As my grandmother used to say: “Take potatoes out of life and what’s left?” She had a point because in our house potatoes are a staple food. No matter whether it’s a yummy potato salad at a braai, baked potatoes with Sunday lunch or just a jacket potato as a quick side dish for dinner, this ‘starchy goodness’ is a regular feature on the Reiners menu. However, I have noticed that I tend to fall back on my plain old recipes and ways of preparation. There are only a few ways to make potatoes, right? Wrong! There are loads of lip-smackingly delicious potato recipes with which you can impress your family and guests.
Bacon and potato pot
Ingredients
1kg medium-sized potatoes
3 packets diced bacon
2 white onions
1 red onion
500g butter
1 punnet fresh mushrooms
1 packet white onion soup powder
Fresh chives
250ml sour cream
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Melt the butter in a pot. Fry the bacon until crispy and remove, leaving the butter behind. Slice the potatoes and white onions into thick slices and place in the pot in alternating layers. Place the mushrooms on top. Prepare the soup powder according to the instructions on the packaging and pour over the layers in the pot. Cook for 30 minutes. Chop the red onion and mix with the sour cream. Pour the mixture over the potatoes and cook for a further 15 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Sprinkle the bacon over the top, cover with the grated cheese and let simmer for 5 minutes.
Marmite potatoes
Ingredients
Potatoes, peeled and quartered
500ml cream
3 tablespoons Marmite
Method
Place the potatoes in a cast-iron pot. At the cream and bring to a boil. Add the Marmite. Let it cook until all the moisture has evaporated, and the potatoes start frying in the remaining oil. Turn the potatoes over regularly to avoid burning.
Mashed potato muffins
Ingredients
Potatoes
Milk
Butter Salt and pepper to taste
1 egg
Grated cheese
Parsley
Spring onions
Ham
Method
Boil the potatoes until soft. Mash and add the milk, butter, salt and pepper. The mash shouldn’t be too runny. Chop the parsley, spring onions and ham and mix through the mashed potatoes, along with the grated cheese. Add one beaten egg to the mixture. Press into a greased muffin pan. Baste with olive oil and bake at 180°C until golden brown.
Cheesy potatoes
Ingredients
Potatoes
Butter
Cheese
Sour cream
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Boil the potatoes until almost soft. Allow to cool. Cut into slices, taking care not to slice all the way through. Place slices of cheese and butter in the cuts. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour the cream over the potatoes and add the grated cheese over the top. Bake in the oven until the potatoes are soft and the cheese has melted.
