by Paul Knight

Created on: May 13, 2010   Last Updated: May 14, 2010

When I saw this title I just had to write to it as corned beef hash or “corned dog mess” as it is known in my house is an absolute favourite from my childhood and a real taste of home. My Nan used to cook this regularly to serve with cabbage or peas but having good old fashioned taste buds I prefer it with a nice portion of Heinz baked beans. The corned beef hash is a world loved dish and has lots of variation in the way it’s cooked with different extras and herbs. Personally I don’t like to mess with it too much as it’s the simplicity of the dish that really takes me back in time to Saturday afternoons watching the A-Team while Nan cooked.

The recipe I am giving you is hers but feel free to add herbs that you like as well as putting in what you feel is right as there is no snobbery or set way that dish is cooked to my mind.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 300g + Tin of premium corned beef. 3-4 Medium potatoes. ½ - ¾ Finely chopped onion 1-2  tsp Horseradish sauce. 1 ½ tsp Basil 150 gms Strong English cheddar. (Or equivalent) Small knob of butter and milk for mashing.

Method:

Skin and boil potatoes until soft. Add the horseradish and mash the potatoes adding the milk and butter to smooth the mixture but leaving it quite lumpy. Allow the potato to cool. In a frying pan with a little oil fry off your onions and dried basil. Once the onions begin to soften add the corned beef and allow this to soften also.

Now this is where people may begin to disagree with me.

Mix the meat mixture and potato mixture together with the cheese and combine the ingredients well. Add some black pepper but I personally would not add salt as there is plenty present in the meat and cheese. Scoop the mixture into serving portions and form into hash cakes (Not the kind you may have heard about those would make you sleepy and are very illegal). Fry the cakes until golden brown on both sides and piping hot throughout.

Serve with your favourite vegetables for a simple yet tasty dinner.

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