Fingerling Potato ‘Homefries’
These creamy, rustic potatoes are flecked with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes for heat.
Ingredients:
1 pound baby or fingerling potatoes, such as this week’s German Butterball potatoes
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Method:
1. Place the potatoes in a pot, cover with water and season the water abundantly with salt. Bring to a boil and cook the potatoes until a fork slides in and out of them easily. Drain potatoes and cool.
2. Coat a large sauté pan generously with olive oil. Add the onions, season with salt and bring the pan to a medium high heat. Add the crushed red pepper flakes and sauté for 7 to 8 minutes or until the onions are soft and wilted but do not have any color.
3. Using the heel of your hand, smash the boiled potatoes to flatten and to break apart. Add to the pan, toss with onions and then flatten them against the bottom of the pan so they begin to form a crust. Repeat this process a few times to cover the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and toss with the chopped parsley.
Potato Salad with Apples & Walnuts
This crisp potato salad will be especially beautiful with this week’s Magic Myrna fingerling potatoes.
Ingredients:
2 pounds fingerling potatoes
6 tablespoons crème fraîche
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
1 cup chopped apple
4 stalks celery
½ cup roughly chopped toasted walnuts
½ cup roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Place the potatoes in a large, wide pot, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Add 2 teaspoons salt, reduce heat, and simmer until the potatoes are just tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to cool.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the crème fraîche, vinegar, mustard, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper.
3. Cut the potatoes in half (or quarter if large). Add the potatoes to the dressing and gently toss to coat. Fold in the apples, celery, walnuts, and parsley.
Grilled Fingerling Potatoes
Buttery fingerlings are excellent on the grill—just add fresh dill for a unique finishing touch!
Ingredients:
3 pounds fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise
4 tablespoons butter, softened
¼ cup dill, chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Prepare a grill for medium heat. In a large bowl, toss potatoes with oil, salt and pepper.
2. Set out 4 sheets heavy-duty foil. Oil foil; divide potatoes among sheets, arranging them cut side down in a single layer on the short half of each sheet. Fold other half of each sheet over potatoes and crimp edges to seal.
3. Grill packets, crimped sides up, covered, rotating halfway through, until potatoes are tender when pierced through foil, 20 minutes. Open packets; if potatoes aren’t brown on cut sides, cook longer.
4. Transfer potatoes to a large bowl. Toss with butter and dill. Arrange on a platter; sprinkle with coarse sea salt if you like.
Mashed Potatoes with Duxelles
These decadent potatoes are mixed with mushroom duxelles for a satisfying finishing touch.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds fingerling potatoes, washed and scrubbed
½-¾ cup milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup crème fraîche or sour cream
¾ cup F&L mushroom duxelles
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large pot, bring 2 quarts of water and 1 tablespoon of salt to a boil. Add the potatoes to the boiling water and bring the water back to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes fall apart easily when pierced with a fork.
2. Meanwhile, heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan, making sure it doesn’t boil. Set aside until the potatoes are done.
3. As soon as the potatoes are tender, drain them in a colander. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and mash with a potato masher or large heavy-duty fork until thoroughly mashed. Stir in the hot milk mixture with a whisk or rubber spatula. Add enough crème fraîche or sour cream to make the potatoes soft and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste, and mix in the duxelles. Serve immediately, or to keep the potatoes warm, place the bowl over a pan of simmering water for up to 30 minutes.
Purple Potato Salad with Baby Fennel
Fennel adds a subtle anise flavor to sweet, mild purple potatoes in this beautiful salad.
Ingredients:
2 pounds Russian Blue potatoes
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups mustard greens, torn
1 cup fennel fronds, sliced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Place the potatoes and salt in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Partially cover and simmer until potatoes are tender but not mushy, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. Drain and cool slightly. When cool enough to handle but still warm, cut potatoes into large bite-size pieces. (The salad should be chunky).
2. Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Add the oil, vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat. Add the garlic, mustard greens, and fennel. Toss to combine and slightly wilt the greens. If the salad is too dry, add a little more oil to achieve desired consistency. Taste for seasoning, and add more salt if desired. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
Creamy Scalloped Potatoes with Chive Blossoms
This beautiful dish is sure to be a new spring favorite!
