Patties
Encyclopedia
Frying
Frying is the cooking of food in oil or another fat, a technique that originated in ancient Egypt around 2500 BC. Chemically, oils and fats are the same, differing only in melting point, but the distinction is only made when needed. In commerce, many fats are called oils by custom, e.g...
mashed potato
Mashed potato
Mashed potato is made by mashing freshly boiled potatoes with a ricer, fork, potato masher, food mill, or whipping them with a hand beater. Dehydrated and frozen mashed potatoes are available in many places...
dish, originating in the north-east of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is thought to have been invented in Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
where patties are readily available.
The original pattie is a mix of mashed potato and sage blended together and made into a disc or square shape, then covered in batter and fried, much like a fish cake.
There are many different kinds of pattie such as meat pattie (corned beef
Corned beef
Corned beef is a type of salt-cured beef products present in many beef-eating cultures. The English term is used interchangeably in modernity to refer to three distinct types of cured beef:...
) and the cheese pattie (cheese and onion) but the most common variety is the standard sage, onion and potato pattie.
Patties can be of various shapes but are usually round or rectangular. The pattie in many instances replaces fish and is ordered with chips as well as in a breadcake, this is known as the pattie buttie.
The pattie buttie is usually eaten as a cheap snack or meal when served with a breadcake, the sage and onion variety is best found in the numerous chip shops in Hull. Served with a buttered breadcake and just a dash of salt and vinegar (sometimes a bit of chip spice too).
In certain parts of the North East and Cumbria fish patties are available. These consist of a disc of minced fish sandwiched by two slices of potato (rather than mashed potato as in other patties) and covered in batter.