They may be a staple in most diets and, in fact, at times blamed on being the “boring” part of a meal with people choosing to stick to the same few ways to cook potatoes.
However, potatoes are an incredibly versatile food and as a result are often the staple of many lunch and dinner dishes.
But the reality is we don’t use them to their full potential. With so many ways to cook potatoes and a wide range of flavour additions, there’s plenty of options to keep your meals feeling exciting and fresh.
Here are 15 ways you can cook potatoes:
- Boiled
The simple boiled potato is often overlooked, but when you’ve had them in many other forms, sometimes a boiled spud with a Sunday Roast is just what you need.
- Potato and Leek Soup
Hearty potato and leek soup cannot be beaten on a cold and blustery winter’s night, and the leftovers are great for lunch. Quick and easy to make and full of flavour.
- Potato Salad
Homemade potato salad is great for a BBQ or as a side for many mains. Add bacon bits to spice it up and lots of herbs to give it a kick.
- Baked Potato
Coat potatoes with skin-on in a drizzle of oil and salt, before baking in the oven for at least an hour at 200 degrees for a perfectly crispy skin. Filling and cost-effective, you can serve with a wide variety of fillings, including: chilli, beans, cheese, or tuna and onion.
- Potatoes Au Gratin
Slightly more difficult to get right, but worth it when you practice. This creamy, garlic laden oven baked dish is perfect for those winter nights.
- Wedges
Whether you cook them in an air-fryer or in the oven, potato wedges are a great alternative to chips. Flavour with different herbs and spices to add packets of taste.
- Homemade Chips
They aren’t great for you, but every now and then some proper homemade deep-fried chips just taste delicious. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, they are great with your favourite dip.
- Hasselback Potatoes
Essentially, this involves scoring a potato before baking it, making it even more
crispy and delicious.
- Hash Browns
A little trickier to make yourself, but worth the effort. Essentially this involves shredding the potatoes, packing them and shallow frying.
- Potato Skins
Bacon and cheese filled potato skins are one of the best comfort foods, ever.
- Roast Potatoes
Also referred to in some parts as “roasties”, the perfect way to ensure they taste delicious and are super crispy is to cook them in duck fat, often reserved for the Sunday dinner.
- Oven Chips
The healthier alternative to deep-fried chips, you get (most of) the taste, with less of the guilt.
- Mashed Potatoes
Whether you prefer them creamy with lots of butter and milk, or slightly drier and fluffier, mashed potatoes are a sure winner. For a healthier and lighter alternative, try mashing with fat free natural yoghurt instead of butter and milk, or add finely chopped spring onions and mix through for what the Irish refer to as “champ”!
- Saute Potatoes
Cut small and boiled before oven baking or shallow frying Saute Potatoes are often served with garlic or another herb dressing such as Rosemary.
- Rosti Potatoes
Originally a Swiss breakfast dish this involves grating potatoes and cooking them in a frying pan. Delicious with cheese added for extra flavour. The difference between these and hash browns is often just a case of whether you boil the potatoes beforehand or not.
