Labskaus
Labskaus: Hamburg sailors' hash of corned beef, potato and beetroot with a fried egg
Labskaus is the pink, rough-textured hash that ships' cooks made from salted beef and potatoes, and it is still on the menu in harbour pubs from Hamburg to Bremen, often as a hearty lunch after a cold walk along the Elbe. Salt beef is fried with onion, then pounded into mashed potato with pickled beetroot and a splash of its juice, so the whole plate turns magenta. A fried egg goes on top, with gherkins and, for those who like it, a rolled pickled herring on the side. Chef's tip: keep back some of the beetroot liquid and add it at the end, a spoon at a time; it is the sharpness that stops the hash tasting heavy.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the hash
To serve
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Cover the 2 ¼ lb baking potatoes with cold water, add the 1 tsp salt and boil for 20 minutes, until a knife slides in without resistance. Drain and let them steam dry in the pan for 2 minutes.
22 minStep 2: Meanwhile heat the 3 tbsp beef dripping or vegetable oil in a wide frying pan over a medium heat and fry the 2 onions for 8 minutes, until soft and golden at the edges.
8 minStep 3: Add the 14 oz cooked salt beef or tinned corned beef and fry for 5 minutes, breaking it up with a spatula, until hot right through and catching a little on the base.
5 minStep 4: Chop the 9 oz pickled beetroot slices finely. Mash the potatoes roughly, then work in the beef and onions, the chopped beetroot and half the 3 ½ tbsp beetroot pickling liquid. Labskaus should be coarse, not a smooth purée.
5 minStep 5: Season with ½ tsp black pepper and 1 pinch grated nutmeg, then taste and add the rest of the 3 ½ tbsp beetroot pickling liquid a spoon at a time until it tastes bright. Common mistake: salting before tasting; the beef and pickles are already salty. Keep warm over a low heat.
3 minStep 6: Heat the 1 tbsp vegetable oil for frying eggs in a clean pan over a medium heat and fry the 4 eggs for 3–4 minutes, until the whites are fully set. Cook the yolks firm for anyone pregnant, very young or elderly.
4 minStep 7: Pile the hash onto warm plates, top each with a fried egg and add 4 pickled gherkins on the side. If using 4 rollmops (shop-bought, chilled), note that they are raw fish cured in vinegar: buy chilled commercial ones, keep them in the fridge, and they are not for pregnant women, young children or anyone with a weakened immune system.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 560 kcal
- Protein
- 32 g
- Carbs
- 48 g
- Fat
- 26 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does labskaus take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 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 baking 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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