If there’s one dish that proves leftovers can become something comforting and new, it’s Bubble & Squeak—the beloved British classic traditionally made on Boxing Day. The recipe is simple: take whatever potatoes and cooked vegetables are left from the holiday table, mash them together, and crisp the mixture in a hot pan until golden. It’s thrifty, cozy, and endlessly flexible—exactly the kind of cooking that teaches students resourcefulness, flavor balancing, and confidence with heat and texture. Whether you’re using carrots, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, or greens, Bubble & Squeak is a delicious way to reduce waste, stretch ingredients, and turn “what’s left” into something worth celebrating. Let us know if you try this at home + tag us @sylviacenter!
Serves: 4–6
Prep Time: 20 mins
Notes: gluten-free
6 Tbsp butter
1 onion, finely chopped
3 C mashed or roasted potatoes
3 C leftover cooked vegetables (cabbage, kale, peas, rutabaga, carrots, Brussels sprouts), chopped
Kosher salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
½ tsp red pepper flakes
½ C shredded cheddar (optional)
Fried eggs, for serving (optional)
1 bunch parsley, leaves picked & rough chopped
Recipe Method
- In a large frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat, making sure it doesn’t brown. Add the onion and fry gently for around 3 mins or until soft and translucent.
- Turn the heat up, and add the potatoes and leftover vegetables (if using roast potatoes, make sure to smash them open before mixing). Sauté for at least 10 mins, turning everything over continuously in the melted butter to ensure that the potato and vegetables are thoroughly reheated. You are also aiming to brown (but not burn) the edges of the vegetables, so occasionally press the mixture into the pan before turning.
- Once the mixture is heated through, give the vegetables a long final press onto the pan’s base with a spatula and leave to cook for 1 min. Flip and repeat. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then scatter with red pepper flakes and the shredded cheese. Place under a broiler for 3–5 mins, or until the cheese is melted.
- Fry eggs, if using, then portion the bubble & squeak onto plates. Top with a fried egg, and a generous scattering of parsley. For bonus deliciousness, pour over piping hot beef gravy!
| Recipe Ingredients | Substitutions |
| Butter | Canola oil |
| Cheddar | Parmesan |
| Recipe Notes |
| Bubble & Squeak is a traditional British dish dating back to at least the 18th century, originally created as a thrifty way to use up leftover vegetables from a traditional British Sunday roast. The name comes from the sound the mixture makes as it cooks—it “bubbles” and “squeaks” in the pan. Traditionally made with potatoes and cabbage, it has always been a flexible, no-waste recipe that families adapt based on whatever is in the fridge. Today, it’s still a beloved Boxing Day meal in the UK and a great teaching tool for showing how simple ingredients can be repurposed into something comforting, nutritious, and new. |
