Lefse

This formula for lefse is based, among others, on the recipe found here ^[1], which seemed particularly helpful.

Makes around 30 x 20cm wide lefse & takes approx. 45 min to prep + several hours for the cooked potatoes to cool completely + 1 hour or more (not to mention a lot of practice) to roll out the dough and cook

1kg potatoes, preferably a floury variety (I used Irish Queens, in the U.S. try Russets)
50g butter (approx. 3 tblsp)
0.5 tsp salt (plus more for boiling the potatoes)
100ml whipping cream
approx. 175g – 300g plain flour

I’d strongly recommend having a ricer for the potatoes. If you have lefse-making equipment, then use it, though you can use your regular rolling pin to roll the lefse out, use a ruler or other long, slim implement to lift and turn the lefse and, if you don’t have a griddle, then a cast iron frying pan or pancake pan will do the job.

Peel your potatoes and cut into roughly even-sized slices, around 1-2cm thick. Rinse under cold water.
Bring about 1.25l of water to the boil in a saucepan, add about 1.5 tsp salt and the potato slices.
Bring the potatoes back to the boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer gently, covered, for around 12-15 minutes or until just fork-tender.
Drain the potatoes well and return to the saucepan. Then either let them sit, covered by a tea-towel, for about 5 minutes or place the pan over a low heat and stir gently for a minute or so while they dry out.
While the potatoes are drying, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
Put the cooked and still warm potatoes through a potato ricer, then stir in the melted butter. Add the cream and salt and stir to combine.
Cover the bowl of mashed potatoes with a tea-towel and place in the fridge for several hours or overnight, allowing the potatoes to cool completely.

When you’re ready to make the lefse dough, get your mashed potatoes and knead in about 175g plain flour, adding more flour if necessary to make a stiff dough that’s just slightly sticky and should hold together if you squeeze it.
Form the dough into small, evenly sized patties (about 3 tblsp of dough should be enough to make a 20cm wide lefse when it’s rolled out).
You can get ready to roll your first lefse now (and, meanwhile, keep the rest of the patties covered in the fridge).
Heat your griddle (to 500F if you have a temperature control) or place your ungreased stove top griddle or pan over a high heat.
Using a well-floured board, roll the lefse out as thinly as you can. Slide a turning stick or some other long, wide implement under the lefse, lift and transfer to the griddle or pan.
Cook for about 30 seconds or until the lefse has started to bubble and develop brown spots on the base. Flip the lefse over and cook briefly, just until the other side develops brown spots.
Remove and keep the lefse warm by covering with a towel while you get on with rolling and cooking the rest.
Eat warm with butter, sugar and cinnamon or allow to cool completely, fold in quarters and freeze until you’re ready to use them.

You can add a tsp or two of sugar to the mashed potato – many recipes do – or you can replace the cream with additional butter.

R☆5☆1