Gattò di Patate Napoletano

Naples, Campania

Naples' potato cake — a thick round of mashed potato enriched with eggs, butter, Parmigiano, salame napoletano, and mozzarella, baked until golden. The name comes from the French 'gâteau' — introduced during the Bourbon court of Naples when French culinary terminology entered Neapolitan vocabulary. The filling of salami and mozzarella is layered into the centre of the potato so that slicing reveals the filling. A dish for using up excellent leftover mashed potatoes or an excellent preparation in its own right.

• Potato cake with a filling, baked until crisp on the outside — Irish version is thinner and pan-fried; Neapolitan is deep-baked → Boxty — potato cake with filling, pan-fried or baked Irish
• Potato mass with a filling of cured meat and cheese, set and sliced — egg-set vs baked, same basic architecture → Tortilla española rellena — potato omelette with jamón and cheese filling Spanish
• Baked potato preparation with dairy and cheese enrichment — French uses cream layers; Neapolitan uses enriched mash with filling → Gratin dauphinois — layered potato baked with cream and cheese French

Rich enriched potato; salami savouriness; melted mozzarella pools; breadcrumb crust; deeply satisfying Neapolitan family dish