Without A Recipe: Potatoes

This starchy tuber is a ubiquitous staple vegetable that’s been the heart of classic comfort meals at so many family gatherings. Whether it’s those famous buttery mashed potatoes, homemade hash browns, or the creamiest potatoes au gratin, everyone seems to have a go-to potato recipe in their back pocket. But once you’ve run through all the basic preparations, where do you go from there? Here are some ways to get creative with your spuds.

Potato Hobo Packs w/ Salsa Verde: To make the salsa verde, lightly blend fresh herbs (like chive, basil, parsley, and marjoram), onion or shallot, capers and olive oil. Season to taste. Chop potatoes, toss in salsa verde and put potato mix in personal-size tin foil packs. Grill over med-high heat until potatoes are cooked through. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice.

Potato Pizza: Thin slice potatoes (on a mandoline if you have one) into coins. Brush par-baked pizza dough with olive oil and spread caramelized onions and potato coins over the pie. Top with fresh herbs (like oregano or marjoram) and finish with grated parmesan and gouda. Bake until edges are golden brown (about 8 minutes).

Potato Pancake 3 Ways: Grate potatoes, toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook in skillet, pressing on potatoes to form a cake of sorts. Once crispy and browned, flip and cook until browned on the other side. Top with herb-roasted mushrooms and fontina cheese, creme fraiche and smoked salmon, or sauteed seasonal vegetables and homemade tomato sauce.

Boosted Mashed Potatoes:

• When blending your whipped potatoes, add goat cheese and basil to the mix.
• For extra rich mashed potatoes, use half water and half stock when boiling the potatoes. For added depth, put peeled whole garlic cloves in the cold boiling liquid. Let garlic boil with the potatoes and blend with potatoes.
• Include other hearty veggies like butternut squash or celery root when boiling and blending your potatoes for a creative take on the classic side.