Italian potato gateau (mashed potato casserole) recipe

Italian potato Gateau is made with mashed potatoes, cheese, and ham. Creamy and full of flavor, this casserole is perfect for any gathering

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This Italian mashed potato casserole or potato gateau is a traditional Neapolitan recipe. It’s a kind of savory potato cake made of mashed potatoes, filled with cheese and ham (frankfurters or salami). The top is sprinkled with breadcrumbs and drizzled with melted butter. This makes the crust extremely appetizing and crispy.

This potato gateau recipe is very easy to make and requires simple ingredients. It makes a great hearty side dish for dinner or lunch. It’s also perfect for a savory buffet and potlucks.

It’s a great fridge-emptying recipe. You can use the leftovers of any cheese and cured meats you have in the fridge and need to use up. Italian potato casserole can be made using leftover mashed potatoes. Give them “a new life” and turn them into a new delicious dish!

A simple potato gateau recipe and its royal origin

This simple Italian potato cake recipe is made with the usual ingredients that are available in every kitchen. However, the dish does not have a “simple” origin at all.

Back in the 17th century, two of the most influential European dynasties of that time united in marriage. Namely, Ferdinand IV of the Bourbon dynasty married Maria Caroline of Habsburg. The future queen of Naples entrusted her wedding feast to French cooks. It was they who prepared a potato gateau for the guests. The recipe was created especially for the royal wedding.

Over time, the Neapolitans adapted the potato gateau recipe to their own tastes and local ingredients. The French name Gateau changed to Gattò or Gatò under the influence of the dialect.

Nowadays, there is no precise recipe. After all, each family has its own version of this Italian mashed potato casserole. The main ingredients are all the same: mashed potatoes, eggs, milk, and a sprinkle of breadcrumbs. The rest depends on your personal tastes – ham, salami, frankfurters, or any other cured meats… Parmesan, provolone, cheddar, smoked scamorza – use any cheese you like. Some people even add vegetables (most often zucchini) to this potato cake.

Useful tips

Potato gateau reheats beautifully. Therefore, you can make it in advance and serve it later. Making the casserole the day before gives it time to set and it will be easier to cut it into squares or slices more precisely.

Choose starchy (mealy) potatoes for this recipe. Russets or Yukon Golds are perfect for gateau.
In addition to grated cheese, you can add cheese cut into small cubes to the casserole. Choose the one that melts well when baked.
Add salami instead of prosciutto, cooked ham, or frankfurters. The taste will be even richer.
It’s a perfect make-ahead dish. Prepare potato gateau the day before. Resting time is very important. The ingredients will compact and you’ll be able to cut slices or squares without breaking them.
Italian potato casserole tastes best warm. I do not recommend serving it too hot or completely cold.

Ingredients

(I use a rectangular baking pan of 32×26 cm / 13”x10”):

1 kg (2lbs) peeled potatoes
100g (4oz) butter
4 eggs
1 cup milk
3 large frankfurters or 200g (7oz) ham or prosciutto
½ cup grated Parmesan or other cheese of your choice
salt and ground black pepper

For the topping:

5Tbsp breadcrumbs
50g (2oz) butter (melt it)

Easy potato gateau recipe

Peel the potatoes, cut them into medium cubes, and boil them in salted water until tender. Drain and mash them. Add the butter and stir until it’s melted

Dice the frankfurters (or ham) and brown them in a small amount of oil until golden brown. Add the sausages (or ham), milk, eggs, and grated cheese to the mashed potatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix until well combined

Transfer everything to a baking pan (grease it with a small amount of butter or oil). Sprinkle the top of the Italian potato casserole with breadcrumbs and drizzle it with melted butter

Bake potato gateau for 30-40min at 180C (350F) until the top is golden brown. Turn on the grill in the last 5 minutes to get a beautiful crust

How to serve it

Italian potato gateau is a very rich mashed potato pie. It’s quite hearty, so you can serve it as a main dish. Enjoy it alongside a light vegetable salad, a meat steak, Italian sausages, or kotleti. I also like to pair this casserole with roasted asparagus or sautéed mushrooms.

Serve it in squares or cake-like slices.

FAQ

How to store it?

Allow the potato pie to cool completely and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Preheat in the oven before serving.

Can I freeze potato gateau?

Yes, of course. Bake it, let it cool completely, and cut it into serving portions. Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Then thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat it in the oven.

Potato gateau is ingeniously simple and heavenly delicious. This Italian mashed potato casserole has it all – a smooth velvety texture, beautiful crispy crust, and a lot of flavor. Enjoy it for lunch or dinner.

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