Champ

Ingredients for Champ

• 6 to 8 unpeeled baking potatoes, e.g., Russet or Yukon Gold

• 1 bunch spring onions (use the bulb and green stem)

• 350ml milk

• 4 to 8 tablespoons butter

• salt and freshly ground pepper

How to make Champ

Scrub the potatoes and boil them in their jackets. Finely chop the spring onions. Cover the spring onions with cold milk and bring slowly to a boil. Simmer for about 3 to 4 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave to infuse. Peel and mash the freshly boiled potatoes and, while hot, mix with the boiling milk and spring onions. Beat in some of the butter. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper. Serve in one large or four individual bowls with a knob of butter melting in the centre.

Champ may be put aside and reheated later in a moderate oven at 177°C. Cover with foil while it reheats so that it doesn't get a skin.

Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of freshly chopped parsley to the milk, bring to a boil for 2 or 3 minutes only, to preserve the fresh taste and colour. Beat into the mashed potatoes and serve hot.

Substitute freshly chopped chives for parsley.

Soak a couple of fists of seaweed in cold water for an hour or more. Drain and stew in milk until tender, about 3 hours. Add a good knob of butter and some pepper and beat into the mashed potato. Taste and correct the seasoning. Serve hot.

This special champ could only be made for a few weeks when the fresh green peas were in season. Cook the peas in the boiling salted milk with a pinch of sugar until tender. Add to the mashed potatoes and pound together in the usual way.

Clause de non-responsabilité

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.