Rosti potatoes are a Swiss dish made by frying shredded potatoes in a pan to create a crispy cake. They are traditionally served for breakfast and can be made with different potato varieties and additional ingredients such as onions or cheese. They can also be served with a variety of meats or as a base for other potato dishes.
Rosti potatoes are a Swiss potato preparation that falls somewhere between a potato pancake and hash browns. Cooking potatoes rosti-style involves frying shredded potato chunks in a pan, essentially creating a cake that fills the pan. It needs to be flipped once or twice during cooking to get a crispy, golden crust all around. Rosti potatoes are usually served cut into wedges and are popular throughout Switzerland as a breakfast food.
The basic rosti potato recipe calls for little more than chopped potatoes, butter or oil, and a little salt. Pan cooking is the most traditional means of preparation. In a skillet, the walls form a kind of mold, shaping the rosti into a perfect round. Rosti potatoes can be made on a hot griddle or cooked in a pan, but the shape is far less consistent with either of these options. One of the characteristics of rosti potatoes is the clean, rounded shape which makes for a neat presentation.
While rosti potatoes are a simple dish, they do require some time and attention. Cooks must be vigilant about the temperature and must be careful about flipping the potatoes once they are crispy on the bottom. This usually takes at least 10 minutes, but can be longer depending on the moisture level of the potato shreds and the overall thickness of the rosti. The idea is to end up with a large potato “pie” that is browned on all sides, but is still soft in the middle.
One of the most traditional times to serve rosti potatoes is at breakfast, with one wedge cut for each person. Wedges are often served alongside sausages or other meats, as well as cheeses. The neutral flavor of the potato makes it an easy accompaniment to a range of different foods.
Innovation is common with these potato dishes, and different regions of Switzerland are known for different twists. Many cooks add sliced onion or chopped leeks to the potato, for example. It’s also common to melt some cheese on top of the rosti when it’s done cooking.
An easy way to innovate with a rosti dish is to experiment with different potato varieties. There are many types of potatoes to choose from. More traditional preparations use the smaller yellow potato variety grown in central Europe, but red potatoes, finger potatoes, or the larger russet varieties will also work.
Rosti potatoes aren’t limited to breakfast. The dish is an easy and flexible base for a variety of potato dishes. Topped with egg and combined with a salad, for example, it’s a great brunch or light dinner. It can also be served with steak or other red meat with great success.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
