Fried Salt Beef is a traditional British recipe, based on Mrs Beeton's recipe of 1861, for a classic dish of left-over cooled salt beef that's thinly sliced and fried in butter before being served on a bed of mashed potatoes. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic British version of: Fried Salt Beef.
(click this button to prevent the screen from sleeping so Cook Mode is 'ON')
This is a traditional British recipe redacted from the redoubtable Mrs Beeton's 1861 volume Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, the classic Victorian cookbook.
Original Recipe
FRIED SALT BEEF (Cold Meat Cookery).
625. INGREDIENTS.—A few slices of cold salt beef, pepper to taste, 1/4 lb. of butter, mashed potatoes.
Mode.—Cut any part of cold salt beef into thin slices, fry them gently in butter, and season with a little pepper. Have ready some very hot mashed potatoes, lay the slices of beef on them, and garnish with 3 or 4 pickled gherkins. Cold salt beef, warmed in a little liquor from mixed pickle, drained, and served as above, will be found good.
Time.—About 5 minutes. Average cost, exclusive of the meat, 4d.
Seasonable at any time.
Modern Redaction
Ingredients:
8 slices cold, salt, beef (left-over after boiling)
freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
115g butter
mashed potatoes
4 pickled gherkins, halved
Method:
Slice the beef very thin, melt the butter in a pan then add the beef and fry gently until warmed through (but do not dry out). Season the beef with black pepper then lay the slices on top of some very hot mashed potatoes, garnish with the gherkins and serve.
