Cuisine: Potatoes
Japanese Potatoes with Soy Sauce
I made these Japanese Potatoes with Soy Sauce and my daughter raved about them. I was meant to buy regular mini potatoes, but I could only find fingerlings. The potatoes are simmered in soy sauce, sugar, salt and water. It's so simple and really delcious.
By - Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Maple-Mustard Sheet-Pan Salmon
Sheet-pan meals are the ultimate solution for a busy weeknight, and Maple-Mustard Salmon stands out as a sophisticated yet remarkably simple centerpiece. By roasting everything on a single tray, you allow the flavors to mingle while keeping cleanup to an absolute minimum. The magic of this dish lies in the balance of the glaze. The natural sweetness of pure maple syrup cuts through the sharp, vinegary tang of Dijon mustard. This salmon is succulent and flavorful.
- Yields: 4 - 6 Servings
Baked Yams with a Parmesan Crust
Baked Yams with a Parmesan Crust are here to bring a savory, salty crunch to your table that’s totally addictive. The yams are pressed into a nutty mixture of freshly grated Parmesan. As they roast, the cheese transforms into a golden, lacy crust, which offsets the creamy, natural sweetness of the yams. It’s an effortless, budget-friendly dish that looks—and tastes—absolutely out of this world.
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Italian Sausage Potato Soup
My daughter Zoe made this Sausage and Potato Soup the other night, and I had to try it. It’s your new weeknight secret weapon. The bold, spicy Italian sausage, tender waxy potatoes, and vibrant spinach deliver deep, slow-simmered flavor in under an hour. It’s a complete meal in a single pot. Serve it with crusty bread for the win.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Yields: 8 Servings
Nikujaga (Japanese-Style Meat and Potatoes)
I made this Nikujaga (Japanese-Style Meat and Potatoes), and my Japanese stepmother said it’s the epitome of Japanese comfort food.
Nikujaga literally translates to "meat" (niku) and "potatoes" (jagaimo), this dish is the quintessential "mother's cooking" (ofukuro no aji) in Japan. It’s a savory, slightly sweet, and deeply soul-warming stew that relies on a few ingredients and a simple simmering technique.
Legend has it that Nikujaga was born in the late 19th century thanks to Togo Heihachiro, a Japanese naval commander. Having studied in England, he supposedly fell in love with British beef stew.
Upon his return, he ordered his naval chefs to recreate it. Lacking demi-glace and red wine, the chefs used what they had: soy sauce, sugar, and sake. The result wasn't a British stew, but it was so delicious that it became a staple of the Japanese Navy to combat vitamin deficiencies.
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Leftover Roast Beef Shepherd’s Pie
My daughter, Grace, has mastered the art of the culinary "second act." She brilliantly transforms leftover roast beef and mashed potatoes into a Roast Beef Shepherd’s Pie - and while the purists might call it a Cottage Pie because of the beef, in our house, it’s simply a family classic. Her addition of sharp cheddar cheese to the mashed potatoes creates a tangy, golden crust that ties the whole dish together.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Yields: 6 Servings
Kielbasa Cabbage Stew
This Kielbasa Cabbage Stew is simple, savory, and satisfying. It’s the perfect easy-to-make meal to take the chill off a cold day. Since it comes together in just one pot, you’ll spend less time cleaning up and more time enjoying a bowl of pure comfort. Serve it with a thick slice of crusty bread.
Cheesy French Onion Baked Potatoes
For me, almost every satisfying, savory creation that leaves my kitchen is founded on a great onion. If I’m ever unsure of what to prepare for dinner, I always reach for an onion first.
The good news is that turning an onion into a wonderfully comforting and delicious dinner is straightforward. All it takes is a little butter, a fluffy baked potato, and some time (both the clock time and the herby kind—thyme!).
This recipe perfectly illustrates that point. The French Onion Baked Potato takes the most beloved elements of the classic French onion soup—namely, the sweet caramelized onions and the rich, melted Gruyère cheese—and places them right onto a warm, tender baked potato.
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs 15 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Vesuvio Potatoes
Vesuvio Potatoes are a classic of Italian-American recipe, particularly associated with Chicago, Illinois, where it is believed to have originated in the 1930s. It's named after Mount Vesuvius, the volcano near Naples, Italy. They are garlicky, lemony wine-infused potato wedges. The original dish is Chicken Vesuvio. I went to Mount Vesuvius when I was 16 with my friend Alina. I have a pathological fear of heights. Hence, going to the top of Mount Vesuvius on the back of a mule was a bad idea..... Ditto Saint Paul's cathedral dome in London.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Yields: 4 - 6 Servings
Chicken, Leek and Stuffing Hot Pot
This Chicken, Leek and Stuffing Hot Pot is from Marks & Spencer. Chicken thighs, salty pancetta, leeks, onions, mushrooms with herby stuffing balls topped with sliced potatoes. It's a variation of a classic British hotpot or a deconstructed chicken pot pie, offering a hearty and comforting meal with a clever twist. While traditional hot pots often feature a sliced potato topping, this version incorporates delicious stuffing balls. It's so incredibly comforting.
- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 1 hr 30 mins
- Yields: 4 - 6 Servings
