Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (2024)

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By

Elaine Lemm

Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (1)

Elaine Lemm

Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.

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Updated on 06/30/22

Tested by

Diana Rattray

Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (2)

Tested byDiana Rattray

Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.

Prep: 5 mins

Cook: 15 mins

Total: 20 mins

Servings: 2to 4 servings

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Bubble and squeak is a quirky name for a dish that is mostly fried leftover vegetables, usually from Sunday lunch—making it popular for Monday lunch or dinner. It's also a popular British appetizer.

In Ireland, colcannonis made from mashed potatoes, cabbage or kale, and onion, and it's very similar to bubble and squeak, as is rumbledethumpsin Scotland.

Traditionally, bubble and squeak will be eaten on a Monday for lunch or dinner, sometimes with a fried egg on top, and can include a little bacon or leftover meat from the day before. It makes a nice side dish for a meaty dinner, too. There are no hard-and-fast rules for this recipe except for mashed potatoes—it's the "glue" that holds the dish together. Use bubble and squeak as a way to use up whatever you have left from dinner and transform it into something delicious.

Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (3)

"This bubble and squeak recipe was an easy preparation with leftover potatoes and cabbage, and the flavor was excellent. I added cooked carrots to the mixture, but other leftover vegetables may be used. Or, it could be made with potatoes and cabbage alone. It was delicious, and a great way to use leftovers." —Diana Rattray

Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (4)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, or vegetable oil

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion

  • 1 pound mashed potatoes, about 2 cups

  • 1 cup leftover vegetables (cabbage, kale, peas, cooked swede, cooked carrots, and/orcooked Brussels sprouts),finely chopped

  • Bacon, leftover roast, bangers, and/or ham, chopped, optional

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • Fried or poached eggs, for serving, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (5)

  2. In a large frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat and make sure it doesn't brown. Add the finely chopped onion and fry gently for about 3 minutes or until soft and translucent.

    Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (6)

  3. Turn the heat up ever so slightly and add the mashed potato and all of the chopped-up leftover vegetables. Add the chopped meat if using. Fry for at least 10 minutes, turning everything over continuously in the melted butter to ensure that the potato and vegetables are thoroughly reheated. You are also aiming to brown (but not burn) the outside edges of the vegetables, so occasionally press the mixture into the pan to brown a little before turning.

    Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (7)

  4. Finally, when the mixture is heated right through, give the vegetables one long final press onto the base of the pan with a spatula and leave to cook for 1 minute. Flip over and repeat. Season with salt and pepper.

    Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (8)

  5. Serve with either a fried or poached egg on top. Enjoy.

    Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (9)

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs poses a risk of foodborne illness.

Recipe Variation

  • Make bubble and squeak patties. Mix the potato and vegetables, form into small patties, and fry until crisp on both sides.

How to Store and Freeze

  • Store leftover bubble and squeak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
  • Leftovers can be stored for longer in a heavy-duty zip-top bag in the freezer. Squeeze all of the air out and freeze for up to a month. To reheat, let defrost in the fridge overnight, then reheat in a skillet with a little oil until crisp and warmed through.

Why Is It Called Bubble and Squeak?

The origins of the name bubble and squeak are not known, but there is a reference in the "Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue" from 1785: "Bubble and squeak is beef and cabbage fried together. It is so-called from its bubbling up and squeaking while over the fire."

How Do You Keep Bubble and Squeak From Falling Apart?

A good base of leftover mashed potatoes should help to keep your bubble and squeak glued together. If the mixture is a little loose and falling apart, try adding a sprinkle or two of flour.

23 Iconic British and Irish Potato Recipes

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
306Calories
22g Fat
25g Carbs
3g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2to 4
Amount per serving
Calories306
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g28%
Saturated Fat 12g58%
Cholesterol 47mg16%
Sodium 470mg20%
Total Carbohydrate 25g9%
Dietary Fiber 3g12%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 24mg121%
Calcium 50mg4%
Iron 1mg3%
Potassium 504mg11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Potato
  • brunch
  • british
  • boxing day

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Make Your Mondays Bubble and Squeak With This Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is bubble and squeak made of? ›

Bubble and squeak is a fried British dish made with potatoes and cabbage. It's quite similar to the Irish colcannon. Bubble and squeak, which often contains meat such as ham or bacon, is traditionally made on Monday with the leftovers from Sunday's dinner or on Boxing Day with leftovers from the Christmas feast.

