Babka
Potato Casserole
Babka is a hearty and flavorful baked potato casserole, often made with grated potatoes, pork, bacon, onions, and sometimes eggs or cream. It's a staple comfort food in Belarusian cuisine.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Potatoes(peeled and grated)
- 200 g Pork belly or bacon(diced)
- 2 medium Onions(chopped)
- 2 large Eggs
- 100 ml Sour cream or heavy cream
- 1.5 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 3 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 2 tbsp Butter(for greasing the dish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a baking dish with butter.
💡 Tip: Using a cast-iron skillet or a ceramic baking dish works well. - 2
Fry the diced pork belly or bacon in a skillet until crispy. Remove the meat with a slotted spoon, leaving the rendered fat in the pan. Sauté the chopped onions in the pork fat until softened and lightly browned.
💡 Tip: Reserve some crispy bacon bits for topping. - 3
Squeeze excess liquid from the grated potatoes. In a large bowl, combine the grated potatoes, sautéed onions and pork, eggs, sour cream (or heavy cream), minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
💡 Tip: Ensure the potato mixture is evenly combined. - 4
Pour the potato mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. If desired, top with reserved crispy bacon bits.
- 5
Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the casserole is set and cooked through. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
💡 Tip: If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For a richer flavor, use a combination of pork belly and bacon.
- ✓The quality of potatoes is important; starchy potatoes work best.
- ✓Allowing the babka to rest after baking helps it set and makes it easier to slice.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add sautéed mushrooms to the potato mixture.
- Incorporate a layer of cooked meat (like ground beef or shredded chicken) in the middle of the casserole.