Cuisine: Potatoes

Harissa Chicken

My friend Jessica gave me a tube of Harissa. Harissa is a hot chili pepper paste, which is the basic flavoring agent in Tunisian and Moroccan cuisine, it's extremely versatile. This Harissa Chicken is incredibly easy to make on a sheet pan. You can adjust the amount of Harissa you use, depending on how spicy you like it. My husband calls it the ketchup of Morocco.

By Leslie Blythe

Hasselback Yams with Butter and Sage

I am a big fan of Hasselback potatoes, mainly because it cuts the cooking time. People will try to Hasselback just about anything, your best bet is russets or yams. Here's a tip: set the potato between two wooden chopsticks or wooden spoons before you start slicing. The sticks will stop the knife from cutting all the way through. These Hasselback Yams with Butter and Sage are a wonderful combination of flavors.

By Leslie Blythe

Hasselback Russet Potato Gratin

Hasselback potatoes are a recipe developed at one of Stockholm's popular old Restaurant Hasselbacken. You normally make thin slices in the potatoes but not all the way through. This recipe for Hasselback Russet Potato Gratin uses potatoes that you slice all the way through. They're made with whole grain mustard, heavy cream, dill seed, cheddar cheese and topped with fresh dill. YUM!

You can play around with the way you place the potatoes in this gratin: back and forth in rows, concentric circles, or randomly. Any way you choose will result in the same crunchy, cheesy top.

By Leslie Blythe

Baby Potatoes with Roasted Hatch Chile Vinaigrette

Yes, It's Hatch Chile season! I LOVE them. This year I did not opt to buy a 35-pound bag of roasted chiles, mainly because I have no room in my freezer which makes me very sad! I bought a small bag at Whole Foods and roasted them (or should I say, I asked my husband to roast them!) on the Big Green Egg. This recipe for Baby Potatoes with Roasted Hatch Chile Vinaigrette comes from Melissa's Produce. I simplified it a bit. I love using baby potatoes because they cook very quickly.

By Leslie Blythe

Japanese Chicken Curry

Curry is not an original cuisine from Japan. It was introduced to Japan during the Meiji era (1868–1912) by the British. It has become a staple meal of the Japanese. It’s actually more like a hearty stew than a typical curry. The curry is thickened with roux. You can buy Japanese curry blocks, which makes it easier to make, but they contain excessive amounts of fat and MSG. They also sell it without MSG, but it’s way better to make it from scratch. This Japanese Chicken Curry is a true comfort food served over rice.

By Leslie Blythe

Perfectly Crispy Potatoes

This recipe for Perfectly Crispy Potatoes uses baking soda, which provides an alkaline environment so the exterior of the potatoes soften quicker. I am always on a quest to find new potato recipes. Getting them crispy without a commercial deep fryer at home is the big challenge. The result is a more crisp crust.

By Leslie Blythe

Potatoes à la Ketchup

This recipe for Potatoes à la Ketchup seems sort of bizarre. You basically put the potatoes in foil packets for the grill and add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. It's actually quite good and a bit unusual which always appeals to me. You should try it the next time you fire up your grill.

By Leslie Blythe

Avocado and BLT Salad with Roasted New Potatoes

My sister-in-law brought me the food magazine from Waitrose, which is a supermarket in the UK. This Avocado and BLT Salad with Roasted New Potatoes got my attention immediately. It was very easy and really delicious. And yes, there's bacon...

By Leslie Blythe

Crispy Salt-and-Vinegar Potatoes

My family loves anything salt & vinegar flavored. These Crispy Salt-and-Vinegar Potatoes are first boiled in vinegar to infuse the flavor into the potato. Then they are drained, dried and sautéed in a pan to achieve crispiness and doused with more vinegar. What's wrong with that? Nothing.

By Leslie Blythe

Hamburger Potato Casserole

I suppose this Hamburger Potato Casserole is like Hamburger Helper without the box. This is a truly kid-friendly meal that satisfies your comfort food cravings in one easy casserole.

By Leslie Blythe