How to make leftover Bubble and Squeak

Bubble and squeak is a British dish made from leftover cooked potatoes and mixed vegetables, compacted to form a cake, then fried. Its basically a chunky vegetable pancake! Often called one of the “great peasant dishes of the world”

Bubble and Squeak recipe

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Why is it called Bubble and Squeak ?

The first documented mention of the meal in the UK was by the English Writer Thomas Bridges. In his book ‘A burlesque translation of Homer’, 1770: He wrote “We therefore cooked him up a dish Of lean bull-beef, with cabbage fry’d, … Bubble, they call this dish, and squeak”

Bubble and Squeak is now traditionally a vegetable based dish, however, many moons ago, it was mainly meat based, one of the main ingredients being Beef, the other was cabbage, both were fried together and the dish would ‘Bubble and Squeak’ as it cooked over the fire. By 1951, maybe earlier, bubble and squeak ceased to include meat as an ingredient. Likely due to the rationing imposed in the UK during WWII, when meat was scarce. Now it is a dish of leftovers! Usually consumed on a Monday to make use of the weekends leftovers.

Bubble and Squeak

How To Make Leftover Bubble And Squeak

(As always the full detailed recipe is at the end of the post on the recipe card)

Ingredients

  • Leftover cold Mashed Potato
  • Leftover Cooked Green Beans
  • Finely Chopped Onions
  • Leftover Cooked Carrots
  • Beaten Egg
  • Grated Cheese – Whichever you like, I went with Cheddar
  • Raisins
  • Hard Boiled Egg
  • Plain Flour
  • Chilli Flakes
  • Vegetable oil
  • Salt and Pepper for seasoning
  • 1 tbsp Chopped Parsley

Description

  • Mix the Mashed Potato, Chopped cooked Carrots, Chopped Cooked Green Beans and Parsley together
  • lightly fry the chopped Onions until softened and add to the mashed mix.
  • Add the Chilli Flakes and stir in until combined
  • Add the beaten egg and Cheese, mix in until combined
  • Season with Salt and Pepper
  • Place the flour on a saucer and set aside
  • With your hands make 4 burger shaped patty’s from the mash mix
  • Coat each one with flour by dipping the tops, bottoms and sides in the flour
  • Add the Oil to the frying pan, heat on a medium heat for a couple of minutes
  • Add the patties and shallow fry on each side for 4-5 minutes until Golden brown and cooked through
  • Serve with a hard boiled egg (or runny egg if you prefer)
Bubble and Squeak Recipe

Perfect for Mondays

This quick and easy meal from Sunday dinner Leftovers, makes the most unpopular day of the week a little more bearable! This dish will work with most vegetables, chopped Broccoli, Cauliflower, Peas, Sprouts! Its purpose is to spice up and make use of leftover food that would ordinarily have gone in the bin or the Dog! A delicious messy pancake of goodness!

What you’ll need to make this Recipe

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Serving Suggestions

  • Serve with Fried Egg, Poached Egg or Hard Boiled egg like I have
  • With Baked Beans
  • Pour over some leftover Gravy
  • Serve with leftover sliced meats

Craving Something Sweet For Dessert?

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Bubble and Squeak

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: English
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • Leftover cold Mashed Potato (around 400g)
  • Leftover Cooked Green Beans
  • Finely Chopped Onions
  • Leftover Cooked Carrots
  • 1 Beaten Egg
  • 2 tbsp Grated Cheese
  • 1 handful Raisins
  • 1 Hard Boiled Egg
  • 3 tbsp Plain Flour
  • 1 tsp Chilli Flakes
  • 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
  • Salt and Pepper for seasoning
  • 1 tbsp Chopped Parsley

Instructions

  • Mix the Mashed Potato, Chopped cooked Carrots, Chopped Cooked Green Beans and Parsley together
  • lightly fry the chopped Onions until softened and add to the mashed mix.
  • Add the Chilli Flakes and stir in until combined
  • Add the beaten egg, cheese, and Raisins, mix in until combined
  • Season with Salt and Pepper
  • Place the flour on a saucer and set aside
  • With your hands make 4 burger shaped patty's from the mash mix
  • Coat each one with flour by dipping the tops, bottoms and sides in the flour
  • Add the Oil to the frying pan, heat on a medium heat for a couple of minutes
  • Add the patties and shallow fry on each side for 4-5 minutes until Golden brown and cooked through
  • Serve with a Hard boiled egg (or runny egg if you prefer)

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