Leek, Bacon, Garlic and Thyme Smashed Potato Cakes

I look forward to having these Leek, Bacon, Garlic and Thyme Smashed Potato Cakes so much I make extra potatoes to insure it; I think I like them better even!

Double Smashed Potato Cakes with Leeks, Garlic, Bacon and Thyme from Creative-Culinary.com

Yes I just did another recipe recently for smashed potatoes; guilty as charged. As a matter of fact, it was because of that effort that I’m posting this one today. I realized that as much as I loved my chunky mix of mismatched ingredients, what I really look forward to are the leftovers that I can smash a bit more and fry up for breakfast or a delicious side dish for another meal.

That use of leftovers never struck me as anything special until last week a friend asked me for the recipe and I had to admit I had never thought of it as a recipe. She did and so here we are today! This same concept works equally well with ANY mashed potato but there is no doubt that these Leek, Bacon, Garlic and Thyme Smashed Potato Cakes might elevate the simple side just a bit more!

How prophetic then that this weeks effort with the Food Network should have the theme of  ‘Mashed?’ I immediately thought Smashed and after confirming that they did not expect me to over-imbibe (just kidding!), I decided the time had come for me to share the simplicity of what I think is the ONLY way to eat leftover mashed potatoes.

Granted someone did say, ‘What leftovers?’ because well, who doesn’t just love mashed potatoes but do what I do. Make too many, plan for leftovers, and trust me you won’t be disappointed.

I’m recalling a time when the idea of mashed potatoes at all seemed like too much work so they weren’t on our table much when my kids were young. What brought them to  light on our plate? Smashing. It was the wonderfulness of NOT PEELING THEM!

Red potatoes probably helped too. Soft skin, pretty even in the end result and and all the elements were perfect for a side dish of this sort. Adding any number of combinations of ingredients to the mix makes them taste so good and each time I think I’ve hit the ‘best’ combination.

Double Smashed Potato Cakes with Leeks, Garlic, Bacon and Thyme from Creative-Culinary.com

That’s where I am today. Leeks? SO good. I love them so much and when I asked friends on Facebook ‘Love or Hate’ the answer was a resounding LOVE. The only issue? Cleaning the dirt/sand/grit out of them.

I’ve made it so easy. I slice and separate them and then clean them. A couple of dunkings in a bowl of clean water and it’s really a 2 minute job. Which I love because I love them. Oops…did I say that already?

Double Smashed Potato Cakes with Leeks, Garlic, Bacon and Thyme from Creative-Culinary.com

Garlic? Duh (use enough to make it matter!). Bacon? Double Duh. Thyme? OK, maybe not a passion but on hand and it was the perfect accent. All together? So good that when I first made them I was happy having a portion for dinner. As in nothing else, just some potatoes.

Hey, we had our meat group, veggies, dairy and a starch all in one bowl. But I knew my ultimate goal was to make these absolutely amazing potato cakes. Take everything you love about mashed potatoes and put a crispy coating into the mix and well,  you can start to get my drift right?

It’s like this. If you were given the choice of a plate of boiled hash browns or a plate of crispy ones…which would you choose? Take my word for it…try these and you will be making extra too!

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PIN IT! ‘Leek, Bacon, Garlic, and Thyme Smashed Potato Cakes’

Leek, Bacon, Garlic, and Thyme Smashed Potato Cake on a Round Plate, Garnished with Sauteed Leeks

Closeup Bite of Leek, Bacon, Garlic, and Thyme Smashed Potato Cake on a Round Plate

Double Smashed Potato Cakes with Leeks, Garlic, Bacon and Thyme from Creative-Culinary.com

Leek, Bacon, Garlic and Thyme Smashed Potato Cakes

Barb
We think nothing better than smashing some potatoes with more goodies and frying them for a side dish. These are fantastic!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Pasta, Potatoes, Rice & Grains
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 607 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 3-4 slices bacon . cooked crisp and crumbled
  • ¼ cup half and half
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 1 leek sliced
  • 1 head of garlic cloves peeled
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme finely chopped
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 2 pounds red potatoes cut in half (do not peel)

For the Potato Cakes:

  • 3 cups smashed potatoes I'm assuming you ate about a cup of them before making the potato cakes!
  • 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste
  • Butter and Olive Oil for frying
  • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese
  • 2 Eggs

Instructions
 

  • To Make the Smashed Potatoes
  • Melt 3 tablespoons butter in heavy small skillet add leeks and saute over medium heat until limp but not browned. (Set aside a couple of spoonfuls of leeks for garnish if desired).
  • Add garlic and sauté 1-2 minutes; do not brown. Take off heat and mix in bacon and thyme; cook for one minute; take off heat and set aside.
  • Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. Return potatoes to pot and mash roughly; these are not meant to be the consistency of regular mashed potatoes. I actually use a metal mallet meant for tenderizing meat to literally smash them.
  • Add leek, garlic and bacon mixture, half and half and remaining 3 tablespoons butter and sour cream and mash together. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Making the Potato Cakes
  • Mix the Panko crumbs and Parmesan and spread on a plate.
  • Add the eggs to the smashed potatoes and mix thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Refrigerate for 30 minutes (not an absolute but if you have the time, do it)
  • Melt equal amount of butter and olive oil in the bottom of a skillet; measure out 1/2 cup of smashed potatoes for each cake and lightly smash in a disk.
  • Fry over medium heat until warmed throughout and crispy on the outside.
  • Garnish with a spoonful of leeks if desired and serve warm.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Leek, Bacon, Garlic and Thyme Smashed Potato Cakes
Serving Size
 
1 grams
Amount per Serving
Calories
607
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
30
g
46
%
Saturated Fat
 
14
g
88
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
14
g
Cholesterol
 
122
mg
41
%
Sodium
 
821
mg
36
%
Carbohydrates
 
69
g
23
%
Fiber
 
6
g
25
%
Sugar
 
6
g
7
%
Protein
 
17
g
34
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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11 Comments

  1. Ooooooh potato cakes! And I love the garlic, leeks and bacon in them! I mean, what goes better with potatoes? And gorgeous gorgeous crusty outside… just perfect! Great side, fabulous lunch main!

    1. I could find a reason to have them for each and every meal. As a matter of fact, hmm, maybe one day I did? Shh, don’t tell. 🙂

  2. I don’t know whether I love you or not because I now have an obsession that MUST be dealt with soon. As in, I wish I had the ingredients in the house right now because I would be making them and I don’t care that it’s almost 10:00 at night!

    1. Sorry…and you know you can really make them with any combination of goodies in mashed potatoes. I have never before in my life made the potatoes to be mashed potato cakes; I just always make enough leftovers so that I CAN make some! Though must say these ingredients were pretty stellar. 🙂

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