Rösti: Way Better than Hash Browns!

On our trip to Switzerland, one of the traditional dishes we enjoyed was Rösti. Basic Rösti is a side dish that is very similar to hash browns. (Having said that, fried potatoes – what’s not to love!) But Rösti can be elevated to a hearty and enormously satisfying meal. One of our favorites is Rösti mit Spiegelei (with fried egg). The Rösti itself is grated potatoes with onions and bacon, fried up into a round pancake. It’s then topped with melted Gruyère cheese and eggs cooked over medium. Just like brunch, only better, and you won’t miss the toast!

We decided to try our hands at making it at home. It’s a little labor-intensive and it’s not quite the same as the thickly-grated, extra-crispy original, but it was fun and delicious. We decided to make one large pancake rather than four individual ones. The one large one is harder to flip, but it is doable if you are careful.

Rösti mit Spiegelei (2 to 4 servings)

• 2 large Idaho potatoes
• 6 slices bacon
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• ½ cup shredded Gruyère cheese
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 2 to 4 eggs

1. Boil the potatoes in their skins for 20 minutes. Drain and cool. Then peel and grate using a cheese grater.
2. Sauté the bacon until crisp. Remove excess fat and crumble. Sauté the onions in the bacon fat until soft, about 10 minutes. Combine the crumbled bacon and onions with the potatoes and mix gently, taking care not to mash the potatoes.
3. Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the potato mixture. Using a spatula, press into a round, flat cake. Brown over a high heat. When the bottom side is browned, flip it over. Sprinkle the Gruyère over the top and allow to melt. When the second side is browned, place the potatoes on a large plate.
4. Add the butter to the pan. Cook the eggs over medium and place on top of the potatoes.