One thing about TikTok is the never-ending posts about food. I find out about food from all over the world and how different countries prepare it. One thing I found fascinating was potatoes.
I grew up on potatoes “baked” in the microwave. These wet, gummy spuds were not well loved. Once I moved out on my own, I discovered baking them in the oven. Much better, sorry Mom. Now I bake them as the English do and get a crispy tasty skin.
In the United Kingdom jacket potatoes are a popular fast food enjoyed across England and can be filled with a variety of toppings. Traditionally, they were served on Guy Fawkes night, an annual celebration held every November to commemorate the failed assassination attempt on King James I in 1605. Since then, the night has been celebrated with bonfires and fireworks. Potatoes wrapped in foil are often cooked in the burning embers and enjoyed by people celebrating the occasion.
The potato is a vegetable that is considered a staple food across most of the planet. It’s the fourth most cultivated crop in the world after rice, wheat, and corn. One thing about potatoes is that although they are found in pretty much every country in the world now, they originated in the highlands of the Andes in western South America. Agricultural researchers believe that people started growing potatoes there sometime between 8,000 and 5,000 B.C. According to foodrepublic.com, we know that potatoes did not reach Europe until the 16th century, so the ancient Inca Indians would have been growing them and eating them for 10,000 years before the spread to the rest of the world. By the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors discovered potatoes and began shipping them back to their homeland. Sir Walter Raleigh introduced them to the Irish in 1589 but they did not catch on in the rest of Europe right away. Potatoes were likely introduced to North America in the 1620’s when the governor of Virginia received a boxful as a gift from a governor in the Bahamas. It took until the 19th century for potatoes to become a staple in the region.
In the U.S. we bake our potatoes for about an hour at 425 degrees F. You wash your potatoes and prick them several times with a fork so they don’t explode and spread some oil over the surface. Bake them on the middle rack, let them cool down, slice them open and they are ready to eat right out of the skin. Just add butter, salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Meanwhile in the United Kingdom, jacket potatoes cook anywhere from 1 & ½ hours to 2 hours at 400 degrees F. After rinsing them with cold water, slice the skin about ¼ inch deep with a knife in a “X” shape which allows more steam to escape. After they are baked through, take them out and reopen the top of the potatoes with your knife and bake for another 10 mins. The skin comes out crispy and the inside is fluffy.
Baked and jacket potatoes are great for holding fillings. Some toppings I recommend: Butter-simple and yummy! Cheese- cheddar, mozzarella, cream cheese, feta, or cottage cheese is a classic. Tuna- plain or as tuna salad with mayo is a popular topping in England. Chili- topped with sour cream and cheese, melty goodness. Chicken, mayo and sweet corn- use leftover rotisserie chicken and canned corn for a sweet and crunchy meal. BBQ beans- in England they use Heinz beans which have a tomato base instead of the sweet base we are used to. Hey, you put ketchup on your fries so why not on your potato? Ham and cheese- add a side salad and it’s a perfect meal. If you aren’t on the potato side of Instagram, Pinterest or TikTok I suggest you look up some videos. There are some great topping inspirations for your next potato. @thespudbrothers, @falasious_official, and @poppycooks have some of my favorite jacket potato videos on TikTok. They also have accounts on Instagram.
TACO BAKED POTATOES
INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground beef
1 (1 1/4 ounce) envelope taco seasoning
4 hot baked potatoes
4 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped green onion
salsa (optional)
sour cream (optional)
DIRECTIONS
In a skillet, brown beef; drain.
Add taco seasoning; prepare according
to package directions.
With a sharp knife, cut an X in the top of
each hot baked potato; pulp with a fork.
Top with taco meat, cheese and onions.
Serve with salsa and/or sour cream, if
desired.
