The potato may appear like a humble vegetable but the power which this has in the kitchen is truly remarkable and there is an enormous array of dishes which you can make using a variety of potato. Chef Charles Wooten has taught me a lot in the kitchen and one of the things which he often says that stays with me, is the importance of keeping things simple. This is something which I always try to do when it comes to cooking and it is why today I am going to discuss the potato and some of my favorite dishes which I make using that powerful little veg.
Dauphinoise
This is absolutely my favorite way of cooking potatoes and it is a dish which can accompany so many other meals. To make this dish you need some high quality King Edward potatoes sliced nice and finely. Par-boil the potatoes and then set aside. Next up we are going to use some double cream mixed with salt, pepper and plenty of fresh garlic, and boil it slowly until it thickens. All you then need to do is layer the potatoes with the sauce in a casserole dish and bake it all for 25 minutes. The result is a decadent and delicious potato dish which everyone will love.
Patatas Bravas
If you are knocking up a Spanish dish at home or you are making a little bit of tapas, this is the perfect option for the table. This is a very simple dish which anyone can make. All you need to do is take some fluffy potatoes and par-boil them. Once they are softened you can cube the potatoes, making sure that you get a good level of consistency with the cubes. Once this is complete you need to fry off the cubes until they are crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. Serve the potatoes with some freshly made aioli and some spicy tomato sauce.
Dijon Mustard Mash
Mashed potatoes are all well and good but they do often need some flavor packed into them in order to give them a little bit of extra character. For me the best flavor which you can add is mustard, and I love nothing more than adding dijon mustard to the mix. Once the potatoes are boiled, add some salt and some pepper to them and slowly mash, only breaking up the potatoes. Once you have done this, add a good couple of tablespoons of dijon mustard to the mix and then continue the mash, making sure that the mustard gets into every single piece of potato that you are blending up. This adds a real sweet and spicy flavor to the mash which perfectly compliments the potatoes and the texture.
These are just three of hundreds of potato dishes which you could choose from. Remember that it is all about cooking the simple ingredients in an exciting way when it comes to cooking.
