The potato is the most eaten and important crop that we grow in the world. It is the 4th most important crop in the world because we use it for so many meals. The only more important crops for survival are corn, wheat, and rice.
Disclaimer: Just Average Jen is not connected with any weight loss plan. Please check nutritional values and/or syns yourself as these are approximate to the best of my knowledge.
What are potatoes?
Although potatoes are vegetables, they are starchy, so they are more like rice, pasta and bread in terms of nutrition.
You wouldn’t want to eat them and rice or pasta together. But you would eat potatoes and other vegetables.
Potatoes are easy to grow, you just need a tub and some old chipped potatoes to plant. Kids can easily grow them and love to watch them grow.
We always buy potatoes, because you can make so many different meals out of them. But different potatoes are actually better for different kinds of meals. Potatoes are so cheap they feature in a lot of budget meals too.
There are so many different varieties; each potato is used for different cooking methods any time of year. I have summer potato recipes in my summer recipes guide.
If you follow Slimming World, Weight Watchers (WW), Noom or any other weight loss plan you can usually count potatoes within your allowances.
You can eat them boiled, mashed, baked or fried. You can add them to casseroles, you can thicken soups with them or you can make foods like potato fritters or hash browns.
Did you know you can even freeze potatoes? Tips here on how to freeze them.
Different varieties and their uses
For Boiling, the best varieties are Anya, Ayrshire, Charlotte, Cornish Kings, Desiree. Elfe. There is also Jersey Royal, Kestrel, Maris Piper, Roosters.
Roasting potatoes, the best ones are Apache, Desiree, Kestrel, King Edwards, Maris Piper. Purple Majesty,
For Salads, you need Charlotte, Anya
The best potatoes for mash are Desiree, Elfe, Maris Piper, Roosters, Vivaldi
The best-baked potatoes would be Elfe, Kestrel, King Edwards, Maris Piper, Osprey, Purple Majesty. Roosters, Vivaldi,
To Make Chips you would need King Edwards, Maris Piper, Russets,
How Healthy Are Potatoes?
A lot of people don’t eat this cheap and easy family food because they are very starchy, but they are good filling food and so easy to adapt to meals.
You can even incorporate a lot of potato meals into diets like Slimming World and Weight Watchers.
Potatoes are a free food on the Slimming World diet, so you need to find ways to eat them that are fun and exciting without the added extras like butter.
This is easily done by choosing the right variety and how you cook them. You could use some new ones like Jersey royals and parboil them before popping them in a baking tray and adding store cupboard extras like herbs and spices. These are also free. If you grow fresh mint, then chop some and add it to the potatoes.
Potato recipes
Whether you want to use this cheap and easily available ingredient more often or have some to use up, you will find the perfect recipe. Check out these recipes, which are easy and healthy too.
Don’t forget to also have a look at my jacket potato guide full of tips to make the perfect jacket and delicious healthy fillings.
Cowboy cheesy potato bake
This cowboy cheesy potato bake is full of yumminess and so easy to make. It feels so naughty but actually isn’t! Easily adapted to be vegetarian if you prefer to!
Shepherds Pie
This delicious and easy Shepherds pie recipe is perfect for all the family. With a vegetarian alternative recipe included, it is something that everyone will enjoy, and if you follow Slimming World, it can be syn free too.
Sausage traybake
This sausage traybake is so easy to throw together but full of flavour and made in just one roasting dish, so it minimises washing up!
Cheesy leek and potato pie
The cheesy leek and potato pie came about when I wanted to make something a bit different for real comfort food. It is a bit of a take on Homity pie, I guess but cheesier!
Gardeners pie
This Gardener’s Pie is a vegetable pie is full of flavour and vegetarian and vegan, so really will suit most people you are cooking for.
Chicken traybake
This chicken traybake is a really easy family meal with lots of flavours that all the family will love.
Sausage casserole
I love my sausage casserole recipe; it is filling, warming, and perfect for everyone. It includes sweet potatoes for added flavour and to make it perfectly filling.
Cowboy Pie
For a similar type of meal to the cowboy potato bake above, this cowboy pie uses mash and is so tasty!
I love cowboy pie as you can pop whatever peppers need using up in it, and their colour doesn’t really matter!
Roasted vegetable salad
Quick and easy roasted vegetable salad using sweet potatoes but these can easily be substituted with any others you have to make a similarly tasty meal.
Homity pie
This homity pie is a great recipe for adding vegetables to the mashed potatoes to encourage children to have a healthier diet.
You can cut them as small as you need, and they have the flavour and vitamins without the obvious vegetables!
Beef bourguignon
A popular recipe, this beef bourguignon is great for all the family, and with just a few syns, you get a meal everyone knows and loves.
Taco beef sweet potatoes or vegetarian alternative
If you are a fan of tacos but fancy a healthier option, then these taco beef sweet potatoes with a vegetarian option could be perfect for you.
Butternut and sweet potato veggie burgers
The tasty veggie burger recipe is perfect for all the family, even fussy children. Easy to make and low syn on Slimming World.
Broccoli and Stilton soup
Sometimes you have one potato to use up and want a simple, easy meal to make with it, so this Broccoli and stilton soup is perfect. This is a tasty soup recipe to keep you full nicely.
Aloo Gobi
Have you ever had aloo gobi? It is a delicious easy curry, a popular side dish or main meal in Indian culture. Essentially curried potatoes, cauliflower and onion. It is cheap and easy to make but so tasty!
Homestyle vegetable curry
This is a tasty, easy homestyle vegetable curry that has a homestyle flavour and includes potatoes making it a one-pot recipe that saves on washing up too!
Mixed Vegetable Biryani
Whilst this mixed vegetable biryani recipe includes a selection of vegetables, it could easily be adapted to any you fancy or need to use up.
Vegan Moroccan tagine
This easy vegan Moroccan tagine recipe is well-flavoured and includes some potatoes. Why not give it a try?
Jamaican beef stew
This is a spicy Jamaican dish full of flavour and easily made in the slow cooker. If you enjoy new potatoes, this Jamaican beef stew is a great recipe.
Caribbean Pepperpot stew
This is another dish which is in some ways similar to the above in flavour but less spicy. Try the Caribbean pepperpot stew with boiled rice and corn on the cob for a tasty easy meal.
Roasted plum, spinach, sweet potato and quinoa salad
This is a lovely flavoursome recipe for a roasted plum and quinoa salad that uses sweet potatoes for that unmistakable flavour.
Sweet potato and spinach quesadilla
This tasty recipe for quesadilla is healthy and full of nutrients and filling too. Why not try it for a tasty summery meal or lunchtime snack?
Spicy Potatoes
This simple recipe is easy to prepare and great for the whole family to enjoy alongside various meals.
Spicy Sweet Potato Cakes
These potato cakes are a great accompaniment to most meals and can be easily adapted to be as mild or spicy as you like.
Chips
Don’t overlook chips as a great way of using potatoes. If you don’t like them plain, try with a good salt and pepper or paprika sprinkle. For a ready-made chip seasoning, how about this one?
Alternatively, why not try loaded fries or loaded wedges with amazing toppings?
Do you have any ways of making potatoes for Christmas that are different?
I legit didn’t know there was THIS much nuance to potatoes XD