Rumbledethumps - Celtic Potato, Cabbage & Cheese Gratin

A wonderful combination of mashed potatoes, Savoy cabbage, cheese & chives - baked OR grilled to give a crispy cheesy topping. This is one of my very favourite family recipes - my Mum used to make it, as did her Mum before her! This is a Scottish recipe, similar to Irish Colcannon, which is also a potato & cabbage dish. You can serve this as a vegetable accompaniment or as a light luncheon dish with crusty bread & extra vegetables. P.S. My daughter calls this baked Bubble and Squeak & always asks for it when she comes home from university!

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 2-4

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 lbs potatoes, peeled & cut into small even size pieces
• 6 -8  large  savoy cabbage leaves, washed, trimmed & cut into 1/4-inch strips
• 4  tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
• 2  ounces butter
• 2 -4  tablespoons milk
•  salt
•  pepper
• 4  ounces  scottish cheddar cheese or 4  ounces  local cheddar cheese, grated

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 225C/450F - ONLY if you wish to bake this. Otherwise, this dish can be grilled.
2. Lightly grease a heat resistant serving or baking dish.
3. Boil the potatoes for about 20 minutes or until soft.
4. At the the same time, boil the savoy cabbage for 5 minutes maximum - take off the heat, drain & allow to cool in a colander.
5. Drain the potatoes and add the butter, milk, salt and pepper. Using a potato masher or hand held mixer - mix & mash the potatoes thoroughly until smooth & with no lumps.
6. Add the cabbage & chives to the mashed potatoes - gently mix together.
7. Pile the Rumbledethumps mixture into your serving or baking dish - scatter the grated cheddar cheese over the top and EITHER, bake for 15 - 20 minutes in the oven OR put under a hot grill for about 5 minutes, until the cheese has melted and is bubbling.
8. Serve immediately with grilled or roast meat, casseroles, stews or roast chicken.
9. This also makes a wonderful vegetarian meal or a light luncheon dish - serve with crusty bread and extra vegetables if you wish.
10. This serves 4 people as an accompaniment and 2 people as a light luncheon dish.