Bubble and squeak
Leftover mash and greens fried into crisp, golden cakes – the best way to use up a roast dinner.
- Prep
- 10 mins
- Cook
- 20 mins
- Total
- 30 mins
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cost
- Budget
Recipe: Bubble and squeak
Bubble and squeak
Ingredients
- 500g leftover mashed or roast potatoes, cold; for a vegetarian version, use potatoes roasted in oil rather than goose fat or dripping
- 250g leftover cooked greens, such as cabbage, sprouts, kale or leeks, chopped
- 1 small onion, finely chopped, optional
- 25g butter
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 tbsp plain flour, for dusting
- salt and black pepper, to taste
Kitchen kit
- Large non-stick frying pan Search Amazon for large non stick frying pan
- Fish slice Search Amazon for fish slice turner
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon links go to search results for the kit, never food.
Method
-
Step 1: Soften the onion
If using, fry the onion in half the butter for 5 minutes until soft.
-
Step 2: Mix
Mash the potatoes roughly in a bowl (crush roast potatoes with a fork). Mix in the greens and onion and season well. Shape into 8 patties and dust lightly with flour.
-
Step 3: Fry
Heat the oil and remaining butter in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the cakes for 4–5 minutes each side, without moving them too much, until deep golden, crisp and piping hot all the way through. Serve with a fried egg, cold meats or pickles.
Tips
- Use leftovers that were cooled quickly and refrigerated within 2 hours, and use them within 2 days – then reheat only once.
- Chilling the shaped cakes for 20 minutes helps them hold together.
Storing & reheating
Eat straight away – the leftovers in it have already been cooked once, so don't reheat it again.
Variations
- Make one large cake in the pan, pressing it down and flipping it onto a plate halfway.
- Add chopped leftover ham or bacon (not vegetarian).
Allergies: Always check the labels of the ingredients you buy for allergens — our dietary tags are a guide, not a guarantee.
From feeed.co.uk/recipes/bubble-and-squeak/ · Checked 17 October 2026
Questions people ask
Why is it called bubble and squeak?
The name is said to come from the bubbling and squeaking sounds the mixture makes as it fries.
Can I use fresh potatoes?
Yes – boil and mash them, then let them cool completely before mixing; warm mash is too soft to shape.
Sources & inspiration
Checked 17 October 2026. Written in our own words; we checked proportions, technique and food safety against:
- BBC Food: Easy bubble and squeak (proportions and timings cross-check) (bbc.co.uk)
- BBC Good Food: Bubble & squeak (proportions and timings cross-check) (bbcgoodfood.com)
- FSA: Cooking your food (safety: cooking temperatures, checking meat, leftovers) (gov.uk)
- FSA: How to chill, freeze and defrost food safely (safety) (gov.uk)
See other recipes that use the same kit on our kitchen kit pages.
