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Vegetarian, European

Rösti with fried egg and salad

Rösti is a Swiss potato cake made from grated potatoes, pan fried until golden, served here with a fried egg and a salad for 4 people. It takes 45 minutes, rates as easy, and costs €1.60 per serving. The key to success is not overcooking the potatoes beforehand, so they stay firm enough to grate and hold together in the pan.

Here's your Rösti, the Swiss potato cake, crispy on the outside and soft inside, with a fried egg and a salad.

Rösti with fried egg and salad
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.60
Calories per person
450 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Fall, Summer
The kids
They generally like it

Rösti is a simple potato cake, crispy on the outside, soft and tender inside. You eat it with a piece of bread or a fork, topped with a fried egg whose yolk runs into the potatoes, alongside a green salad with a sharp vinaigrette to cut through the richness. It originally comes from Switzerland and has become a easygoing weeknight classic everywhere.

This is the kind of recipe to make on a weeknight when you have leftover potatoes and not much else in the fridge. Kids generally love the golden cake and the fried egg, and you can cut it into wedges for a relaxed family dinner. It also works well for a weekend lunch, served with a bit more care on the plate.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Waxy potatoes 1.2 kg
  • Green salad 1
  • Onion 1

Dairy

  • Butter 60 g
  • Eggs 4

Pantry

  • Oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Lactose, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Boil the potatoes with their skin on for just 15 minutes, let them cool, peel them and grate them coarsely. 25 min

    They should stay firm at the core so they hold together when grated.

  2. Mix the grated potatoes with the salt and pepper.

    Don't pack them down, you want to keep some air in there.

  3. Heat the butter and oil in a skillet, spread the potatoes out and press the top down lightly. 2 min

    Keep the heat medium, too high and the cake burns before cooking through.

  4. Let it cook undisturbed until the bottom is golden, flip it using a plate and brown the other side. 20 min

    Slide the cake onto a plate, cover with the skillet and flip it in one confident motion.

  5. Fry the eggs, dress the salad with oil and vinegar, and serve everything together. 5 min

    Finish with thinly sliced raw onion if you like a bit of crunch.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use a good quality nonstick skillet, that's what keeps the cake from sticking when you flip it.
  • Squeeze the grated potatoes dry with a clean kitchen towel before mixing them, excess moisture keeps the cake from browning properly.
  • If you double the recipe, make two separate cakes instead of one thick one, a thicker cake won't cook through evenly at the center.

The variations

  • Swap the butter for olive oil for a dairy free version, the flavor shifts slightly but the texture stays good.
  • Add grated cheese on top near the end of cooking for a richer version, like a cheese Rösti.
  • For kids, cut the cake into small triangles and serve with scrambled eggs instead of fried, it's easier for them to eat.

What to serve it with

  • A slice of smoked ham
  • Melted raclette cheese
  • Homemade applesauce

Storage

Cooked Rösti keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It doesn't freeze well since it loses its crispness. Reheat leftovers in a skillet over medium heat to bring back some crunch, rather than in the microwave.

Questions about this dish

Why parboil the potatoes before grating them?

Raw grated potatoes release a lot of water, which keeps the cake from browning. A short parboil firms them up and gives you a Rösti that holds together while cooking.

Can you prep the potatoes a day ahead?

Yes, it's actually recommended. Boil the potatoes the day before, let them cool in the fridge, they'll grate more easily and the cake will turn out crispier.

What kind of skillet works best for Rösti?

A nonstick skillet about 24 centimeters across works well for 4 servings. It makes sliding the cake out and flipping it much easier.

Can you swap the fried egg for a poached one?

Yes, a poached or even scrambled egg works just fine. It's mainly the runny yolk that adds richness to the Rösti, so keep a cooking method that preserves that.

How long does it take to make a Rösti, a golden Swiss potato cake, with a fried egg and a side salad?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a Rösti, a golden Swiss potato cake, with a fried egg and a side salad?

About 450 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a Rösti, a golden Swiss potato cake, with a fried egg and a side salad cost?

About €1.60 per serving, or €6.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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