“Not everyone can be a truffle. Most of us are potatoes. And a potato is a very good thing to be.”
~ Massimo Bottura
I love baked potatoes. They go well as a side dish for barbeques and salads, but you can also load them up with toppings and have them as a meal on their own.
The potatoes are quick to prepare but need around an hour to cook. It’s well worth it. The end result is a chewy crispy crust and a fluffy steaming interior, ready for a dab of butter and some chopped herbs or whatever else is your pleasure.
They’re also delicious cold and chopped into a salad.
Ingredients:
- 1 large potato per person
- olive oil
- salt
Method:
- Preheat the oven to hot – about 200 degrees celcius or 400 degrees fahrenheit
- Line a baking tray with foil.
- Cut out any blemishes from the potatoes, wash with water and pat dry with a cloth or paper towel.
- Prick the potatoes several times with a fork or skewer. This helps steam escape.
- Rub the potatoes all over with olive oil. Place on the tray and sprinkle with salt.
- Place in the oven and cook an hour minutes, turning once or twice during that time. Check doneness with a fork or skewer. It should be tender inside. Bigger potatoes may take longer to cook through.
- Eat with gusto!
Great toppings for your baked potatoes:
Tip: If you use cheese as a topping consider popping filled potatoes under a hot grill or back into the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese!
- Sour cream, butter or yoghurt and some chopped fresh herbs
- Guacamole and salsa
- Cooked bacon, cheese and chives
- Baked beans, a fried egg and some cheddar cheese
- Pizza sauce, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese
- Basil, fetta cheese, red onion and sliced black olives
- Leftovers smothered in cheese
- Ham, tomato and cheese
- Bean salad and dressing
- Hummus, sliced red onion and some rocket (arugula)
- Baba ganoush, a dollop of yoghurt and some fresh mint
