Potato cake
Potato cake is a name given to various shaped potato dishes around the world, including a patty of hashed potatoes, a fried patty of mashed potato, a fried and battered slice of potato, or a flatbread made with mashed potato and flour. In Northern England and some states in Australia, a thin slice of potato that is battered and deep-fried may be called a potato scallop. In Australia and New Zealand, the terms potato cake, potato flip and potato fritter may be used.
Hashed potatoes
In parts of England and North America, a potato cake is a patty of hashed potatoes, a kind of rösti or hash brown. These are available both fresh and frozen in supermarkets, and are served by many restaurants, such as fast food restaurants like McDonald's and Whataburger, often as part of the breakfast menu. The term can also refer to a sort of potato pancake.Potato scallops/potato cakes
In Australia and England, potato scallops are thin slices of potato that have been battered and deep-fried. The terminology used in Australia differs from state to state. In Victoria, Tasmania, and the Murray River regions of New South Wales, they are usually referred to as potato cakes. In the eastern and northern regions of New South Wales, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory, they are usually called "potato scallops". In South Australia and in New Zealand, potato fritter is most common, while in Western Australia and Northern Territory it is a mixed bag as to which term is used.Potato scallops are typically called "scollops" in northern and central England, and "fritters" in other areas. This variant is normally a thin slice of potato, dipped in batter and deep fried, with no additional flavouring added except salt and vinegar. This type of "potato scallop" is also found in New Zealand fish and chip shops, where it is referred to as a potato fritter. More commonly in New Zealand, a potato scallop is made from either mashed or grated potato and is not covered in batter or deep fried. Hash browns, which are also widely available, are distinctly different. In Scotland, thin slices of potato covered in beer batter are known as potato fritters and commonly sold in chip shops. When sold in fish and chip shops, they are often bought in place of chips and may be served in a soft bread roll as a scallop butty.
The term may refer to a preparation of mashed potatoes baked in the form of pie or a scallop made using potatoes or potato flour.