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Döppekuchen
Rheinischer Döppekuchen: Rhineland grated-potato bake with bacon, slow-baked in a cast-iron pot
Döppekuchen (also Dippekuchen or Knüles) is the Rhineland and Westerwald answer to a cold November evening, traditionally baked on St Martin's Day and at village fairs. Raw grated potatoes, onion, egg and smoked bacon are baked slowly in a cast-iron pot, the Döppe, until the outside is a thick dark-brown crust and the inside is soft and steamy. It is eaten with apple sauce and a green salad. For a meat-free pot, bake it with extra onions and two sliced leeks instead of the bacon. Chef's tip: squeeze the grated potato really dry; the less water, the crisper the crust.
- Total time
- 180 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
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What you'll need
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 400°F (350°F fan). Brush the inside of a 4-litre cast-iron casserole (Dutch oven) with the 2 tbsp oil and line the base and sides with the 5 ½ oz smoked streaky bacon rashers.
10 minStep 2: Fry the 7 oz smoked streaky bacon in a dry pan over a medium heat for 5 minutes until the fat runs and the edges brown. Let it cool slightly.
5 minStep 3: Grate the 4 ⅜ lb starchy potatoes finely into a sieve set over a bowl. Squeeze them hard in a clean tea towel to remove as much liquid as possible. Let the starch settle in the bowl, pour off the water, and keep the white starch.
15 minStep 4: Mix the potatoes, saved starch, 2 onions, 3 eggs, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, ½ tsp grated nutmeg and the fried bacon with its fat. Work fast; grated potato turns grey if left standing.
5 minStep 5: Pack the mixture into the pot and smooth the top. Put the lid on and bake for 1 hour.
60 minStep 6: Take off the lid and bake for 60–75 minutes more until the top is deep brown and crisp and the edges have pulled away into a dark crust. Pull it out too early, the common mistake, and the middle is still raw-tasting.
70 minStep 7: Rest 10 minutes, then turn out or cut into wedges straight from the pot. Serve hot with 14 oz apple sauce.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 50 g
- Fat
- 25 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does döppekuchen take?
- About 180 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 150 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of starchy potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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