Being a born-and-bred Midwesterner, I thought I knew all there was to know when it came to potato casseroles. That is until a few weeks ago when this oddly named Scottish potato and cabbage number came to my attention. The kicker is that it’s even easier to make than some of my absolute favorites—the always-classic scalloped potatoes and always comforting cheesy potato casserole.
Ease aside, is it just as delicious as the many potato bakes I already know? The answer: A resounding yes.
What Is Rumbledethumps?
Rumbledethumps is a traditional Scottish dish typically made with potatoes, cabbage, onions, and sometimes rutabaga or swede (also called turnip in Scotland). It’s a simple mash, topped with cheddar cheese and baked until golden. It can be a side or a main, served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It can also incorporate leftover mashed potatoes and greens (more on that below).
The origin of the name isn’t clearly traced, but it’s fun to say, so I guess it stuck! Rumbledethumps may remind you of two other fun-sounding dishes, colcannon from Ireland and bubble and squeak from England.
In developing this recipe, I looked to various trusted sources to inform traditional techniques and ingredients. My goal was to keep the recipe as simple and straightforward as possible while keeping the result close to the original.
Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Pearl Jones
Using Leftovers and Making It Ahead
Rumbledethumps is both a great dish to use up leftovers and a perfect candidate for making ahead. If you have leftover mashed or boiled potatoes and/or leftover boiled, sautéed, or even roasted greens, you can use them up here. Simply mash the ingredients together with some butter before spreading into a baking pan, topping with cheese, and baking until golden.
To make rumbledethumps ahead for a potluck, dinner, or even tomorrow’s breakfast, cook the potatoes and cabbage, mash, and season before letting cool completely. Cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap before storing in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake, top with the cheese and bake for about 45 minutes, or until hot all the way through and golden on top.
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