4.24.2012

Choose Potato Cooking Tips And Ideas For A Satisfying Meal

By Agaton Rasmon


In the Andes over 8000 years ago the potato was discovered. It was a long time before it reached Europe in the 16th Century. But potato cooking since then has become a world wide activity.

Today there are numerous kinds to choose and you will find that different ones will suit particular cooking methods and recipes. The new potato and round red ones are ideal for boiling. They will hold their shape well. If you wish to serve them mashed then baking or russets will work well. Choose long whites for baked or fried potatoes.

Cook potatoes in milk if you are intending to mash them. If you want a lighter mix then use skimmed instead of full fat milk and leave out the butter. Try adding garlic cloves to enhance the flavor. If you over mash them they are more likely to be both sticky and stodgy. You could add roasted garlic, your favorite herbs, pepper and salt or even grated cheese to make them extra tasty when you are finally mashing them.

Roasting them in the oven is simple. Chop them into halves or quarters and toss in olive oil. You will need to turn them to make sure they brown evenly.

Frying them is another choice for this versatile vegetable. First they need to be cut and soaked for half an hour. Dry thoroughly before placing in a frying pan. After they are cooked they should be drained on kitchen paper to remove any excess and unwanted fat. You can fry them for a second time if you want a crisper finish.

Baking in their skins in the oven will take longer. However, this method will allow you to choose from a variety of fillings and provide a satisfying meal. Coleslaw, tuna and sweetcorn or grated cheese are easy to prepare and add color, too.

If you combine cooked potatoes that have already been sliced, together with herbs, sliced onion and butter, you will have created a Lyonnaise recipe. It is a filling dish and adds interest to this humble vegetable. Use the red variety for potato au gratin that has grated cheese for a topping. If you wish to make a simple supper meal a casserole combining diced ones, sour cream, cheese, garlic and cottage cheese is very quick. The ingredients are readily accessible.

New ones can be eaten hot or cold so do not worry about cooking too many. Adding cold ones to a salad makes an ideal dish. If you want to add a dressing then mix mustard, olive oil and a little lemon juice. These simple potato cooking tips and ideas will make preparing them a pleasure!




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment