A Southern Grace: a different kind of cake

February 10, 2010

a different kind of cake

Yum

Generally, my order of cake preference would go something like this (from least favorite to tops): cheesecake, bundt cakes, pound cake, cupcakes, sheet cake, layer cake. (Apparently, my love of frosting is quite the driving factor here, making cake simply a vehicle for the creamy, sugar-happy stuff. Driving. Vehicle. See what I did there?)

Greasy goodness.
The list is not set in stone, of course. Coconut pound cake moves up in the order and inadequately-frosted layer cakes move back. Cinnamon-centered anything automatically gets a high ranking, and on it goes.

But wait! Those are all sweet! There are other cakes to be taken into consideration...

Pancakes, for one. Or any type of bean cake-pattie-burger. And we must never overlook the potater cake.

Now, to be fair, there are recipes for true potato cakes, fluffy and probably chocolate-laden. But I'm here to discuss the savory side. You have your latkes (also known as potato pancakes), which are made of grated potato, flour, egg, and perhaps some seasoning and shallow-fried. There are also potato scallops or fritters, which, as I understand it, are common in parts of Australia, New Zealand, and England and involve deep-frying slices of batter-coated taters. (Why these aren't popular in America as well, I do not know.) Another variation from our neighbors across the pond is the Scottish tattie scone, a flatbread-type creation making use of mashed potatoes and a rolling pin.

Blimp-style!
This is none of those. I suppose it can be considered a combination of latkes and tattie scones, as it consists of already-mashed potatoes that are shaped into patties and pan-fried. Tatkes. That's what they are. Wanna know what else they are? Delicious. Tempting enough to cause one to rouse in the middle of the night and grope blindly to the fridge for a bite. Powerful, I tell you.

Tatkes
2 cups leftover mashed potatoes (unless you want to make a batch solely for this purpose, which is completely acceptable and understandable)
1/4 cup flour, or possibly more or less, depending on the moisture content of your taters
salt and pepper, to taste
other seasonings, as desired (I think rosemary is awesome)
oil, butter, or some combination thereof

Heat a skillet to medium-high heat and add a proper dose of fat.
Add the flour, salt, pepper, and other seasonings into the mashed potatoes and incorporate well. Form patties a bit smaller than the size of hockey pucks and let them sit for a few minutes to set up. Gently place the cakes into the hot skillet and let them fry until brown. Carefully flip the patties and then extract them when the other side has browned. Eat 'em while they're hot (or ice-cold as a midnight snack--no one's judging you).

76 comments:

The Teacher Cooks said...

MMMM! These are making my mouth water! I love potato cakes or potatoes for that matter any which way.

Josie said...

I have made something similar before using Chipotle Cheddar Mashed Potatoes - Divine!

Delicious Dishings said...

I am wishing I had some leftover mashed potatoes right about now!

George Gaston said...

Grace, these potato pancakes are M'm! M'm! Good!

I definitely need to make a batch and serve them with a dollop of applesauce. Thanks for the recipe & idea...

Barbara said...

Ahhh! My grandmother used to make these with leftover mashed taters. Don't remember that she added flour (although her potato pancake recipe is a killer recipe and she DOES add flour to that). Adding rosemary is a genius idea...it's an awesome flavor indeed. Lots of butter to make them brown and crunchy. Yep, I can taste 'em already.

Half Baked said...

My mom used to make something like this for breakfast with leftover potatoes. yummy. I'm definitely going to try these!!!

♥peachkins♥ said...

potato cakes are savory cakes so it's a break from the usual. Love them!

Amy said...

I love potato cakes! My mom used to make them with leftover mashed potatoes. She usually grated up a bit of onion in them. I always loved them! Nowadays, there are rarely leftover mashed potatoes at my house! We are a family of 5, and when my mom was making cakes from leftover taters, I was the only child!

I've been doing a lot of reading and research into Irish cooking for my bog, and I've come across several recipes that use potatoes in this manner. Sounds like great comfort food!

kat said...

Yummy, this was a big thing to do with leftover mashed potatoes in my family after a big mess of spareribs & sauerkraut the night before, sometimes even with a little sauerkraut in the potatoes

Lisa | Authentic Suburban Gourmet said...

So simple but so delicious! :-)

Nutmeg Nanny said...

We never had a name for this growing up but my dad would always fry up his leftover mashed potatoes. Most of the time he would chop up jalapenos and throw those in too. Although I'm pretty sure he would jalapenos on just about anything...haha.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Delicious - with Himalayan salt and ketchup!

Cheers,

Rosa

Jennifer said...

