Imelletty perunalaatikko
Finnish dish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sweetened potato casserole (Finnish imelletty perunalaatikko) is a traditional Finnish dish from Päijät-Häme.[1]
 Perunalaatikko | |
| Place of origin | Finland |
|---|---|
| Region or state | Päijät-Häme |
| Main ingredients | Potatoes, wheat flour, milk |
Preparation
Puréed potatoes are mixed with wheat flour and allowed to stand at a temperature of around 50°C (122°F). The amylase in the flour breaks down the potato's starches into shorter carbohydrate chains, i.e. sugars. The temperature cannot exceed 75°C (167°F); otherwise, the amylase molecules will break down.[2] Through this process, the dish gets its distinct sweet flavour; nowadays, however, it can be sweetened with dark syrup (Finnish: tumma siirappi). Dark syrup is made from sugarcane and it is the most common type of syrup in Finland. It has a similar taste to molasses, but is sweeter.
The potatoes, now with a batter-like texture, are mixed with milk and baked for several hours until thickened and caramelized on top.[2]
