Recipe Index

Ingredients

• 3.5 lb potatoes ((Sebago (Aus), Russet (US), Maris Piper / King Edwards (UK)(Note 1))
• 1 tbsp cooking / kosher salt (, for cooking potatoes )
• 2/3 cup milk ((preferably full fat/whole milk but lite ok))
• 2/3 cup EXTRA milk (, for make-ahead option only (Note 2))
• 5 tbsp unsalted butter (, cut into 1/2" cubes)
• 1/2 cup sour cream ((or yogurt), full fat best)
• 1 tsp cooking/kosher salt (, or to taste)
• 1 1/2 cups (tightly packed) mozzarella (, freshly shredded (Note 3))
• 1 cup (tightly packed) Red Leicester, cheddar (or other flavoured cheese(Note 3))
• 6 oz bacon ((streaky), chopped (Note 4))
• 1/4 cup green onion (, finely sliced)

Method

1. Cook the chopped streaky bacon in a cold non-stick pan set over medium heat, turning the heat up to medium-high as the fat renders, and stir for 3 minutes until it colours, then lift it onto paper towels.
2. Peel the potatoes and chop them into 1¼ in pieces, cover them in a large pot with water about 4 in deep over the top, and stir in the tablespoon of salt for the cooking water.
3. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat, settle it to a rapid simmer, and cook the potato chunks for 15 minutes until they collapse when prodded with a fork.
4. Tip away the water, put the potatoes back in the pot for a minute, and shake the pot occasionally so the remaining moisture evaporates.
5. Mash in the milk, including the extra measure for the make-ahead version, with the butter, sour cream and teaspoon of salt until the mixture is smooth, working by hand so it does not turn gluey.
6. For the make-ahead route, cool the mash completely, cover it tightly, refrigerate it, and bring it back to the counter 2 hours before it goes in the oven.
7. Heat the oven to 400F, spoon the potato into a 2 qt baking dish, level the surface, and sprinkle the mozzarella and Red Leicester or cheddar over it before adding the bacon.
8. Bake the casserole under loose foil for 20 minutes when freshly assembled or 35 minutes when made ahead, remove the foil, and give it a final 10 minutes until the cheesy top bubbles and browns.
9. Finish with the sliced green onion scattered over the top and serve the dish straight from the oven.

Nutrition (per serving, where published)

Estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data