Potato Gattò

5 from 1 vote

Potato Gattò is the mashed potato of my childhood. It's a traditional Neapolitan savory pie made of mashed potato, cheese, and cured meats. The name is an Italianization of the French word "gâteau". My mother would prepare it every Thanksgiving and Christmas, and because she rarely followed a recipe, Potato Gattò tasted a little different each year… but always delicious. One year she’d use soppressata, another year mortadella, and the cheese ratio? Completely dependent on what she had on hand.

Prep Time1 30

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: people

Ingredients

Breadcrumb Topping Ingredients:

3 tbsp unsalted butter melted
½ cup grated parmigiano reggiano
¾ cup panko bread crumbs
2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
2 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp kosher salt
pepper to taste

Potato Base Ingredients:

3 lbs Yukon gold potatoes
2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
½ cup Parmigiano Reggiano grated
2 eggs
¼ cup whole milk
1½ tsp kosher salt
pepper to taste
6 ounces of soppressata diced
8 ounces of smoked mozzarella diced
6 ounces of fresh mozzarella diced

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Prepare the breadcrumb topping: Combine the melted butter, Parmigiano Reggiano, panko, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Mix well.
Prepare the casserole dish: Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter. Sprinkle ¼ cup of the breadcrumb mixture into the dish and tilt or pat it around so the bottom and sides are lightly coated. Set the remaining breadcrumbs aside.
Cook the potatoes: Place the unpeeled potatoes in a large pot. Cover with water by about two inches, salt generously, and bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes are fork-tender.
Cool and mash: Drain the potatoes and let them cool to room temperature. Peel off the skins, then pass the potatoes through a ricer or mash until smooth.
Mix the potato base: Add the melted butter, grated cheese, eggs, milk, salt, pepper, soppressata, smoked mozzarella, and fresh mozzarella to the warm potatoes. Use your hands or a spoon to mix until everything is evenly combined.
Assemble: Transfer the potato mixture to the prepared baking dish. Spread it evenly, then sprinkle the remaining breadcrumb topping over the surface.
Bake: Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and crisp.

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