Polpettone Genovese – potato and vegetable casserole

Green beans by Jim Roberts

The translation of the name of this dish is Genovese meatloaf. Except that there is no meat. Now before my meat-loving friends begin to turn their noses skyward, this dish is utterly delicious and completely traditional. It just happens to be named meatloaf due to its form. As the second part of its name suggests, it hails from Liguria, Genova to be exact, where the cuisine has a strong vegetable streak due to its inhabitants spending plenty of time at sea missing fresh vegetables. To give you a better idea of what this recipe produces, I have tried to improve on its name and call it a casserole. Mashed potatoes are mixed with vegetables, eggs and cheese, topped with breadcrumbs and baked into a delicious mess.

Trombette courgettes/zucchini in Liguria

This is a great starter which works well as a main for any vegetarians. It could also be served as a side dish with a meaty meatloaf and be the vegetarian option. The vegetables change with the season but generally your options are courgettes, peas, artichokes, runner beans, green beans, dried mushrooms and carrots.

Polpettone Genovese (potato and vegetable casserole) – Liguria

For illustrated step-by-step instructions, click here.

750 grams potatoes

70 grams butter

100 mls milk

225 grams green beans or runner beans, ends removed and cut into ½ cm dice

250 grams carrots, peeled, ends removed and cut into ½ cm dice

100 grams peas

1 large onion, skin and ends removed and finely chopped

1 garlic, skin removed and finely chopped

180 grams courgette (1 large), ends removed and cut into ½ cm dice

15 mls extra-virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling

100 grams Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, finely grated

6 eggs

Breadcrumbs

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Boil the potatoes in their skins until a fork can easily pierce them. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon. When cool enough to handle, peel off the skin and either rice or mash the potatoes. Add 50 grams butter, 100 mls milk and salt and pepper to taste to the potatoes. Set aside.

Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook for 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice water.

Next add the carrots to the boiling water and cook for 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice water.

Finally, add the peas to the boiling water and cook for 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice water.

Drain the vegetables from the water and set aside.

Saute the onion, garlic and courgette together with the remaining 20 grams butter and the olive oil until soft. Add this, the blanched vegetables, the cheese, eggs and salt and pepper to taste to the potatoes and mix well.

In an oven proof dish, grease the dish with olive oil and sprinkle breadcrumbs around the dish. Add the potato mixture to the dish and smooth over the top. Top with breadcrumbs and drizzle over olive oil. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the top is golden and it is heated through.