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Potato Gateau with Mozzarella and Ham (Neapolitan Potato “Cake”)

cake

Potato Gateau is a French savory potato cake re-adapted to the Italian cuisine, and mostly known around the area of Naples as “Gattò”. Made of mashed potatoes, egg, parmigiano and with a filling of mozzarella and usually ham you can easily convert it to  vegetarian by using a mix of spinach (and scarola). My version uses also smoked scamorza for a bolder taste. Next time I will add some parsley to the dish …photos coco zordan

The gateau di patate is typically served, warm but not hot, as a piatto unico—a one-dish meal—although a thin slice could also do service as an antipasto or perhaps a substantial primo.

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The Recipe

Prep time

20 min.

Cooking time

45 min.

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Ingredients

  • for the

  • 2 lb potatoes (russets)

  • 4 eggs

  • 4 or 5 oz cooked ham or mortadella, or salami in small cubes

  • 4 oz hard cheeses mozzarella and scamorza in small cubes

  • 3 oz freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese

  • A few sprigs of parsley finely chopped

  • 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

  • Salt and pepper

  • Milk (if needed)

  • for Molding and Baking

  • 2 oz butter

  • Breadcrumbs

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Directions

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Steam (or boil) the potatoes until they are fully tender, about 30-40 minutes depending on the size and quality of the potato.

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s soon as they are cool enough to handle, peel the potatoes and run them through a food mill or potato ricer into a large bowl, as if you were making mashed potatoes.

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Add the cheeses (keep 1/3 of parmesan for the top), seasonings, nutmeg, chopped parsley, eggs and the cured meats to this mixture.

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Now grease the bottom and sides of an 8″ x 11″ (or equivalent) casserole or   cake pan with the butter and line completely it with breadcrumbs.

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Spread out the mashed potato mixture on the bottom of the pan, add the left parmesan and a few pieces of butter on the top

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Bake in a moderate oven (180C/350F) for about 30-45 minutes, until the gateau is cooked through and golden brown. (If the top is not quite browned enough, you can raise the heat for a few minutes before removing from the oven.)

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Let the potato cake cool off for a good 20 minutes or so before serving. Unmold the gateau if you baked it in a cake pan, and serve it just like a cake. If you baked it in a casserole, just bring it to the table and serve.

 

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