Idea Alley

Potato cakes made from leftover mash

Recipes that appear in Idea Alley have not been tested by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Lots of Kats heeded Mary D's request for ways to use leftover mashed potatoes.

Most of the recipes are for potato cakes, but there were a couple of standouts.

We rarely have leftover mashed potatoes at my house -- mashed potatoes rank among my husband's favorite foods -- but when we do I usually make soup. Depending on what I have on hand, I start by sauteing a bit of onion and garlic in butter. I might add a diced carrot, or if we had the potatoes with pot roast and I have leftover vegetables from that I'll add them. Then I stir in the potatoes and thin the mixture with a little broth or milk. And serve garnished with snipped chives, cheese or crumbled bacon.

Robert McDonald: "Leftover mashed potatoes make a delicious potato salad -- much better than diced."

Leigh Thompson shares this souffle as well as a recipe for potato cakes.

Savory Potato Souffle

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese

2 eggs

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

3 cups seasoned mashed potatoes (leftovers are great)

1 cup finely chopped onion

Buttered bread crumbs or fried onions

In a large bowl, whip cream cheese, eggs and flour until smooth. Add mashed potato and onion. Transfer mixture to a greased 9 1/2-by 5-inch pan. Top with buttered bread crumbs or fried onions. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

Mashed Potato Cakes

2 cups seasoned mashed potatoes

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon chopped onion

1 teaspoon chopped parsley

Vegetable shortening such as Crisco, for pan frying

Combine potatoes, egg, onion and parsley. Shape into round cakes about 3/4-inch thick. Brown cakes on both sides in hot Crisco.

Makes 4 servings.

Deanna Brooks suggests freezing leftovers, or turning them into this baked dish.

Baked Loaded Mashed Potatoes

2 cups leftover mashed potatoes

1/2 cup diced ham OR crumbled bacon

1/3 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup chopped bell pepper

1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese, plus more for sprinkling

Milk, as needed

Combine mashed potatoes, ham, onion, bell pepper and cheese. Add a little milk if necessary. Spread mixture in a greased baking dish and sprinkle with more cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until heated through.

Brooks also shares this version of potato cakes.

Potato Patties

2 cups leftover mashed potatoes

1 egg

1/3 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup chopped bell pepper

1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese

Bacon grease

Stir potato, onion, pepper and cheese together. Put about 2 tablespoons bacon grease into skillet and heat. Drop by tablespoon potato mixture into skillet. Cook 2 or 3 minutes, then flip over. Serve with bacon or sausage and eggs for breakfast.

Note: The mashed potatoes will have already been seasoned with salt, pepper, and butter, so I don't add more of those items.

My husband came up with this recipe, which adds jalapeno and pepper cheese, writes Karen Herbert.

Potato Cakes

14 ounces mashed potatoes

½ cup chopped onion

1 medium size jalapeno, chopped

¼ cup grated hot pepper cheese

¼ cup grated cheddar cheese

½ cup sour cream

½ cup cream or half-and-half

1 tablespoon bacon bits

1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs

Panko bread crumbs, for coating

Mix all ingredients except Panko bread crumbs.

Divide and roll mixture into walnut-size balls. Coat each ball in Panko bread brumbs. Put on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes; turn and bake 15 minutes more.

Note: You can freeze the balls after you roll them in Panko. If frozen, bake at 375 for 20 minutes and check before turning over.

And finally this version is from Gamin Davis.

Mashed Potato Pancakes

1 to 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes (real or instant)

Flour or potato flakes, as needed

Seasoning (add before cooking)

Cooking spray

Sour cream for serving

Make sure your leftover potatoes are good and thick, with no extra liquid -- if necessary, thicken up a bit with added flour or potato flakes. Season potatoes as desired. (Especially good using leftover flavored instant potatoes -- loaded, roasted garlic, bacon/cheddar, whatever.)

Coat a medium pan with cooking spray and cook potato cakes -- drop into hot skillet by tablespoons, cook about 3 minutes on each side; serve with sour cream on the side.

Send recipe contributions, requests and culinary questions to Kelly Brant, Idea Alley, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203; email:

kbrant@arkansasonline.com

Please include a daytime phone number.

Food on 07/11/2018

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