Rösti

The aroma of cooking rösti is irresistible! This Swiss potato pancake makes a great accompaniment for almost all dishes that do not contain potato. Rösti is also great on its own as a light lunch treat with a green salad or for breakfast served with grilled tomatoes or baked beans.

SERVES: 4

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 lbs. potatoes, peeled
• 1 large yellow onion, very finely chopped
• 2 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 4 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
• 3 tbsp. chopped fresh chives
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add the potatoes and parboil them for 4 minutes.
2. Immediately remove the potatoes from the boiling water and place them in cold water to cool.
3. Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle, roughly shred them into a bowl.
4. Add the finely chopped onion, sea salt, black pepper, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, chopped chives, and chopped parsley to the shredded potatoes.
5. Heat the remaining olive oil in a nonstick skillet over high heat until very hot.
6. Carefully add the potato mixture to the hot skillet, pressing it down firmly with the palm of your hand.
7. Reduce the heat slightly and cook the rösti until golden brown, which takes about 7 minutes.
8. Use a spatula to ease the rösti from the skillet and invert it onto a plate.
9. Slip the rösti back into the skillet to cook the second side. Alternatively, you can place the rösti under a preheated broiler to cook the second side.
10. Once both sides are cooked to your liking, remove the rösti from the skillet and serve.

VARIATIONS:

ROSTI WITH ONION & CARAWAY

• Prepare the basic recipe, adding 1 tablespoon toasted caraway seeds with the herbs.

ROSTI WITH NONDAIRY CHEESE 

• Prepare the basic recipe. Add 1 1/2 cups shredded nondairy hard cheese to the shredded potato mixture.

ROSTI WITH LEFTOVER VEGETABLES 

• Prepare the basic recipe. Add 1 cup leftover cooked vegetables, chopped into small pieces, to the shredded potato mixture.

ROSTI PIZZA 

• Prepare the basic recipe, and just lightly cook the rösti on one side. Spread pizza sauce over that lightly cooked side and top with slices of mushroom, bell pepper, and onion. If desired, sprinkle with nondairy Parmesan cheese. Place under a preheated broiler until the vegetables are cooked.