Ham, pea & polenta cakes recipe | Good Food

Ham, pea & polenta cakes

140g sweet potato
peeled and chopped
140g floury potato
(such as King Edward), peeled and chopped
100g frozen pea
defrosted
100g shredded ham
hock
small handful mint
leaves, chopped
zest 1 lemon
3 spring onions
thinly sliced
6 tbsp fine polenta
or 4 tbsp gluten-free plain flour
pinch of cayenne pepper
plus a pinch to serve
3 eggs
and 1 egg white
2 tbsp vegetable oil
crème fraîche
and dressed rocket leaves, to serve

Method

step 1
Put the sweet and white potatoes into a pan of cold salted water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 10-15 mins or until really tender. Drain well and mash, check the seasoning, then set aside to cool.
step 2
Tip the mash into a large bowl along with the peas, ham hock, mint, zest, spring onions, 3 tbsp polenta (or 2 tbsp flour), the cayenne pepper and some seasoning. Whisk the egg white and add it, too. Mix well.
step 3
Form the mixture into 6 cakes. Tip the remaining 3 tbsp polenta onto a plate and roll the cakes in it to coat. The mix will be quite wet at this stage, but the extra polenta will help to keep them together during cooking. Cover and chill for 15 min.
step 4
Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over a medium heat. Add the cakes and fry for 3-4 mins each side or until golden and warmed through. Meanwhile, poach the remaining 3 eggs in a pan of barely simmering water for about 3 mins until the yolk is soft and the white is set.
step 5
Put the cakes on plates with a spoonful of crème fraîche, top with the poached eggs and a little cayenne. Serve with dressed rocket.