Ingredients:
3 pounds fingerling or other small new potato
2 shallots, chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces soft mild goat cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Fresh flowering chives, snipped with scissors, for garnish
Method:
1, Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Peel potatoes and cut into â…›-inch-thick slices with a manual slicer or sharp thin knife. Keep slices in a large bowl of cold water while making sauce.
3. Cook shallots in butter in a small skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Transfer to a blender and purée with milk, cream, cheese, kosher salt to taste, and pepper.
4. Drain potatoes in a large colander and pat dry. Arrange in a buttered 3-quart shallow baking dish in 3 layers, pouring some of sauce over each layer (use all of sauce) and putting best potato slices on top layer. Bake, covered with foil, in lower third of oven. Remove foil after 45 minutes and continue to bake until potatoes are tender, 30 to 45 minutes more. If desired, briefly broil potatoes under preheated broiler until top is golden.
Buttermilk Ranch Potato Salad
Tossed with a plethora of fresh herbs including cilantro, dill and chives, this potato salad is incredibly fresh-tasting.
Ingredients:
3 pounds baby red potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
â…“ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
â…“ cup coarsely chopped fresh chives
â…“ cup coarsely chopped fresh dill
¾ cup well-shaken buttermilk
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
â…“ cup mayonnaise
â…“ cup finely-chopped scallions (green parts only)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
Black pepper
Method:
1. Place 1½ to 2 inches of water in the bottom of a large pot. Place a steamer basket in the pot and add the cut potatoes to the basket. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat to medium-high. Cover and steam the potatoes until knife-tender, stirring once or twice to ensure the potatoes in the center are evenly cooked, 25 to 30 minutes.
2. Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Let cool at least 30 minutes before dressing; the potatoes should be room temperature. Meanwhile, make the dressing.
3. Place the cilantro, dill, and chives in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Remove 3 tablespoons of the mixture to a small bowl and set aside for garnish.
4. Add the buttermilk, yogurt, mayonnaise, scallions, garlic and 1 teaspoon salt to the medium bowl of herbs. Season with pepper and whisk to combine. Refrigerate the dressing until the potatoes are ready.
5. Pour the buttermilk dressing onto the potatoes and fold it in gently until the potatoes are fully dressed. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Transfer to a large serving bowl. Scatter the reserved herb mixture on top.
Potatoes à la Robuchon
Of all the haute cuisine in legendary chef Joël Robuchon’s repertoire, he was best known for these super-silky potatoes.
Ingredients:
2½ pounds fingerling potatoes, all of a similar size
1 pound unsalted butter, cold, cut into small cubes
¼ cup milk
Sea salt, to taste
Method:
1. Place unpeeled potatoes in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a rapid simmer and cook for 35 to 40 minutes or until tender. Drain and peel. Transfer to a bowl and let potatoes cool slightly.
2. Turn potatoes through a food mill on the finest setting, back into the cooking pot. Heat pot over medium heat stirring until heated through and steam begins to come off the bottom of the pot. Add butter in 5 additions, allowing each addition of butter to be almost melted before adding the next until it all has been incorporated.
3. Stir in warm milk until combined. Using a whisk, vigorously stir potatoes until fluffy. Season with salt. Transfer to a serving dish and smooth the top of the potatoes with the back of a spoon or an offset spatula.
Braised Fingerling Potatoes
Buttered and simmered in water, these rich, flavorful potatoes will wow.
Ingredients:
2 pounds fingerling potatoes
2 cups water
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
¾ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Method:
1. Cut a round of parchment paper to fit just inside a 12-inch heavy skillet and butter one side.
2. Slice potatoes ⅛-inch thick with the slicing blade on a grater or with a mandoline. Arrange in layers in skillet. Add water, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Dot top with the butter.
3. Cover potatoes with parchment, buttered side down, and briskly simmer until tender and most of liquid has evaporated, 30 to 35 minutes. Serve sprinkled with parsley.