Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (2024)

Table of Contents

Raw Egg Warning Why Is It Called Bubble and Squeak? Tip for Making Bubble And Squeak Recipe Ingredients Steps to Make It How To Store and Freeze Bubble and Squeak Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

Recipes By Region
European Food
British Food
British Sides

Elaine Lemm

Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Updated on 09/30/24

Tested by

Diana Rattray

Tested byDiana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

(332)

Write a Review

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs poses a risk of foodborne illness.

In Ireland, colcannonis made from mashed potatoes, cabbage or kale, and onion, and it's very similar to bubble and squeak, as is rumbledethumpsin Scotland.

Traditionally, bubble and squeak will be eaten on a Monday for lunch or dinner, sometimes with a fried egg on top, and can include a little bacon or leftover meat from the day before. It makes a nice side dish for a meaty dinner, too. There are no hard-and-fast rules for this recipe except for mashed potatoes—it's the "glue" that holds the dish together. Use bubble and squeak as a way to use up whatever you have left from dinner and transform it into something delicious.

Why Is It Called Bubble and Squeak?

The origins of the name bubble and squeak are not known, but there is a reference in the "Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue" from 1785: "Bubble and squeak is beef and cabbage fried together. It is so-called from its bubbling up and squeaking while over the fire."

Tip for Making Bubble And Squeak Recipe

A good base of leftover mashed potatoes should help to keep your bubble and squeak glued together. If the mixture is a little loose and falling apart, try adding a sprinkle or two of flour.

What You'll Need To Make This Bubble And Squeak Recipe

A Sturdy Pan

A Reliable Spatula

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, or vegetable oil
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 pound mashed potatoes, about 2 cups
1 cup leftover vegetables (cabbage, kale, peas, cooked swede, cooked carrots, and/orcooked Brussels sprouts),finely chopped
Bacon, leftover roast, bangers, and/or ham, chopped, optional
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Fried or poached eggs, for serving, optional

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
In a large frying pan, melt 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (or vegetable oil) over medium heat and make sure it doesn't brown. Add 1/2 cup finely chopped onion and fry gently for about 3 minutes or until soft and translucent.
Turn the heat up ever so slightly and add 1 pound mashed potatoes (about 2 cups) and 1 cup leftover vegetables (finely chopped). Add chopped meat if using. Fry for at least 10 minutes, turning everything over continuously in the melted butter to ensure that the potato and vegetables are thoroughly reheated. You are also aiming to brown (but not burn) the outside edges of the vegetables, so occasionally press the mixture into the pan to brown a little before turning.
Finally, when the mixture is heated right through, give the vegetables one long final press onto the base of the pan with a spatula and leave to cook for 1 minute. Flip over and repeat. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Serve with either a fried or poached egg on top. Enjoy.

How To Store and Freeze Bubble and Squeak

Store leftover bubble and squeak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Leftovers can be stored for longer in a heavy-duty zip-top bag in the freezer. Squeeze all of the air out and freeze for up to a month. To reheat, let defrost in the fridge overnight, then reheat in a skillet with a little oil until crisp and warmed through.

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

Make bubble and squeak patties. Mix the potato and vegetables, form into small patties, and fry until crisp on both sides.

23 Iconic British and Irish Potato Recipes

British Sides
Vegetable Sides
Bacon Recipes
Vegetable Recipes
Potato Recipes

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
306	Calories
22g	Fat
25g	Carbs
3g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2to 4
Amount per serving
Calories	306
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g	28%
Saturated Fat 12g	58%
Cholesterol 47mg	16%
Sodium 470mg	20%
Total Carbohydrate 25g	9%
Dietary Fiber 3g	12%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 24mg	121%
Calcium 50mg	4%
Iron 1mg	3%
Potassium 504mg	11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

Potato
brunch
british
boxing day

Rate This Recipe

I don't like this at all.It's not the worst.Sure, this will do.I'm a fan—would recommend.Amazing! I love it!Thanks for your rating!