Mmmm, I love those! I couldn't care less about mashed potatoes, I know I'm weird, but I love having leftover mashed potatoes to make those fried lovelies.

Lindsey@pickyeatings said...

You had me at mashed potatoes and fried.

oneordinaryday said...

I haven't thought of these in years. My mom and dad loved making these when I was growing up and I couldn't stand them! haha Very weird, considering that I adore mashed potatoes and hash browns. I'm gonna have to give them a try now that I am the grown-up. : ) What's not to love anyway?

lisa is cooking said...

Those crispy surfaces look fantastic! This makes me want to make a big batch of mashed potatoes for lots of leftovers.

foodhoe said...

I agree, those crispy surfaces are mesmerizing me. Of course I would have to pile sour cream on top...

TKW said...

I am totally an odd duck. I would take mashed potato cakes over layer cakes ANY day.

Catherine said...

I love your Tatkes! :) I eat tattie scones on a regular basis, but I'll just HAVE to give these a go, thanks for sharing! :)

AMANDA said...

im so going to make these!!!

pam said...

Perfectly browned and crisp. Vehicle...drive...you are amazing.

pigpigscorner said...

oh gosh..give them to me now!!

Anonymous said...

I love the fried cakes with mashed potatoes! We sometimes fill them with meat or stewed cabbage, yum!

Leslie said...

I guess we all need a break from the sweet stuff (only sometimes)!

Sharon said...

Tatkes...genius! I'd love to eat these with a little sour cream

Hungry Dog said...

Yum. I love mashed potato cakes, and I definitely like the idea of rosemary in them. Dee-lightful.

noble pig said...

OMG I taste that melting away in my mouth, to die for.

Marjie said...

I'll have to make a special batch of mashed potatoes, because there never are any leftovers in this household! And what kind of cake was for dessert?

Unknown said...

Wow Hash browns are my friend snack,love it with tea any time...thanks for sharing the recipe...Awesome click...

Lucie said...

These seem like quite a good reason to make a batch of mashed potatoes in the first place! I've had a healthy dose of latkes (also called "rapés" in the east of France) but now I'm dying to try your tatkes!

Sinful Southern Sweets said...

Mmm...I haven't had these since I was a kid! They are so good! I can't wait to try these and relive some childhood memories!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

This looks so good. I'm craving it right now.

Pam said...

I never knew someone who loved coconut and cinnamon as much as me until I met you Grace.

My mom used to make these potato cakes with left over mashed potatoes when I was a kid - I loved them. Yours look perfectly golden brown.

Sophie said...

Oh my, a crispy exterior and mashed potato-y center! Save one for me. I like anything with the word cake in it, especially with cinnamon... I don't think I've tried enough coconut cakes. I wonder what a coconut potato pancake would taste like :P... maybe sweet potato?

Erica said...

Wow! Those look wonderful!Crispy and delicious!

Chef Aimee said...

Latkes, tatkes, bring 'em on! Lovely...I would SO be the one to make mashed potatoes just for this recipe.

ARUNA said...

wow looks wonderfully tempting!!

Mary said...

Those Tatkes look super delicious! And I have to put cupcakes at the top of the cake list because, as my husband's secretary has pointed out to me, there is room for a whole lot of frosting on them!

vanillasugarblog said...

seriously! what a perfect way to start off a lazy sat or sun with about 3 of these bad boys along with bacon.
damn.

The Blonde Duck said...

I've got mashed potatoes left over and a hungry picky husband. I love you, Grace.

Mimi said...

Yep, my mom made these too. We ate them with fried eggs on top.
Mimi

Cookie baker Lynn said...

You psychic genius - how did you know I have leftover mashed potatoes in my fridge right now?

Sook said...

Oh I love it! I am bookmarking this so I can make it one night.

Carolyn Jung said...

Oh man, these would be heaven with eggs in the morning. OK, would it be sacrilege if I dipped them in a little ketchup? ;)

Chef Fresco said...

Haha your posts make me laugh. I also favor layer cakes and am not the biggest fan of cheesecakes. This creation, however, looks amazing! Nice work!

Bunny said...

I have had potato cakes made from grated potatoes that we put cream cheese or sour cream on, my kids always called them blinkies. I have made these too. Both are deeelicious! Thanks for reminding me of them Grace, potato cakes here I come!

LillSis said...

Say no more! I'm more of a savory fan than a sweet eater. Any recipe that starts off with leftover mashed potatoes is a winner in my book! Your photos are making me want to make some mashed taters right now! :-)

Lisa said...

