Pastel de patata italiano (Gateau de patatas)

Ingredientes

• 1 kg potatoes (- 2.2 pounds)
• 3 medium eggs
• 120 g fiordilatte mozzarella or buffalo mozzarella (- 4.5 oz)
• 60 g grated Parmigiano Reggiano (- 1/2 cup)
• 60 g salami (- 2 oz)
• 60 g ham (- 2 oz - in a single slice or in little cubes)
• 150 g mixed cheese (- 5 oz - some smoked such as smoked scamorza and some sweeter such as caciocavallo)
• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• salt (- to taste)

Preparación

1. 1

   Boil the potatoes with their skin. Put them in a large pot with plenty of cold water. Bring to a boil and from now on will take about 30/40 minutes. Remove them from the water and peel the potatoes while they are still a warm.

2. 2

   Prepare the ingredients: Cut the mozzarella into cubes. Then put them in a colander to drain all the liquid that comes out. Dice the cheeses. Cut the salami and ham into small cubes.

3. 3

   Mash the potatoes still warm in a bowl with a potato masher.

4. 4

   Beat the eggs: Break the eggs into a bowl. Add a little salt and pepper and beat them with a whisk.

5. 5

   Combine: Add the beaten eggs to the potatoes and mix very well.

6. 6

   Add other ingredients: Add the grated Parmigiano and the extra virgin olive oil. Then add ham, salami, mozzarella and the cheeses. Mix throughly all the ingredients.

7. 7

   Pour: Take a baking dish and oil the base. Then add the breadcrumbs on the base evenly, over the entire surface. Pour the mixture into the pan.

8. 8

   Top: Level and sprinkle the surface of the Potato Gateau with the breadcrumbs and a little more grated Parmigiano. Add also a dash of oil.

9. 9

   Bake and serve: Bake your potato gateau at 180°C (350°F) in a preheated oven for about 40 minutes. Place the baking pan on the middle rack. Halfway through baking, turn the pan by 180° to help form a crispy crust evenly. If you want in the last 3 or 4 minutes you can turn on the grill, so that the surface becomes even more golden. But be careful that it doesn't burn! Take your potato gateau out of the oven and let it cool.