Mishmash or Hash – II

From Ireland to Scotland – here's two more for you and here's a name to conjure with :

“Rumbledethumps”

This is the Scottish equivalent of bubble and squeak except that it uses leftover mashed potato and swede (turnip in Scotland, just to confuse you). It's served on its own or with a casserole or stew.

Rumbledethumps

600g mashed potato

400g mashed swede or turnip

75g unsalted butter

250g cabbage, finely sliced

25g grated Cheddar cheese

Pre-heat oven 180c/160fan/gas 4

Place the mashed potato and the swede in a large mixing bowl. Set aside. Melt 50g of the butter in your frying pan and add the cabbage and cook on a medium heat until softened but not browned. Add the cabbage to the potato/swede mixture, add the remaining butter and mix together. Season.

Place the mixture back into your frying pan, sprinkle with cheese and bake for 30 minutes until golden brown.

If you are a lover of root vegetables like swede or turnip then there's a second Scottish dish that you'll like – from Orkney, called Clapshot (aka neeps and tatties). Traditionally it's served on Burns Night with haggis.

Clapshot

500g floury potatoes, peeled and cubed, cooked until soft

500g turnip or swede peeled and cubed, cooked until soft

50g butter

1 small onion, chopped

2 tbsp chopped fresh chives

salt and pepper

Mash your leftover potatoes, swede or turnip, using 25g of the butter. Heat the remaining butter in your frying pan and add the onion – cook until soft. Add your mashed potatoes and swede/turnip along with the fresh chopped chives and seasoning. This dish can obviously be made ahead. To serve - you can continue to cook on the hob, turning to get an even crispy finish or alternatively pop into a pre-heated oven for 30 minutes, turning after 15 minutes.

There's no doubt that all these dishes are variations on a theme. In our house I cook parsnip and carrot together – commonly referred to as “parrots”. Mashed with a knob of butter and salt and pepper they qualify as an addition to the “fly by the seat of your pants”, “chuck it all in” method!