🥔 Rustic Golden Potato Bake

This dish is a savory, cheesy vegetable and potato casserole that is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a light dinner.

Category	Ingredient	Quantity	Notes
Vegetables	Potatoes	3 large	Grated. Be sure to squeeze out excess moisture.
	Onion	1 medium	Finely chopped.
	Carrot	1 medium	Grated.
	Bell Pepper	1 medium	Finely chopped (any color).
	Fresh Chives	2 tbsp	Chopped, for mixing in and/or garnish.
Binder/Batter	Eggs	3 large	Beaten.
	Milk	300 ml (approx. 1 ¼ cup)	Any milk is fine (dairy, almond, etc.).
	Wholemeal Flour	200 g (approx. 1 ⅔ cups)	Whole wheat flour can be substituted with all-purpose.
	Baking Powder	2 tsp
	Salt	1–1.5 tsp	To taste.
Cheese & Fat	Cheese	150 g (approx. 1 ½ cups)	Grated (Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a mix works well).
	Olive Oil	1 tbsp	For frying/coating the pan.

Prep Vegetables: Peel and grate the potatoes. Place the grated potatoes in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and squeeze out as much excess moisture as possible; this step is crucial for a crisp bake. Grate the carrot and finely chop the onion and bell pepper.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the wholemeal flour, baking powder, and salt.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, beat the eggs, then whisk in the milk.
Create Batter: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until a smooth, thin batter forms.
Mix in Vegetables and Cheese: Add the prepared grated potatoes, grated carrot, chopped onion, chopped bell pepper, and most of the grated cheese (reserve a handful for the top) to the batter. Stir well to ensure the vegetables are fully coated. Stir in the chopped fresh chives.
Preheat and Prep Pan: Preheat your oven to $375^{\circ}\text{F}$ ( $190^{\circ}\text{C}$ ). Lightly grease a $9 \times 9$ inch square baking dish or line it with parchment paper, allowing an overhang for easy removal.
Bake: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining grated cheese over the top.
Cook: Bake for 35–45 minutes, or until the potato bake is golden brown, set in the center, and the cheese is bubbly.
Serve: Let the bake cool slightly, then cut into squares (like the image) and serve warm.

Enjoy this easy, cheap, and delicious potato bake!