Welsh Potato Cakes Recipes

WELSH CAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk and egg; stir just until moistened. Fold in currants., Pat or roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness; cut with a floured 2-in. biscuit cutter. Preheat griddle over medium heat. In batches, place cakes onto griddle; cook until tops puff and bottoms are golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Turn; cook until second side is golden brown. Cool on wire racks.

WELSH ONION CAKE

Steps:

• Heat about a quarter of the butter in a large pan, set over a medium heat. Sweat the onions with a little salt and the rosemary sprig. Slowly cook on a gentle heat with a lid on for about 20 mins. Remove rosemary and set aside.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Peel the potatoes and immediately cut into wafer-thin slices directly into a bowl containing the rest of the warm butter. Season with salt and pepper. The thinner the potatoes, the better the dish will be. Do not wash them once they are sliced, as you want all of the starch to stick the potatoes together.
• Line an ovenproof, non-stick frying pan with a round of baking parchment. Layer potatoes neatly into the dish in a circle, slightly overlapping. The bottom of the pan will become the presentation side. Continue to pile in half of the potatoes, then add the melted onions. On top of the onions continue with the potatoes until all used up. Set the pan over a medium heat and gently begin to colour the bottom of the dish for 5 mins, then transfer to the oven and cook for 45-50 mins until the potatoes are soft.
• Remove from the oven and leave to rest for 10 mins. Invert onto a serving plate, then slice into wedges with a very sharp knife.

WELSH CAKES

Steps:

• Tip the flour, sugar, mixed spice, baking powder and a pinch of salt into a bowl. Then, with your fingers, rub in the butter and lard until crumbly. Mix in the currants. Work the egg into the mixture until you have soft dough, adding a splash of milk if it seems a little dry - it should be the same consistency as shortcrust pastry.
• Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface to the thickness of your little finger. Cut out rounds using a 6cm cutter, re-rolling any trimmings. Grease a flat griddle pan or heavy frying pan with lard, and place over a medium heat. Cook the Welsh cakes in batches, for about 3 mins each side, until golden brown, crisp and cooked through. Delicious served warm with butter and jam, or simply sprinkled with caster sugar. Cakes will stay fresh in a tin for 1 week.

CRISP POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Peel the potatoes and place them in a pan of cold, salted water. Bring to the boil, simmer for 3 mins and drain. When cool enough to handle, slice a few very neatly. Coat the bottom of a round, ovenproof, non-stick pan with butter, then place a sprig of thyme in the middle. Cover with a slice of potato in the middle, then arrange the rest of the slices over the base of the pan, overlapping the slices in concentric circles. Slice the rest of the potatoes and tip into a bowl, then pour over the rest of the butter, the nutmeg and the thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper. Toss everything together, then tip the seasoned potatoes over the arranged slices and press down gently to flatten. The potato cake can be prepared up to a day ahead and kept covered in the fridge.
• Cook the cake in the oven below the beef. Every now and then, remove it, press it down with a fish slice and drizzle the surface with a little olive oil. Cook for 1hr-1hr 15mins, until the sides look brown and crispy. Carefully invert the cake onto a serving dish or board, scatter with sea salt and serve cut into wedges.

WELSH CAKES

Steps:

• Sift flour, baking powder and salt into bowl. Put in butter and lard and mix until resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in sugar and currants or raisins. Beat the eggs lightly and add to flour mixture with just enough milk to make a firm dough similar to shortcrust pastry.
• Chill dough 1 to 2 hours.
• Roll the dough to 1/4 inch on floured surface and cut with 3 inch rounds. Bake the cakes on a greased griddle or frying pan (I use my electric skillet with just a little non-stick spray) over low heat until golden brown. Cool and sprinkle with sugar. These also freeze well.

WELSH ONION CAKE WITH CAERPHILLY

Steps:

• In a large pan, heat a knob of the butter with a drizzle of oil. Once the butter is foaming, add the onions, leek and some seasoning and cook for 15 mins until the onions are soft and sticky, stirring occasionally. Butter a 22cm cake tin or baking dish (alternatively, you can assemble the cake in the pan you're already using if it's ovenproof).
• In a separate pan, melt the remaining butter. Toss the sliced potatoes with the melted butter and plenty of seasoning. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Arrange the potato slices over the base of the dish in a spiral or in concentric circles. Top with some of the onion mix, sprinkle over a layer of cheese and continue layering, finishing with a final round of potato slices. Press down firmly with your hands to compact the layers. Bake for 45-50 mins until the potatoes are golden brown and tender; cover with foil if the cake starts to take on too much colour. Turn out onto a plate to serve.