Baked Potato with Butter and Parsley
It takes a while, but well worth it in the end.
Baked potatoes are the ultimate comfort food. Warm and smooth and filling. Paired with butter, sour cream, or anything else you want with it, you have a perfect meal for a needy soul. To attain the perfect potato, all you need is good time management and frequent visits to the oven. Don’t try this when you are in a rush. Rather, baking potatoes are good for when you have a few hours to kill while you are puttering around the house. Eating them in comfy pajamas on the couch watching a movie is much better than popcorn.
The brand of potatoes is very important. You need the rough Idaho or thick-skinned potatoes, the ones that are usually dirty. The small, thin-skinned potatoes are called “new,” “yellow,” or “red” potatoes. Those are good for boiling or roasting. To bake, however, the ugly ones are your choice. Once you get them, choose how many you want and scrub the heck out of them. You can use a washcloth, papertowel, or kitchen brush. The point is that the skin should be edible (I think it’s the best part), so you’d want it clean. Once you dry them, poke fork holes on all over them. Then, pop them in an oven at about 375-400 degrees for at least 45 minutes. Turn them once halfway through.
The trick is to know when they are done. Once 40 minutes goes by, you should be checking them every 10 minutes or so. They are thick root vegetables, so don’t be afraid of leaving them in there too long. They aren’t going to blow. Instead, use a fork to gently press the middle of the potato. If it gives a bit, then they are ready. When you poke it with a fork, it should only give a slight pressure. Take them out and let them cool a bit. Potatoes hold their heat very VERY well, and take that as a warning. Just because they may be ok to touch on the outside does not mean its the same on the inside.
When you slice them open, you can add a tab of butter, herbs, salt, pepper, sour cream, what have you. I prefer only two or three ingredients, but it is very versatile. Be creative. Here’s some ideas:
1. Sour cream and dill
2. Cheese and blanched broccoli
3. Chili, or mixed beans
4. Pesto with Parmiggiano Reggiano
5. Sauteed Shrimp with herbs and olive oil
THE PERFECT BAKED POTATO
(to serve 1 – 2)
2 Potatoes
Salt and Pepper
2 tabs of butter
1 tsp chopped parsley or parsley flakes
1. Clean and scrub the potatoes.
2. Poke fork holes all around the each potato.
3. Place in 375 – 400 degree oven directly on the rack.
4. Set timer for 20 minutes. Turn potatoes over.
5. Set timer for another 20 minutes.
6. When timer rings, check the potatoes. When they are ready, the fork should be able to poke through and come out somewhat easily, and you should be able to compress the middle of each a bit.
7. If not, add another 10 minutes at a time until ready.
Double Deliciousness
Loading ...
About