Cheese and Potato Pie (Main Meal or Side Dish)
This classic, frugal cheese and potato pie is the perfect way to use up any leftover mash. Eaten as a side or as a main meal, this dish, with its creamy potatoes, cheese and onion, is comfort food at its finest.
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Mashed potato pie is a dish my mum made for me, so it has a real nostalgic feel for me. I have zero idea why it’s called pie, though. There’s not a whisper of pastry involved. In all honesty, this recipe is just fluffy mashed potato mixed with loads of cheese and any other ingredients you might fancy adding.
Can I adapt the recipe?
This is most definitely the kind of recipe where you can make it up as you go along. The only real requirement is the mashed potato. Everything else (including measurements) is down to personal choice. I have made the recipe so often, and each time it is different. For example, use your favourite cheese, or use up whatever is in the fridge. I like a good, strong cheddar, but the cheese used for the pictures in this post was chilli cheese (you can see the little red flecks).
Other great additions could be crispy bacon, spicy sausage, bell peppers or spring onions. Already cooked food works best, as the time in the oven is really just re-heating rather than actually cooking.
The perfect way to use up leftover mashed potato
This cheese and onion pie is the perfect way to use up leftover mashed potato. If you’re anything like me, you will invariably make far too much, and the rest sits forlornly in the fridge waiting to be eaten. All you need is to chop up some red onion, grate some cheese and mix them in with the already prepared mashed potato. Dollop it into an oven dish and bake until all the cheese is nice and melty. The top is also given a healthy sprinkling of cheese, which turns beautifully crisp in contrast to the soft fluffiness of the potato.
Is cheese and potato pie a side dish or main meal?
Both. My mum used to make it for my dinner when I was a kid. In those days, money was a little tight, and cheap potatoes mixed with cheese made for a very filling meal in itself. I would have a couple of slices of soft white bread with it, and a side of pickled beetroot. To finish it off, a smothering of HP sauce was needed. I am aware that it sounds like a rather strange combo, but it was (and still is) my ultimate comfort food. I still eat it like this today, but as I no longer eat store bought white sliced bread, my super soft spelt bread buns provide the perfect replacement.
By the way, HP sauce is a spicy brown condiment adored by British people. In fact, 70% say it’s their favourite sauce. Packaged in an easily identifiable bottle, HP looks similar to the popular American sauce, A1. However, that seems to be where the likeness stops. Tasting Table does a great comparison of the two, and throws in a little HP history, too.
- Spicy baked fish
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- Red pepper chilli sin carne
- Crispy Dorito fish nuggets
- Smoked paprika chicken stew
- Slow cooked shredded beef
- Slow cooked rosemary brisket
Cheese and Potato Pie
Ingredients
Leftover Potato Pie (see notes)
- mashed potato (cold)
- 1 red onion (finely chopped)
- cheese (any - as much as you like)
- salt & pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 200°C (400℉).
- Grease an oven dish (the size you need will depend on how much cheese and potato pie you have).
- Chop the onion.
- Grate as much cheese as you like.
- Place the mashed potato in a large bowl, add in the onion and cheese, and anything other ingredients you might want to use.
- Give it a good stir, just until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Sprinkle more cheese over the top.
- Bake in the oven for around 30 minutes, just until the cheese has melted and the top starts has browned.
- Serve immediately as a side, or by itself with some soft bread.
Notes
