Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (2024)

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Elaine Lemm

Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.

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Updated on 06/30/22

Tested by

Diana Rattray

Tested byDiana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

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Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, or vegetable oil
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 pound mashed potatoes, about 2 cups
1 cup leftover vegetables (cabbage, kale, peas, cooked swede, cooked carrots, and/orcooked Brussels sprouts),finely chopped
Bacon, leftover roast, bangers, and/or ham, chopped, optional
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Fried or poached eggs, for serving, optional

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
In a large frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat and make sure it doesn't brown. Add the finely chopped onion and fry gently for about 3 minutes or until soft and translucent.
Turn the heat up ever so slightly and add the mashed potato and all of the chopped-up leftover vegetables. Add the chopped meat if using. Fry for at least 10 minutes, turning everything over continuously in the melted butter to ensure that the potato and vegetables are thoroughly reheated. You are also aiming to brown (but not burn) the outside edges of the vegetables, so occasionally press the mixture into the pan to brown a little before turning.
Finally, when the mixture is heated right through, give the vegetables one long final press onto the base of the pan with a spatula and leave to cook for 1 minute. Flip over and repeat. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve with either a fried or poached egg on top. Enjoy.

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs poses a risk of foodborne illness.

Recipe Variation

Make bubble and squeak patties. Mix the potato and vegetables, form into small patties, and fry until crisp on both sides.

How to Store and Freeze

Store leftover bubble and squeak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Leftovers can be stored for longer in a heavy-duty zip-top bag in the freezer. Squeeze all of the air out and freeze for up to a month. To reheat, let defrost in the fridge overnight, then reheat in a skillet with a little oil until crisp and warmed through.

Why Is It Called Bubble and Squeak?

The origins of the name bubble and squeak are not known, but there is a reference in the "Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue" from 1785: "Bubble and squeak is beef and cabbage fried together. It is so-called from its bubbling up and squeaking while over the fire."

How Do You Keep Bubble and Squeak From Falling Apart?

A good base of leftover mashed potatoes should help to keep your bubble and squeak glued together. If the mixture is a little loose and falling apart, try adding a sprinkle or two of flour.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
306	Calories
22g	Fat
25g	Carbs
3g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2to 4
Amount per serving
Calories	306
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g	28%
Saturated Fat 12g	58%
Cholesterol 47mg	16%
Sodium 470mg	20%
Total Carbohydrate 25g	9%
Dietary Fiber 3g	12%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 24mg	121%
Calcium 50mg	4%
Iron 1mg	3%
Potassium 504mg	11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

Potato
brunch
british
boxing day

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Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is bubble and squeak made of? ›

Bubble and squeak is a fried British dish made with potatoes and cabbage. It's quite similar to the Irish colcannon. Bubble and squeak, which often contains meat such as ham or bacon, is traditionally made on Monday with the leftovers from Sunday's dinner or on Boxing Day with leftovers from the Christmas feast.

What do the British call bubble and squeak? ›

Cabbage is approximately 92% water, per Healthline, which releases as the cabbage wilts, bubbling and sputtering in the hot pan. The appeal of the name 'bubble and squeak' is a matter of opinion, but if you don't fancy it, you can always call the dish by its Scottish name, 'rumbledethumps' (via Britannica).

How long can you keep bubble and squeak? ›

How long will it keep? Leftover mashed potato and vegetables will keep in the fridge for up to three days. Once you have made the Bubble & Squeak you can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. I would then eat them the next day.

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Can you reheat bubble and squeak? ›

The water will evaporate upon reheating, but you don't get quite the same texture. If you did want to freeze it, then make the bubble and squeak into individual patties (without cooking/frying them) cover and freeze. Then defrost overnight in the refrigerator.

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Is bubble and squeak a northern dish? ›

Bubble & Squeak is a British recipe apparently originating since the 18th century as a 'peasant dish' using up leftover roast or mashed vegetables, mainly potatoes, mixed with other vegetables (traditionally cabbage) and frying them into a 'crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside' fritter meets hash brown kind of ...