Potato, Speck and Cheese Bake (Friuli)

March 18, 2026

Serves 6-8:

  • 1 kg of potatoes, preferably of equal size
  • 200 g of fresh Asiago cheese, coarsely grated (you could use Gouda, mild Cheddar or other delicate in flavour young cow’s cheese)
  • 120-150 g of thinly sliced speck, then chopped
  • 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan, Grana Padano or a good pecorino for a greater character of flavour
  • 40 g of butter, cubed
  • 3 tablespoons of cream
  • 3 eggs
  • salt
  • pepper

To finish:

  • about 20 g of butter (plus more for the baking tin)
  • 2-3 teaspoons of breadcrumbs (plus more to coat the baking tin)

Place the washed potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold water, add some salt and bring to the boil.

Simmer the potatoes with with the lid on until tender, check if they are ready with a small sharp knife.

Drain and let them cool down until you are able to handle them in your hands.

Peel the potatoes (preferable still slightly warm) and pass them through a ricer or food mill

(or mash in a large bowl or pot).

Add 40 g of cubed butter and stir until it melts and forms a homogenous mass with the potatoes.

Add the beaten eggs, cream, grated Asiago cheese, Parmesan and the chopped speck. Season well with the salt and pepper (I deliberately opt out from adding some nutmeg-allowing the speck to sing fully). Stir everything until well combined.

Grease thoroughly with butter a ovenproof dish (I used a round dish 24 cm in diameter and 6 cm tall) and dust very well with breadcrumbs.

Preheat the oven to 200 C / static.

Transfer and spread evenly the potato mixture in the prepared dish, pressing it gently with the back of a spoon.

Sprinkle the breadcrumbs all over the dish and dot the butter on top.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes (the top should start to turn crisp and golden by then) and  another 5 minutes under a grill – for a lovely crisp and dark golden finish.

Allow the potato bake to cool down for about 20 minutes before slicing and serving. It is wonderful with a crunchy green leaf salad and in case there is any left, it reheats like a dream loosely covered with a sheet of aluminium foil.