Lung Hash with Mashed Potato Topping - meat, dinner recipe

Lung Hash with Mashed Potato Topping

A clever way to get the family on board with offal — the mashed potato crust makes it feel familiar and cozy.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Finely chop the onion and garlic.

  2. 2

    Heat a frying pan with the margarine and sauté the onion and garlic until soft and glossy.

  3. 3

    Cut the lung hash into cubes and let it melt into the pan. Add the lemon juice and zest and the cayenne pepper. Season with a little salt and pepper.

  4. 4

    Remove the toughest stems from the spinach and roughly chop it. Fold the spinach into the warm lung hash.

  5. 5

    Pour the lung hash into an ovenproof dish and sprinkle a little grated cheese over it. Spread the mashed potato on top and scatter the rest of the grated cheese over everything.

  6. 6

    Place the dish in the middle of the oven at 180–200 °C for about 20 minutes, until the mashed potato is golden and everything is heated through. Serve straight away.

Per average serving

456
Calories
kcal
27.6
Protein
g
49.1
Carbs
g
17.5
Fat
g
5g
Fiber
4.7g
Sugar
1286mg
Sodium

Tips from the kitchen

  • Let the lung hash actually cook down in the pan before you add anything else. It releases a bit of liquid as it warms, and you want most of that to cook off so the filling isn't watery under the potato.
  • The lemon zest matters more than you'd think here. It cuts through the slightly metallic edge that offal can have, so don't skip it or you'll notice the difference.
  • Add the spinach off the strongest heat and just fold it through. It wilts in seconds and turns into a sad green mush if you let it sit in the hot pan too long.
  • Spread the mashed potato gently with the back of a spoon rather than dumping it on. If you press too hard the filling pushes up the sides and the layers blur together.
  • You'll know it's ready when the cheese on top has gone golden and you can hear it bubbling slightly at the edges. Twenty minutes is a guide, your oven decides the rest.

Ways to vary it

  • If you want a bit more bite, scatter some chopped parsley or chives over the warm hash before the potato goes on.
  • A spoonful of grated nutmeg stirred into the mashed potato is a nice optional touch and plays well with the spinach.
  • Swap the mozzarella for a sharper cheese like aged cheddar if you'd like more flavour on the crust.

Storage & leftovers

Keeps in the fridge for up to three days in a covered dish. It freezes fine, though the mashed potato can go a touch grainy once thawed, so eat it from frozen within a month for the best texture. Reheat covered in the oven at 180 °C for about 20 minutes rather than the microwave, which leaves the topping soggy.

What to serve with it

A simple green salad with a sharp vinaigrette is all it needs, the acidity balances the offal nicely. A few pickled beets on the side wouldn't hurt either.

UC
By Untrained ChefPublished 20 April 2026 · Updated 11 July 2026