Potato cake
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A pair of potato cakes | |
| Main ingredients | Potatoes |
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 Cookbook: Potato cake  Media: Potato cake | |
Potato cake is a term that is sometimes applied to various different food preparations using potatoes.
Hashed potatoes
In parts of England, the term can refer to a patty of hashed potatoes, a kind of hash brown. These are available pre-made and frozen in supermarkets and are served by many restaurants, such as fast food stands, often as part of the breakfast menu. It can also refer to a sort of potato pancake.
Mashed potatoes
Another variant popular in the United Kingdom is prepared from cold mashed potatoes and fresh eggs. The two ingredients are combined together, then fried until crispy on the outside.
Scallops
In Australia and England potato cakes in the form of thin slices of potato, battered and deep-fried, are commonly sold in fish and chip shops and takeaway food shops. The terminology used in Australia differs from state to state. In New South Wales, Queensland, and the ACT they are usually referred to as "potato scallops", or simply as "scallops" (to avoid confusion, scallops eaten as seafood may be known as "sea scallops"). In Tasmania and Victoria, the term "potato cakes" is used, while in South Australia and Western Australia "potato fritter" is most common ).
Potato scallops originate from central England and are common in fish and chip shops there. This variant is normally a thin slice of potato, dipped in batter and deep fried, with no additional flavouring added except salt and vinegar. This type of "potato scallop" is also found in New Zealand fish and chip shops, however it is referred to as a potato fritter, not scallop. More commonly in New Zealand, a potato cake is made from either mashed or grated potato and is not covered in batter or deep fried. Hash browns, which are also widely available, are distinctly different. In Scotland what are known as potato cakes in Australia are known as potato fritters and are of the same type as the English variant. They are very common in fish and chip shops and are often the cheapest item on the menu.
The term may refer to a preparation of mashed potatoes baked in the form of pie[1] or a scallop made using potatoes or potato flour.[2]
Tattie scones
Scottish tattie scones and Lancashire potato cakes are made from mashed or reconstituted potato and flour and baked on a griddle. They are typically served fried with breakfast or as a snack with butter or margarine, although they are often served with other toppings such as baked beans, scrambled eggs, garlic butter or tomato ketchup.
Irish potato cakes
Irish potato cakes are typically made from mashed potato and flour or baking soda, and are usually fried. This is not the same dish as boxty, because boxty is made using raw potatoes whereas potato cake is made using cooked potatoes. In Ireland, potato cakes are typically known as potato bread, or spud bread, and are served in traditional breakfasts along with soda bread and toast.