Ingredients
- 1lb old floury potatoes, peeled
- 2 small onions, very finely sliced
- 2oz butter, melted
- 4oz strong Cheddar
- cayenne
- paprika
- salt
- dried breadcrumbs
Method
- Using the coarsest gauge on the grater, grate half the cheese and all the potato into a bowl.
- Grate the rest of the cheese into another bowl and mix it with the breadcrumbs.
- Add the onion and melted butter to the potatoes and season well with salt, pepper, paprika and a touch of cayenne.
- Butter a ring mould or cake tin and get it blazing hot in the oven set at approximately 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5.
- Press the potato mixture down well into the hot tin and cover with foil. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes.
- Turn out on to an oven-proof dish. Scatter the cheese and crumbs on top and brown under the grill.
Notes
This is similar to the Swiss Rösti — a nourishing food for mountaineers. The cheese can be replaced with shreds of bacon and the dish can be cooked slowly in a heavy frying pan covered with a lid. Oven temperature approximately 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5.