Tatws Popty Recipe [How to Make Welsh Oven Potatoes]

One of Wales's famous dishes is Tawts Popty. Its Welsh name translates to 'oven potatoes' and lends itself to be the medicine for those cold wintery nights. In this guide, I'll give some background on the dish and share my own recipe from growing up in Pembrokeshire.

What is Tatws Popty?

Tawts Popty, also known as 'Welsh Oven Potatoes', is a dish made with layered vegetables (potato, leek, and onion), oven baked in rich beef stock, and topped with cheese and seasoning. It is very easy to prepare and only requires some basic knife skills.

Its other nickname, ‘Five Minute Cawl’ comes from the many similar ingredients it shares with Welsh Cawl, however, it is cooked in the oven rather than in a pan or slow cooker so it takes around half the time.

Each household will have its own way of preparing the dish. Some may add other vegetables such as carrots or swede, whereas others may include meat. Tatws Popty can be served as a meal in its own right, or used as a side dish.

A slice of crusty bread and a dash of Worcestershire sauce is a common addition to serve with Tawts Popty, a perfect way to finish this tasty Welsh dish.

Having Trouble?

Why Are My Tatws Popty Not Crispy?

If your Tatws Popty is not crispy, you may have too much stock in the bottom of your bake. When prepping your potatoes, remember not to overfill your dish, only fill up to around 2cm of stock. You can also bake under the grill for 5-10 minutes on medium heat to crisp up your potatoes.

Is Tatws Popty Vegetarian?

No, Tawts Popty is not vegetarian because it has beef stock in it. However, you can easily swap this for vegetable stock to make it suitable for vegetarians. You can swap the cheese on top for plant-based cheese to make it suitable for vegans too.

What to Serve Tatws Popty With?

Serve Tawts Popty with a shoulder of lamb to make this a meal. This is a common addition to this dish, baking your potatoes as normal but adding your meat and then baking in the oven to cook the meat. It is also great served with crusty bread and cheese or alongside Welsh Cawl as a side dish.