Why do my bubble and squeak fall apart? ›

Use a floury potato for the mash. The potatoes and vegetables need to be very well drained and the potatoes roughly mashed. Do not add milk etc., if there is too much moisture then the bubble & squeak patties will break apart.

What goes with bubble and squeak? ›

A great leftover recipe that can be made with any vegetable leftovers. Serve with a poached, fried or scrambled egg and crispy bacon or with poached smoked haddock fillets or grilled trout. Pop them in the freezer at the end of step 4 for a delicious snack on another day.

What does the British term bubble and squeak mean? ›

The origins of the name bubble and squeak are not known, but there is a reference in the "Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue" from 1785: "Bubble and squeak is beef and cabbage fried together. It is so-called from its bubbling up and squeaking while over the fire."

Is bubble and squeak a southern thing? ›

Bubble and Squeak dates back to the 18th century in England and is probably the most famous dish for being made out of leftovers. It started out with cooked beef in its ingredients, but during Second World War rationing it became more common to just have the mashed vegetables.

What does bubble and squeak mean in slang? ›

chatter, small talk [bubble (and squeak) v.].

How to flip bubble and squeak? ›

Halfway through the cooking, flip it over using a fish slice, or like a pancake if you're brave. If it breaks don't worry, just push it back together. Let it crisp up on the underside then nick a bit and taste it.

Is bubble and squeak good for you to eat? ›

This traditional hot dish is a great way to use up leftover vegetables, but use the minimum amount of oil when frying to keep the fat content down. What makes a healthy, balanced diet?

How long does bubble and squeak last? ›

How long will it keep? Leftover mashed potato and vegetables will keep in the fridge for up to three days. Once you have made the Bubble & Squeak you can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. I would then eat them the next day.

Do Americans have bubble and squeak? ›

The dish is not common in the US but is not unknown; an American recipe from 1913 resembles Rundell's version, with the addition of a border of mashed potato. In 1983 the American food writer Howard Hillman included bubble and squeak in his survey Great Peasant Dishes of the World.

Is bubble and squeak part of an English breakfast? ›

It's mashed potato and finely sliced green cabbage (or spring greens) fried in a flattish cake. Often served as part of a full English breakfast: fried egg, bacon, sausage, chips or bubble, (baked) beans, grilled tomato, fried mushrooms and a fried slice (of bread).

Does bubble and squeak contain egg? ›

Roughly chop the eggs. Place the potato and vegetables in a large bowl with the chopped eggs and seasoning. Beat the remaining egg, add to the potatoes and mix well. Divide and shape the mixture into 8 small or 4 large cakes, dusting them lightly with flour as you go.

Why are leftovers called bubble and squeak? ›

The dish's name supposedly derives from the noises made when the ingredients are fried. Similar dishes, also based on fried vegetables, include colcannon (Ireland) and rumbledethumps (Scotland).

Who invented bubble and squeak? ›

The first recorded mention of the dish can be found in the 1806 cookbook, "A New System of Domestic Cookery," by Maria Eliza Rundell. Her exceedingly simple recipe includes only five ingredients (beef, cabbage, salt, pepper, and butter) and no measurements.

What is the tale of bubble and squeak? ›

Bubble and Squeak will be in high demand for repeat performances every night of the week. A heart-warming story set in a circus showing that friendship counts for everything. Full of drama and suspense and wonderful illustrations. Illustrated in a charming, retro style which makes the book stand out.

What is bubble mixture made of? ›

1 cup of dish soap (the brands Joy or Dawn work best) 1/3 cup of glycerin (substitutions: 1/3 cup of honey or 1/2 cup of corn syrup) 1 empty water bottle or pop bottle and a sock for bubble caterpillars. Bubble wands—anything that can hold soap film, like a slotted spatula.

What is bubble plastic made of? ›

Bubble wrap is made of polyethylene, which is a type of plastic that contains hundreds of evenly spaced air pockets. These air pockets then act as a soft cushion that absorbs shock during unexpected movement. It helps to prevent damage to any products wrapped within the material.

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