Döppekooche (or Debbekooche)

Döppekooche is a traditional dish of the Rhineland region in Germany. It originated as a poor people's dish, based on potatoes, and is traditionally served with apple sauce (Apfelmus).

Ingredients

2.1 kg potatoes
2 middle sized onions
6 eggs
300 g bacon (optional)
2.5 tablespoons salt
nutmeg and black pepper to taste

oil

Peel and grind potatoes and onions and mix with the eggs. Add spices. Cut bacon in fine stripes or dice, add to the dough and mix well.
Heat enough oil in an iron pot and put the dough in, leaving on the stove to simmer for about 20 min. During the cooking time keep stirring and take care that the dough does not stick to the bottom of the pot. The dough will be losing liquid and become stiffer. After the simmering-time the dough needs to be put back into a stiring bowl, so that nothing remains in the iron pot.

Now add some more oil to the iron pot, covering the bottom well and also oiling the sides of the pot so that nothing will stick to the walls. When the oil is hot enough the dough is put back into the pot and the surface is smoothened.

Put into the pre-heated oven at 180 degrees for 1.5 h till the surface has a light to medium brown color, depending on your preference. You might want to cover the dish for part of the time.

Serve hot with cold apple sauce.