Mashed Potato Cakes with Cheese & Bacon: The name says it all. These babies have all the essential food groups in them. Cheese. Bacon. Potato. Greens. (You see those tiny bits of scallions/shallots, don’t you?). And they’re crispy!
I’m sitting in a dark corner of Los Angeles International airport (squatting by a powerpoint!), writing this post for a recipe I cooked and photographed before I left for month long trip to Mexico and Los Angeles. It’s Monday night LA time and I won’t arrive home until Wednesday morning Sydney time because of the time difference.
The flight actually isn’t that long – “only” 15 hours, far faster than the 24 hours it takes to get to London! But Sydney is 18 hours ahead of LA. Which is fantastic when I’m going TO America because I leave in the morning Sydney time, then I arrive in LA just after lunch on the same day. I never fail to get a kick out of that!
However, on the way back, it works the other way and I lose an entire day. It’s a strange feeling to leave LA on a Monday and arrive home on a Wednesday!
I’ve never been disappointed with a trip overseas and this one was no exception. I visited Mexico City and Oaxaca (for Day of the Dead celebrations – wow, what a festival!), followed by some downtime in Playa Del Carmen then a week in Los Angeles. I have so many stories and photos to share which I’ll be doing in the coming weeks when I’ve had a chance to sort through them all. You know me – I can’t share stories without photos!!!
Right now, I must admit that after almost 1 month away from home, I am very ready for a home cooked meal. These Leftover Mashed Potato Cakes are one of the last things I made before I left for my travels and just looking at these photos have me longing to be back in the kitchen in my own home. I know they aren’t fancy food, quite simple actually. I mean, they’re made with leftover mashed potatoes.
But honestly, I tell you – add bacon and cheese to the potato, coat the patties in panko or flour then pan fry until golden and crispy….and WOAH! That’s how you turn the ordinary into extraordinary. I mean, look how crispy these are!!
Not that there’s anything magic about this recipe. Because you know just as well as me that any combination of potato + bacon + cheese + crispiness = irresistibleness. (Is that a real word? Spell check seems to think it is.)
As much as I enjoy travelling and eating out, the core of me is a total homebody who just loves good home cooked food. And I can’t wait to get home and back into my kitchen! I’m just 15 hours away – yay!! 🙂
– Nagi x
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Leftover Mashed Potato Cheese & Bacon Cakes
Ingredients
Potato Cakes
- 2 - 2 1/2 cups mashed potato , cold
- 1 large egg or 2 small eggs
- 1/3 cup plain flour
- 1 cup grated melting cheese
- 8 oz / 250g bacon , diced
- 1/2 cup scallions/shallots , thinly sliced
- 1/4 tsp salt
Cooking
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs OR 3/4 cup plain flour
- 4 to 6 tbsp oil (any cooking oil)
- Pepper
Instructions
- Mix together the Potato Cake ingredients in a bowl until just combined.
- Spread the panko or flour out on a large plate or baking tray (to fit 6 patties).
- Measure out 1/4 cup level amount of potato mixture OR a slightly heaped ice cream scooper (this is what I use because using the lever, it pops out easily) and drop onto panko/flour. Repeat to fill plate / baking tray (don't crowd, difficult to handle).
- Use an egg flip (or base of cup) to pat it down to 1.5cm/2/3" thick patties, then flip and pat to coat the other side with panko/flour. Set aside and repeat with remaining potato mixture.
- Heat 1/2 the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook 6 patties at a time until golden brown on each side - around 2 minutes, then flip and cook the other side.
- Remove onto a paper towel lined baking tray. Cook remaining patties.
- Serve hot!
