Pan-Fried Potato Cake with Melty Cheese Heart

The potato cake with a melty cheese heart is a comforting and tasty dish, perfect for a lunch or dinner that requires something substantial and reassuring. Here’s how to prepare it.

Ingredients

• 500 g of potatoes
• 100 g of melty cheese (such as mozzarella or provola)
• 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• Parsley to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Butter to taste (optional)
• Breadcrumbs to taste (optional)

Preparation

1. Begin by peeling the potatoes, then cut them into cubes and cook them in salted boiling water until they are soft.

2. Once cooked, drain them and mash them with a potato masher or a fork until you get a homogeneous mixture. Let the potatoes cool down slightly.

3. Add the egg, grated Parmesan, a pinch of salt and pepper, and some chopped parsley to the potato mixture. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.

4. Cut the melty cheese into small cubes or strips.

5. Now take a portion of the potato purée, flatten it on your hand, and place some pieces of cheese in the center. Close the purée around the cheese, forming a ball or disc, making sure the cheese is well covered from all sides.

6. If you desire a crispy crust, you can roll the formed potato cakes in breadcrumbs.

7. Heat a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, or a knob of butter if you prefer a richer version. Once hot, lay the potato cakes in it.

8. Cook the potato cakes over medium heat for about 5 minutes on one side, then carefully turn them over and continue cooking for another 5 minutes on the other side, until they have a nice golden crust and the cheese heart is melty.

9. Serve the potato cakes hot, perhaps accompanied by a fresh salad or seasonal vegetables for a balanced meal.

Curiosity

The potato cake with melty cheese heart is a versatile recipe that can be enriched according to taste by adding cooked ham, speck, or aromatic herbs such as chopped rosemary to give an extra touch to the flavor.