Potato and Bacon Cake

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potato-bacon-cake-0511med106942.jpg
Photo: Con Poulos
Prep Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 35 mins
Servings:
8

This dish is a symphony of seemingly contradictory elements -- economical yet special, simple yet complex. In short, it's a perfect brunch dish.

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

  • Coarse salt and ground pepper

  • ¾ pound bacon, cut crosswise into 1 ½-inch pieces

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a large pot, bring potatoes to a boil over high in salted water. Reduce to a rapid simmer and cook 7 minutes. Drain well and return potatoes to pot. Meanwhile, in a large cast-iron or heavy skillet, cook bacon over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until browned but not completely crisp, 7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain.

  2. Pour all but 2 tablespoons fat into a small bowl. Return skillet to heat and cook one-third the potatoes, stirring occasionally, until light golden brown, 3 minutes. Transfer to an 8-inch round cake pan (2 inches deep); sprinkle with one-third the bacon. Press firmly with the back of a large spoon to pack mixture very tightly. Cook remaining potatoes in 2 batches. Layer each batch in pan with bacon, pressing as you go. Spoon 1/4 cup reserved bacon fat over mixture. Cover tightly with foil; bake 1 hour. Remove foil; bake until potatoes are crisp and golden, 30 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes. Invert onto a plate.

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