Rumbledethumps
Potato, swede and cabbage mashed together, topped with cheese and baked. The Scottish Borders answer to what to do with a Sunday.
Method
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Boil the potatoes and swede in separate pans of salted water, 20 minutes for the potato and 25 for the swede, until both are tender.
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Drain both and return them to their dry pans over low heat for 1 minute to steam off, then mash them together with 50 g of the butter.
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Melt the remaining 30 g butter in a wide pan and fry the cabbage over medium heat 6 minutes, until it is wilted but still bright and squeaks against the spoon.
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Add the spring onions and cook 1 minute more, then drain off any liquid.
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Fold the cabbage through the mash with the salt, pepper and nutmeg. Do not beat it.
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Spread into a buttered baking dish, rough the surface with a fork and scatter the cheddar over.
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Dot with the 20 g butter and bake at 190C fan / 210C / gas 6 for 30 minutes, until browned and bubbling.
Chef’s Tips
- Fry the cabbage in butter, never boil it into the potato.
- Steam the potato and swede dry before mashing.
- Fold, do not beat. The textures should stay separate.
Common Substitutions & Variations
- Out of spring onions? A small regular onion, finely sliced, or a few chives stirred in at the end both cover the job.
Pairing Suggestions
- Sausages
- Cold ham
- Pickled beetroot
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerated for 3 days. Reheat covered at 180C. Freezes 2 months.
Common questions
How long does Rumbledethumps take to make?
About 50 minutes in total — 20 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 6.
What are the key tips for making Rumbledethumps?
Fry the cabbage in butter, never boil it into the potato. Steam the potato and swede dry before mashing. Fold, do not beat. The textures should stay separate.
What should I serve with Rumbledethumps?
Sausages; Cold ham; Pickled beetroot.
Can Rumbledethumps be made ahead or frozen?
Refrigerated for 3 days. Reheat covered at 180C. Freezes 2 months.
Is Rumbledethumps 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 Rumbledethumps?
About 400 kcal per serving, with 14 g protein, 42 g carbohydrate and 21 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.
Reader Reviews
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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.