British · Breakfast

Bubble and Squeak

Cold mash and cold greens pressed into a pan and fried until a crust forms on both sides. Named for the noise it makes doing it.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 35 min total Serves 4 servings Easy
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Bubble and Squeak — British breakfast recipe, served and ready to eat

Photograph credit: Bubble & Squeak Special and hot chocolate - Monty's 2025-12-05 by Andy Li · CC0 1.0 · Wikimedia

Method

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  1. Fry the onion in half the butter over medium heat 8 minutes, until soft and golden. Let it cool.

  2. Mix the cold mash, greens, cooked onion, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Do not beat it — it should stay lumpy.

  3. Heat the remaining butter and the oil in a heavy 24 cm frying pan until it foams.

  4. Tip the mixture in and press it flat with a spatula, right to the edges.

  5. Fry over medium heat 8 minutes without touching it at all, until a dark crust has formed underneath.

  6. Slide it onto a plate, invert the pan over the plate and turn the whole thing back over.

  7. Fry the second side 8 minutes, again without moving it.

  8. Slide onto a board and cut into wedges.

Chef’s Tips

  • Cold leftovers only. Fresh mash will not crust.
  • Eight minutes untouched. Every stir destroys the crust.
  • Turn it with a plate, not a spatula.

Pairing Suggestions

  • A fried egg
  • Cold cuts
  • Brown sauce

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerated for 2 days. Re-crisp in a hot dry pan, not a microwave.

Common questions

How long does Bubble and Squeak take to make?

About 35 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.

What are the key tips for making Bubble and Squeak?

Cold leftovers only. Fresh mash will not crust. Eight minutes untouched. Every stir destroys the crust. Turn it with a plate, not a spatula.

What should I serve with Bubble and Squeak?

A fried egg; Cold cuts; Brown sauce.

How should Bubble and Squeak be stored?

Refrigerated for 2 days. Re-crisp in a hot dry pan, not a microwave.

Is Bubble and Squeak suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Bubble and Squeak?

About 290 kcal per serving, with 6 g protein, 34 g carbohydrate and 15 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

290Calories
6gProtein
34gCarbs
15gFat
6gFibre
6gSugar
780mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.