Many Southerners are of Irish descent, so it’s only natural that some of the old country dishes like Bubble and Squeak are popular on this side of the pond. Such recipes are often adapted a bit, but the spirit of traditional fare shines on to be enjoyed today and for generations to come.
Bubble and Squeak is generally a left over meal following the big Sunday dinner – popular (mostly in days gone by) in Ireland and in the South. The cabbage, mashed potatoes, and oftentimes meats like ham from Sunday do double duty by being inventively combined for a new dish for a weekday meal.
If the name of the recipe sounds funny to your ears, well . . . it is. The Irish do, indeed, have a sense of humor. The recipe name is descriptive though, because Bubble and Squeak does bubble a bit and can give off interesting cooking sounds (and sometimes sounds the next day – given the cabbage in the dish).
With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, Bubble and Squeak is a recipe that can be whipped up to celebrate the holiday. It’s a good way to work some cabbage into the menu if you’re not used to having cabbage. And, the kids may try it out, since the recipe has a campy, funny name.
Bubble and Squeak Recipe for St. Patrick’s Day or Any Day
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked cut up cabbage (boil for 15 minutes and drain if you don’t have left over cabbage)
- 2 cups chunky mashed potatoes
- 3 slices bacon (or left over cubes of ham)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons bacon grease (vegetable or olive oil if fine if using ham left overs or no meat)
- Seasonings like salt and pepper (if not already included in the left over cabbage and potatoes)
Directions:
- Fry the bacon until crisp (a Southern favorite) and dispose of all but 2 to 3 tablespoons of the bacon grease.
- Put the cabbage in the low to medium hot bacon grease and cook for 2 or 3 minutes. If using ham (or going meatless), then heat up 2 to 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil and add the cabbage.
- Add the mashed potatoes, stir lightly, and mash down like a skillet sized pancake.
- If using bacon (crumbled) or ham (cubed), also add the cooked meats and mix in.
- Let Bubble and Squeak cook for around 5 minutes or until the bottom is lightly browned.
- Carefully flip over and brown the other side – again this is similar to make a pancake or omelet.
- Serve hot.
Cyndi Allison - Southern born and fed, Cyndi Allison is a college lecturer and newspaper advisor as well as being a freelance writer. She writes on ...
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