Description
Potthucke is a traditional German potato casserole that combines grated and parboiled potatoes with bacon, onions, and creamy ingredients, baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs (1.4 kg) starchy potatoes (about 8–9 medium)
- 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
- 4 oz (120 g) bacon (diced)
- 3 eggs
- 1 ½ cups milk (whole milk or half-and-half)
- 1 cup sour cream or crème fraîche
- 2 tbsp butter (melted)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (Gruyère, Emmental, or cheddar — optional topping)
Instructions
- Peel and divide potatoes: Grate 2 lbs finely (squeeze out excess liquid with a kitchen towel). Cube the remaining 1 lb into small chunks and parboil for 5–7 minutes until slightly tender.
- In a skillet, fry diced bacon until crispy. Add onion and sauté until golden. Let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine grated potatoes, parboiled potato cubes, bacon-onion mix, eggs, milk, sour cream, melted butter, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and thyme. Mix well until creamy.
- Grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish with butter. Pour potato mixture into the dish, smoothing the top. Optional: Sprinkle cheese on top for a gratin-style finish.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 60–70 minutes, until golden brown and set.
- Let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with a crisp salad, sausages, or sauerkraut.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon.
- Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese for topping.
- This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated before serving.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 150mg