MTT: Loaded Potato Skins

 

As much as I really don’t approve of using food as an emotional crutch there is nothing that will give you a hug from the inside quite like a jacket potato, preferably with cheese and baked beans. I went through a whole winter of being unhappy about my career on the strength of the jacket potato van at the front of the office; I put on a couple of pounds (double cheese, double butter, oh yeah) but I had a perpetual warm feeling in my stomach.

 

 

I can’t even put my finger on the best thing about the humble jacket potato. The crispy skin? The salty, oozy butter? The melting cheese? The sweet tomato sauce? There are SO MANY good bits, too many to choose from.

There does appear to be a limit to how many potatoes can be eaten in one week, however. My record is 4 (5 if you count one with a tuna topping but I’m a beans n’ cheese gal), but I’m guessing 1 is probably a much healthier option. Plus if you overdo them there’s always the risk of jacket potato burnout. So to save my health I like to come up with different ways to warm my cockles.

 

 

These loaded skins are one of those ways. It’s a recipe I came up with in the middle of our chilly and rainy summer when I’d had one too many jacket potatoes and couldn’t look another baked bean in the eye. It’s crispy, cheesy and salty yet a bit lighter than your more traditional baked potato. I serve them with a quick homemade guacamole (1 mashed avocado, salt, pepper, lime, olive oil) and pretend they’re healthy: just ignore the mountain of soured cream.

 

 

5.0 from 2 reviews
Loaded Potato Skins
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
The quantities below will serve one: just double, triple etc it for more people.
Author:
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Mexican
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 1 Baking Potato
  • 2 Rashers Smoked bacon
  • Good handful of cheese (approx 25g), I like Double Gloucester
  • Dessert spoon full sour cream
  • Salt and pepper
  • Olive oil
  • Guacamole and soured cream, to serve
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat your oven to hot, about 230 degrees C.
  2. Cook the potatoes whole in the microwave until just cooked, about 4 minutes on each side.
  3. Take them out and slice them in half. When cooled slightly scoop out the insides and pop in a large bowl. Add to this 2 rashers of chopped fried bacon, the cheese, a dessert spoon ful of sour cream and salt and pepper.
  4. Meanwhile, brush the potato skins with Olive Oil and salt and place them curved-side up on to a baking tray to crisp up. Cook for about 7 minutes.
  5. Take the skins out the oven and turn over. Fill with the topping.
  6. Pop in the oven for another 7-10 minutes, until heated through and the cheese is melted.
  7. Dip liberally in guacamole and soured cream.

 

 

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8 Comments

  1. Alex wrote:

    “As much as I really don’t approve of using food as an emotional crutch…”

    Stop judging me. ;)

    They look utterly delicious! The kind of thing it never occurs to me to make but that I would love as a quick lunch. And R’s a potato addict. Like her mum.

    Posted 10.8.12 Reply
    • alice wrote:

      No judgement here! Chips are my therapy…

      Posted 10.8.12 Reply
  2. Yum, we love potatoes skins too!

    Posted 10.8.12 Reply
  3. Mmmmmmmm. I wish I’d had these for my tea today. Now adding it to this week’s meals list. Lovely!

    Posted 10.8.12 Reply
  4. EssieRae wrote:

    What can I say but I loooooooovvvvvveeee potatoes!! These look amazing :) I have to share an amazing food blog I came across today: http://helengraves.co.uk/
    The recipes look so good, I’m in food heaven :-)) x

    Posted 10.8.12 Reply
  5. This is sooo happening this week! Thanks for the inspiration ;) xx

    Posted 10.8.12 Reply
  6. Steph (@imcountingufoz) wrote:

    Good GOD Harold. What the hell are you trying to do to me with epicness such as this? I’ve not even tried it and I am rating it a 5.

    I’ve never done baked potatoes in the microwave though, isn’t that sacrilegious?

    Posted 10.9.12 Reply
  7. MikaelTox wrote:

    looks good… and taste good

    Posted 5.27.13 Reply