Microwave potatoes are a delicious, inexpensive meal that can be eaten for lunch, dinner or even as a party snack. They also go well with anything you may have in your cupboard or fridge, and they can be enjoyed almost any time of the day. The best feature about them is that they can be prepared, cooked and served steaming on your plate in less than 15 minutes with this simple technique.
Potatoes cooked in their jackets pair well with many foods, so be creative! Since potatoes store well in the pantry, they make an excellent staple meal when your food supplies are running low.
Microwave Potatoes In Their Jackets
Serves 1 to 2
Ingredients:
- 2 to 3 small baking potatoes or 1 large baking potato
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Coarse salt (optional)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine
- Desired filling ingredients and accompanying side dishes (see ideas below)
Directions:
- Wash potatoes well under running water and dry thoroughly. Pierce them several times with a fork or sharp knife to allow the heat of the microwave to penetrate the potato skins.
- Spread a thin layer of olive oil on the outside skins of the potatoes. The olive oil will make the skins much crispier once the potatoes are cooked. For added flavor, spinkle salt over the skins. The salt adds a slightly crunchy texture to the cooked potato skins.
- Place the potatoes on a microwavable place and transfer to the microwave. Heat potatoes on full 100 percent power for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove potatoes from the microwave, turn potatoes upside down, return potatoes to microwave and heat on full 100 percent power for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.
- Remove potatoes from the microwave and cut them through the middle, stopping about three-quarters of the way through. Test the temperature of the interiors of the potatoes. If the potatoes are not piping hot throughout, return potatoes to the microwave and heat for 2 to 3 minutes more.
- Add butter or margarine to the insides of the potatoes and allow the butter or margarine to melt into the potato interiors. Top with desired fillings.
Potato Fillings and Side Dish Accompaniments
There are infinite possibilities for what to serve with a crispy microwave potato. The most popular ingredients include grated cheese, mayonnaise, hot baked beans, tuna and coleslaw. Any fillings can be combined to create exciting new flavors, which means a good baked potato never gets old!
- Chili jacket: The spicy meatiness goes perfectly with a hot microwave potato.
- Stir-fry: Stuck with leftovers from yesterday's Chinese takeout? Place the leftovers inside the potato jackets.
- Vegetables: Add a healthy touch to the potatoes with steamed vegetables.
- Sauces: Choose from peppercorn, tomato, cheese or brown sauce for a hearty topping.
- Garlic mushrooms: These toppers meld nicely with the light and fluffy interiors of the potatoes.
- Prawn and salmon: You may be surprised at this combination; it's not as fishy as it sounds.
- Tuna, lime and cilantro: Tuna is a popular topping for potatoes cooked in their jackets.
- Cooked rice: Add extra nutrients with a flavorful rice filling.
- Spicy pasta: For a bigger meal or to serve more people, spicy pasta served with potatoes cooked in their jackets makes a satisfying repast.
Poppy Reid - My name's Poppy and I live in England, although I was born in Scotland. I mostly write fiction but I'm looking to increase my flexibility ...
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