These are wonderful. My aunt used to make them but I think she added an egg before shaping the leftover mashed potatoes into patties. It brings back memories. I just love it when you cook southern.

tamilyn said...

They sound like they would remind me of the little potato crouquettes I get every year at the state fair. I love potatoes. All kinds. And mashed one especially. And if you want to bread them and fry them, I'm there with a bib on!

Albany Jane said...

I really like making these! I like adding panko to the crust to make them extra crispy. I just love the contrast of brittle-crisp, crunchy crust to soft and warm masher innards.

Good recipe for the cold weather, too!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Tatkes are addictive!!!!

shaz said...

I so love reading your tater posts Grace - you give them the respect they deserve :) Tatkes sure sound like a winner :)

Lyndas recipe box said...

Yum, my mother used to make these often, and I do sometimes when we have leftover mashed tators....They are delicious fried in butter and I imagine the addition of rosemary is perfection!

kimberleyblue said...

Your least favourite cakes are my favourite ones - cheesecake and bundts are my tops!

A good potato pancake is not far behind though. I love the texture of yours...looks thick, crispy and pefectly potatoey.

~~louise~~ said...

One of my most cherished memories of Brooklyn was going to my aunt's house for Sunday dinner. She always had a huge platter of potato croquettes & rice balls waiting. The croquettes were enveloped around a small piece of mozzarella before breading & frying and, the rice balls were stuffed with a bit of ground meat, peas and sauce. I think she added flour just like your recipe and I do believe she added an egg. Your "cakes" look absolutely delectable Grace. Much easier too!!! Thank you so much for sharing and for sparking the memory...

Namitha said...

Wonderful potato pancake..Your favorite list of cakes is so much similar to mine :D

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Oh Grace I do love me a latke! You know we don't tend to get a lot of sheet cakes here. I know the corner piece is the prized one for the amount of icing! :D

Gloria Baker said...

This look amazing! and I love mashed potatoes
really deicious Grace, gloria

CC11 said...

These look wayyyy better than any other potato cake-like thing I have tried - will have to try it!

Unknown said...

i love anything to do with taters! and when you add "fried" to it? double yum!

Lori said...

My Mom makes these all the time. I have to tell her about your name - very original Grace! Tatkes. I love it. They are so good!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

I'm pretty fond of potatoes any which way but in cake form them must truly be good! Not often is there left over mash potatoes so I'm thinking I'll have to make some specifically for this recipe.
~ingrid

Von said...

I didn't know potato cakes could be sweet?? Bu then again, anything's possible in the cooking world =] Looking at the first photo, I thought it was a radish cake....but potato cake sounds even better. and it sounds so easy too!

Trissa said...

I love anything potato - this looks delicious! I've never made these before - thanks for sharing the recipe. Another great recipe to add to my potato collection.

Anonymous said...

I;m with you on the LOVE for layered cakes. They're the thing I crave the most. Your latkes look so good! It almost reminds me of a croquette!

Lynn said...

I've never heard the term "tatkes" before, Grace, but my hubby loves to make these with leftover smashed potatoes. Yum. Looking good!

Nazarina A said...

I have made something similar!
Your tatkes rock!I would love to have been there while you were making it!!!You most probably would have to take out the paddle!

Alicia Foodycat said...

Yes please! I can't decide whether I want them with bacon or cheese though.

jillian said...

These really make me want to make mashed potatoes. They look delicious!

my spatula said...

we have plenty of potatoes sitting around - waiting for inspiration. looks like i found it!

kellypea said...

We NEVER have mashed potaters left over. The guys lick the pot, so I'd be in the acceptable group of "make some for this recipe." In fact I could go for a batch about now.

Simones Kitchen said...

This would be perfect for getting rid of potatoe leftovers. I love how this looks!

Kerstin said...

Sounds like the perfect way to enjoy leftover mashed potatoes! Although I'd probably also make them just to enjoy these - yum!

Laura said...

Oh man I love potato pancakes--of any kind. Those look SO GOOD.

Oh and how funny, my cake list runs opposite from yours--except I would put cheesecake after pound and bundt. But you could probably guess that from my blog. it would help if my attempts at frosting things weren't so darn, well, ugly. You should have seen my pre-blog 1st bday layer cakes for my kids. YIKES.

eatme_delicious said...

Look at that perfect crispy golden edge!! Now I'm going to be thinking about latkes and potato pancake type things all day - thanks.

Hilary said...

These would have been the most amazing accompaniment to the eggs and bacon I had for breakfast this morning. In fact I'd probably call these hash browns.