How to Bake a Swiss Rösti

Imagine this: It's morning in Switzerland and you are very hungry. And - adding to your sorrow - you discover that your fridge is not exactly full. As you go through the content of your fridge you consider possible breakfast or lunch scenarios:

Yoghurt with cereal
Tomatoes
Various condiments (mustard, mayonnaise, etc,)
Pickles

Except for the first option, I highly doubt any of these things will make a good breakfast or lunch. Luckily, most people in Switzerland always have a few potatoes in store and these will definitely help make a good meal. Let me introduce a tasty and very Swiss breakfast dish: Rösti or Röschti (pronounced [ˈrøːʃti]).

Swiss Rösti - w.r.wagner / pixelio.de

What is Rösti?

Rösti is a tasty dish very similar to potato pancakes or latkes. It is made from grated raw or cooked potatoes and baked in a pan until it is golden and just a bit crunchy. You can add cubes of bacon, grated cheese or even eggs to the mixture to give it some extra taste. It can be eaten by itself or as a side dish to meat dishes like stews.

On a side note: the term 'Röschtigraben' which means 'trench of Rösti' refers to the border between the french speaking and german speaking part of Switzerland.

How do you prepare Swiss Rösti?

There are many types of Rösti but once you master one recipe you'll most likely do well at all of them. I adapted this recipe for Rösti with ham and bacon for you.

Ingredients:
50g Bacon, cut in slices
100g Cooked ham, cut in cubes
20g butter
800g Boiled potatoes, peeled
Salt
Chive

Directions:

Fry the bacon and ham in the butter
Grate the potatoes, season and add to the bacon and ham mixture
Fry for 8 minutes while turning.
Push together to form a flat cake and fry until golden brown.
Turn with the help of a lid or a flat plate and fry the other side until golden brown.
Slide on a preheated flat plate and sprinkle with chives.

Rösti - wrw / pixelio.de

Source:
Rösti recipe on swissmilk.ch

© 2011 IRENE WYRSCH "A HUMOROUS GUIDE TO SWITZERLAND" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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