Swiss Rosti potatoes are the Swiss version of the potato pancake or hash browns.
It doesn't get any easier than this with potatoes, butter, salt and pepper!
There are only 2 things you need to watch for to get this right.
The Grate
When you grate the potato it needs to be a coarse grating. I tried the grating disc of my food processor and even the large holes were not coarse enough.
You can use the large hole side of a box grater. Some mandolin sets even have a rösti blade. See the photo for the type of grate that is best. If your grate is too fine the middle will be a bit mushy. They still taste good but they have a funny texture.
Cooking
You will want to use a skillet big enough that your potatoes will be only 1-2" deep in the skillet. If they are higher the outside will burn before the middle is cooked.
And use medium low heat, erring on the low side. If the heat is too high the outside layer will burn. You can always increase the cooking time over low heat but you can't come back from burned!
The Flip
Okay.. this is thing number 3 but it is really just a tip. The easiest way I have found to flip them is to invert a plate over your skillet. Using oven mitts, holding the pan and plate together on both sides, flip it so the plate is now sitting on the counter and the rosti can fall out of the skillet onto the plate. After you re-oil the skillet you can gently nudge the rosti, crispy side up, back into the skillet.
You can easily upscale the recipe. Use 1 large potato per person. Just be aware you will need more skillets to keep your volume in the 1-2" depth per skillet.
Enjoy this potato pancake as a side for dinner or even breakfast or brunch.
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 4 tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Peel potatoes and coarsely grate using the large hole side of a box grater or a rosti blade in a mandolin.
- Melt 2 Tbsps butter in an 8-10" non-stick skillet over medium low heat. Add the grated potatoes. Spread them evenly around the skillet. The depth should not exceed 1-2 inches.
- Allow potatoes to cook undisturbed about 3 minutes. Press them down with a spatula after the 3 minutes. Cover the skillet and allow them to cook undisturbed about 10 minutes. Remove cover and let them cook another 5 minutes.
- Using a inverted plate over the skillet, flip the potato pancake onto the plate. Melt remaining butter in the skillet. Slide the pancake back into the skillet. Repeat above, allowing potatoes to cook undisturbed 3 minutes, cover and continue cooking about 10 minutes, remove cover and cook another 5 minutes.
- Season with salt to taste. Cut into quarters and serve.
ralph hetke
An all time favourite.
sher
do we cook on high heat?
thewineloverskitchen
Heat should be medium low. It takes a while for the potatoes to cook through and you don't want to burn them.