Had leftover potato & sweet potato mash (deliberately!) Husband said this was the best I’ve ever made. I said ‘Nagi recipe’. After eating he said ‘Well she might have created the recipe but you made this food, bloody awesome!’ Got to love that staunch loyalty xx
These are so tasty! I admit because I only had 1 cup of mashed potato and 1.5 cups of a mix of mashed potato/cauliflower/brocolli the mixture was a bit too “wet”, but it used up my leftovers. The first ones fell apart in the pan (but tasted great). I formed the rest and put into the fridge overnight and they held shape the next day. They were so good I will cook mashed potato to make them 100% to the recipe. Great comfort food!
I’ve been cooking potato cakes for years and years as a go to comfort food. Today I remembered that mine often fall apart and thought I’d search for a recipe. Your recipe is fabulous. I don’t know if it is cooling the potato (never done that before) the cheese (never added that before) or the egg (which I often skip) but they held together and taste fantastic. Thank you so much for the time you put into perfecting a recipe so we can enjoy the benefits.
Didn’t make enough very good
OMG these are seriously good. Impossible to stop at one. So glad I cooked extra mash for the Focaccia recipe and then stumbled onto this. Instant family favourite.
These are beyond delicious. I fixed them with leftover mashed potatoes and served them with steak. Had one leftover and ate it with an egg for breakfast. Really, really good!
Hi Nagi, I have tried a different recipe this last week!! I live with only men so I like to feed them with good food and so far they have liked every recipe that you have!!!! Thank you!! I am enjoying new recipes of yours……this is fun!!!!!!! Thank you, Sherry
What’s “leftover mashed potato”…? 😳
Trying these today!
Wow, wow, wow! How often is something you made with left overs 10 times better than the “original”. My husband loves mashed potatoes, these potato pancakes were even better! Thanks Nagi
Can a brown onion be used?
Kids absolutely loved them. So did I – made 16 of them and all gone between 4 in one sitting😂
Can these be prepared ahead of time before baking or frying? Are there suggestions if one would want to freeze the cooked/fried pancakes to serve at a later date?
I made them earlier in the day and then refrigerated until ready to fry. I think that works better because the cold helps them set up and aren’t quite so fragile.
Hi Marcia, I would freeze before cooking – simply make the patties and store in the freezer in-between sheets of baking paper to prevent them sticking to each other. N x
Being a male, I totally ignored about half the recipe and instructions, needless to say…they were great, my greyhound loved them, as did I.
😂 I’m so glad you loved them Dean
What is “left over mashed potato”? I can’t find them anywhere!
I’ve been happy to make some fresh mashed potato just for this recipe though. Thanks you.
Haha! You mean you’ve never seen “Leftover Mash” sold in your local supermarket’s freezer section?!? 😂Glad you enjoyed the recipe Glenn Nxx
Hi Nagi – I assume the bacon is pre-fried? Thank you!
Nice on, Nagi! Basically the best use of leftover mash I’ve heard of.
High praise! 😉
YUM…
I’m wondering, though… can these be baked instead?
Hi Martina! yes you sure can, they won’t be quite as crispy but it will work. Heat 2 tbsp of oil on a baking tray 200C/390F, when hot add the patties. Spray top generously with oil. Bake around 10 minutes each side until golden. 🙂
Ohhhhh yum! These look like one of my other favorite indulgences – crab cakes. I love mashed potatoes and always make too much. This is a great idea to use up all the leftover mashed potatoes I am probably going to have sitting in my fridge after Thursday.
Crab cakes…..yummmmm……
I am currently sitting at my desk very hungover and these look like just the thing to make me a functional human being again. How gorgeous! I hope your flight is painless – the time difference coming back always weirds me out too losing that extra day. Your trip sounds so enviable and fun. Gorgeous post as always Nagi xx
BA HA HA! I had to laugh – this is perfect for a hangover!!! Hope you didn’t suffer too much 🙂 Hangover pills! Seriously, best investment EVER!
Yum! Such a good idea for Thanksgiving leftovers! Looks like you all had a blast at the FBC Conference. Would have loved to have attended! East Coast next time?? ?
It would be SO fabulous to meet you Tara!!! We’re scouting out potential venues for FBC 2016 already!!! 🙂