat the butter and olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.
- Add the potato mixture to the pan and spread it out evenly.
- Cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown.
- Flip the Bubble and Squeak over, and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until golden brown on both sides.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Veggies can include anything you like. Cabbage is traditional, but you can also try it with peas, carrots, Brussels sprouts, etc.
- Using a cast-iron skillet will give you the crispiest crust and the best flavor.
