Forget everything you thought you knew about mashed potatoes! Gattò di Patate is a golden revelation, a symphony of textures and flavors. Imagine a crispy, shattering crust giving way to a cloud of creamy potato, studded with gooey mozzarella and savory ham. This Italian masterpiece is comfort food elevated, perfect for any occasion.
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Calling all potato lovers!
Today, we’re unveiling the secrets behind Gattò di Patate ( the Italian Mashed Potato Pie), a classic Italian dish that elevates mashed potatoes to a whole new level. Imagine a golden, crispy crust encasing a cloud of creamy mashed potatoes, bursting with savory cheese and chunks of goodness.
This isn’t just comfort food; it’s a versatile masterpiece that shines at any occasion.
On the one hand, in fact, is perfect while it’s still hot and with stringy cheese. On the other hand, is also suitable cold, for a standing aperitif or brunch, or even as a side dish during a BBQ party.
A Bite of History: The Origins of “Gattò di Patate”
The name “Gattò” might sound French (think “gateau”), and it actually is! In the 18th century, Neapolitan nuns borrowed the term, while the recipe itself is believed to have originated in Naples around the same time.
Back then, a queen with a penchant for French cuisine inspired the creation of a potato dish. The Neapolitans, however, added their own twist, incorporating mozzarella and salami – a true testament to their culinary ingenuity.
Your Personal Flavor Adventure: Ingredients and Substitutions
Gattò di Patate is all about customization. Here’s the base:
- Boiled potatoes (red-skinned are a great choice!)
- Eggs
- Mozzarella cheese or Italian Caciocavallo Cheese (you can also mix your favorite cheese with Emmentaler Switzerland Cheese, like my family!)
- Cooked ham or salami (even if Mortadella with Pistachios is my favorite!)
Vegetarian Twist: Ditch the meat and add a vibrant medley of diced vegetables like zucchini, onions, carrots, and peas. To complement the missing meaty flavors, swap the mozzarella for a cheese with a bolder character – smoked scamorza, caciocavallo, or even gorgonzola will do the trick.
Going Dairy-Free: Replace mozzarella and other cheeses with a generous amount of Parmigiano Reggiano. Did you know this cheese is naturally lactose-free thanks to its unique aging process?
According to the Italian Ministry of Health indications, in fact, the absence of lactose in Parmigiano Reggiano is a natural consequence of the manufacturing process as it has less than 0.01g / 100g galactose. You can find a complete disclosure and a guide to this unique and incredible Italian product on the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium website.
Short on Time? No worries! Use Organic Instant Mashed Potatoes, just remember to reduce the liquids (water and milk) by 25% for a thicker consistency.
A few last little tips to have a great Mashed Potatoes Pie
As for potatoes, as my grandmother taught me, I prefer to use only large, red-skinned potatoes. As I said, however, this is a versatile recipe. So you can opt for the potatoes you love the most.
If you’re going to make an Italian-styled Sweet Potato Pie, try contrasting the sweetness with some spicy notes. Increase the quantity and variety of cheese and add a pinch of ginger and a few leaves of minced lemongrass and sage to the mashed potatoes.
Gattò di Patate: the Italian Mashed Potatoes Pie
Italian Gattò di Patate aka Mashed Potatoes Pie with its crispy crust is filled with stringy mozzarella and diced hams is perfect comfort food for any occasion.
Ingredients
- 2 kg potatoes
- 250 g mozzarella
- 100 g edam o emmenthal o caciocavallo
- 200 g (1 thick slice) of mortadella or cooked ham
- 60 g parmesan
- 25 g butter
- 100 ml milk
- 1 egg
- salt
- 1 pinch of black pepper
- 1 pinch of nutmeg
- 4 sp breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Wash the potatoes and remove the dirt.
- Let’s start by boiling the potatoes with the skin in water with 1 teaspoon of salt. It takes about 40 minutes. To verify the cooking do the test by inserting the potato with a fork. If it breaks, the potato is cooked.
- Drain and let cool. Then remove the skin and pass with a potato masher.
- Meanwhile, dice cheese, mozzarella, and mortadella (or ham if you prefer).
- Pour the mashed potatoes into a bowl.
- Pour in the milk, half butter the egg and stir to absorb the liquid, and create a compact dough.
- Grate inside the nutmeg (I have not written the amount, do as your taste), then 2 pinches of black pepper and grated Parmigiano. Mix everything and salt if necessary.
- Now, add in the diced mortadella and then the cheeses, leaving a little aside for the surface.
- Heat the oven to 200 C° (356 F°) in static mode.
- Take a baking dish and grease it with some of the remaining butter.
- Pour the seasoned mashed potato mixture inside. Level with a spatula.
- Sprinkle the surface with cheese and mortadella dices you left aside, then a little more grated Parmigiano and sprinkle with 3 or 4 tablespoons of breadcrumbs.
- Finally, garnish the surface with a couple of butter flakes.
- Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes. Then grill for 5 minutes more.
- Take it out of the oven and enjoy it hot and juicy.
- Buon appetito!
Notes
For a totally gluten-free version, you can remove the breadcrumbs and replace them with a greater amount of grated Parmigiano.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 3632Total Fat: 264gSaturated Fat: 103gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 145gCholesterol: 641mgSodium: 12886mgCarbohydrates: 117gFiber: 8gSugar: 6gProtein: 188g
Nutrition Data is automatically calculated and may be not accurate.
Beyond the Plate: Pairing Suggestions a perfect meal
Gattò di Patate is a meal in itself, but if you’re feeling extra hungry, pair it with one of our tasty and fresh salad or some Oven-Roasted Asparagines or Zucchini Marinated alla Scapece.
Ready to Bake Up Bliss?
Head over to our recipe section to find the detailed instructions for this amazing Gattò di Patate. Don’t forget to check out our other potato-inspired creations – we have something for every craving!
Buon appetito!
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Wow! This looks so good. Potatoes are my husband’s favorite, so I am always looking for new things to try. He will love this!
This looks delicious! I am definitely going to give this recipe a try! I love that you are educating us on all different Italian dishes that we may not know about!
Sounds delicious! I can maybe make it vegan by swapping some of the ingredients 🙂
ohhh il Gattò di Patate!! Fantastic!!!
This looks perfect for a family dinner or casual evening with company. Yum!
This looks so good. It is making me hungry. Can’t wait to try it.
This looks delicious and I know my family will love this recipe!!
This looks so good! My family will love this for sure!
My family would enjoy this recipe. I love the addition of cheeses to the mashed potatoes 😍
You are right, this looks so easy. Will definitely try it! Thanks for sharing.
This recipe looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it sometime soon. My mouth is watering from the photos!
Yum! I can’t wait to try making these!
Wow!! This looks amazing. Will definitely try this out asap. The instructions are so well written and thorough. Thank you for sharing 🙂