When I was a kid, my mom devised this way of using leftover mashed potatoes the next day. I actually prefer these to plain old mashed potatoes. She coats them in seasoned flour, then cooks them very slowly in lots of butter. You have to be patient with this recipe because if you try to turn the cakes too soon, you won't get the delicious buttery crust. Also, if you know you are going to recycle the leftovers into cakes, don't add any additional milk or butter to the mashed potatoes or your cakes will be too loose to form.

Recipe courtesy of Sara Moulton

Show: Sara's Secrets

Episode: All About Russet Potatoes

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Total:: 25 min
Prep:: 5 min
Cook:: 20 min

Yield:: 4 servings

Level:: Easy

Ingredients

2 cups chilled mashed potatoes (see Note)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, for dredging
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Divide the mashed potatoes into 8 equal portions. Use your hands to form 1/2-inch thick patties.

Heat the oil with the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Mix the flour with the salt and pepper in a pie plate. Coat the potato patties in the flour mixture. Add the potato cakes to the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook until they have formed a golden crust, 15 to 20 minutes. (Peek underneath using a spatula before turning.) Turn and cook the other side until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper and serve hot.

Cook's Note

Make mashed potatoes from the "innards" of the Garlic Roasted Potato Skins by mashing them with 1/2 cup hot milk and 4 tablespoons of softened, unsalted butter. Don't forget to season them with salt and pepper! Chill the mashed potatoes overnight for the best results.

Recipe courtesy of Sara Moulton Sara Moulton Cooks at Home, Broadway Books, 2002

My Private Notes

Name: Mashed Potato Cakes
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H5M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H20M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H25M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 cups chilled mashed potatoes (see Note); 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, for dredging; 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper