Mashed potatoes got robbed! Leave the skin on when you boil your chunks and don’t mash them up all the way. Mmmmmm texture. Throw some roast garlic in there? Yes, please.
I’ve been expecting you. The mashed potato defender. Welcome!!! This does sound quite good and to be honest mashed potato is delish. To be clear I’d eat any kind of potato and love it
This might be a cultural thing, being German, a pretty potato-based cuisine, but except for the Rösti, your top 7 all miss the mark for me 😅 new potatoes, as someone mentioned, just roasted until they're crispy-skinned but soft without being mushy in the middle are where it's at! Or just your basic boiled potato, whether served with some type of cabbage or meat, and a good sauce, done! Potato salad, just with a vinegar and oil based dressing, some fresh herbs, perfect meal!
Hasselbecks definitely are arrogant though, and I agree, mashed potatoes don't crack the top spots, but all fried feels criminal to me haha
Oh, and just to fan the flames of dissent, where I'm from, we mainly eat Röstis (Kartoffelpuffer we call them) with either apple sauce or vanilla sauce 😂
It's just as well I highly value, respect and agree with you on other matters of importance as this potato ranking could have shaken me to the core. Oven chips unless they are very crisp - I am sorry but no, no and no. For me - patatas bravas where the potatoes are like mini roasties and the salsa spicy and freshly made are high on the list. Also with a full (veggie) English a potato waffle again crispy not soggy is hard to beat. I would also like to put a word in for a chip butty because sometimes a chip is enhanced by a friend. I take some comfort in knowing that you too believe that carbs are not the enemy!
Oooh, this is interesting. Because I more or less agree with your ranking yet don't consider myself a potato fan! I would suggest you have missed the ultimate best type, IMO. Potatoes cooked in meat (sorry if you are veggie). Basically any potato where it's cooked in the juices of the meat that is also cooking alongside it. So a roast of any sort, on the bars of the oven with the potatoes (and veg) cooking in a tray underneath. Moussaka. Izmir Kofte (meatballs, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers layered). The potato is a vehicle here, but what a vehicle!
Helen, I am veggie so cannot agree with you, but I respect it, I remember what you are talking about from my meat eating days and I absolutely loved “potatoes are a vehicle, but what a vehicle”!!!
"When I was seven, I dressed up as a roast potato." - Best opening sentence I've read so far on Substack 🙂 My vote is for chip shop chips here in England.
Here to defend the hassleback. Of course it's arrogant but it's the whole point!! The hassleback is like the potato getting dolled up for date night. It's not an everyday thing!! I only make them for special occasions because the careful slicing is so much work. But they are devine when done right. You have to baste them part way through cooking to get the little slices crispy. Then a little parm grated on top. YUM.
Full disclosure, I'm Irish and we pretty much had potatoes with dinner every day. Stop messing with them. The variety is important. Simply steam them until they become fluffy and the skins crack and basically fall away. Eat with salt and good quality real butter - heavenly!
First, can we get a bit more specific about roast potatoes? The best roast potato is actually a super crispy, smashed baby potato that also goes by the street name “glass potatoes”.
Second, mashed potatoes should be illegal other than when they’re on a pie with mushy peas and a waterfall of gravy that serves to completely disguise the existence of the mashed potatoes. Nevertheless, if you could be having a truffle Parmesan fry with the pie then the mashed potato should remain where it belongs: in potato prison.
Thirdly, have you ever had a breakfast burrito from Guzman y Gomez? They put a hash brown *on it* and it’s just so utterly sublime. Add the guacamole and sautéed veges all while purchasing as a drive through breakfast and you have entered AM nirvana.
I have arrived to defend the baked potato!!! Baked in aluminum foil (or as the Brits pronounce it ALuMINium) for an hour, topped off with butter and a dollop of sour cream. YUM. And, if you roll them in sea salt, the skin is even better. I always cut the baked potato all the way up into chunks and eat it skin and all.
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Now, I read that you’re plant-based, but my mother makes The Best potato salad, but the secret ingredient is bacon grease. 5 lbs of Yukon gold potatoes, 6 hard boiled eggs, mayo (diluted with apple cider vinegar), celery, a bit of onion (but don’t tell my ex—husband, and by the way, he loves it), a full pound of bacon, and a few tablespoons of bacon grease at the end. That sounds gross, but it makes it SOOOOO GOOOOOOD. Also, my mother has sworn you to secrecy on this recipe.
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Also, mashed potatoes are elevated by being mixed with peas.
Ah yes! Of course! The baked potato defender!! I’m pleased to have you here, I knew you would come. Don’t worry, I’m Australian not American, I pronounce aluminium correctly!! Haha. Tell you what, I’m gonna be rolling the skin in salt. Also; my boyfriend agrees with you and I think he may be deeply disappointed in my slander of the baked potat!!!!
Of course potatoes, like our children, are excellent in all their forms but we do have favourites. I was sad to see no mention of the trustworthy and coquettish croquette. And a personal favourite is the cocky and coronary inducing fondant.
Now I know that to question the merits of the roast potato is akin to suggesting that anyone other Connery is the best Bond. So I won't..............
HELLO Philip!!! Here’s the thing, for the ranking I was sticking to potato with minimal extra ingredients. The croquette, usually being coupled with something else eg a cheese or vegetable, seemed to me to be a Potato Plus product, rather than your more straightforward Potato fare. I did think fondly of your fondu but also considered that to be a Cheese First experience.
I am INTRIGUED by your roastie opinions!! I don’t think I knew this about you! Sacrilege but also I admire the courage it took to even hint it
I understand the sacrilege comment so we'll leave that there as I realise that to pursue it, would be to chose the hill on which I perish.
The croquette does have a AN additional ingredient; breadcrumbs (and of course there's the neceassary culinary glue of egg and flour). But no vegetables or cheese please. No thank you, no.
It's hard for me to disagree with any of what Johanna has said.
P.S. I think that you may have fondue (melted) and raclette (scraped) mixed around.
Yes I think it could be potentially dangerous to speak out too loudly against the roast potato and we do need you to be safe.
Ok yes I did not think of the potato croquette this way, I accept your suggestion but it’s still not going on my list. And also, in your original message you said “fondant” which I assumed was a typo for “fondu” hence the confusion. Unless fondant is a potato as well as a cake/icing? Which your beloved uses so well?
Mashed potatoes got robbed! Leave the skin on when you boil your chunks and don’t mash them up all the way. Mmmmmm texture. Throw some roast garlic in there? Yes, please.
I’ve been expecting you. The mashed potato defender. Welcome!!! This does sound quite good and to be honest mashed potato is delish. To be clear I’d eat any kind of potato and love it
Never trust perfectly smooth mashed potatoes.
This seems like a very good life rule
You like the soggy ones? What kind of deviant are you? 😄
Hahahhahaha
Ok yes I’ll accept this
But also, if you and I were to be in a situation where we had to share a bowl of chips, it’d be ok!! I’ll have all the soggy ones!!!
This might be a cultural thing, being German, a pretty potato-based cuisine, but except for the Rösti, your top 7 all miss the mark for me 😅 new potatoes, as someone mentioned, just roasted until they're crispy-skinned but soft without being mushy in the middle are where it's at! Or just your basic boiled potato, whether served with some type of cabbage or meat, and a good sauce, done! Potato salad, just with a vinegar and oil based dressing, some fresh herbs, perfect meal!
Hasselbecks definitely are arrogant though, and I agree, mashed potatoes don't crack the top spots, but all fried feels criminal to me haha
Oh, and just to fan the flames of dissent, where I'm from, we mainly eat Röstis (Kartoffelpuffer we call them) with either apple sauce or vanilla sauce 😂
Ooh ok I love this potato dispatch, thank you so much. I am gonna try rosti with apple and/or vanilla sauce!!!!!
Hahaha so glad you agree about the hasselback, and this version of potato salad I could actually be into!!
Potato waffles? 🥹🥹🥹 also never has a truer word been said about dauphinoise
Hahhaa thank you thank you
Omg ok I think I would love potato waffles but I didn’t even think of them
It's just as well I highly value, respect and agree with you on other matters of importance as this potato ranking could have shaken me to the core. Oven chips unless they are very crisp - I am sorry but no, no and no. For me - patatas bravas where the potatoes are like mini roasties and the salsa spicy and freshly made are high on the list. Also with a full (veggie) English a potato waffle again crispy not soggy is hard to beat. I would also like to put a word in for a chip butty because sometimes a chip is enhanced by a friend. I take some comfort in knowing that you too believe that carbs are not the enemy!
Hahahaha I absolutely love this comment Sam (I highly value and respect you too!!!!)
Oh yes patatas bravas!!! Yum! Not as good as soggy oven chips though…….. lollll
BRB getting “sometimes a chip is enhanced by a friend” printed on mugs and tshirts xxxxx
Oooh, this is interesting. Because I more or less agree with your ranking yet don't consider myself a potato fan! I would suggest you have missed the ultimate best type, IMO. Potatoes cooked in meat (sorry if you are veggie). Basically any potato where it's cooked in the juices of the meat that is also cooking alongside it. So a roast of any sort, on the bars of the oven with the potatoes (and veg) cooking in a tray underneath. Moussaka. Izmir Kofte (meatballs, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers layered). The potato is a vehicle here, but what a vehicle!
Helen, I am veggie so cannot agree with you, but I respect it, I remember what you are talking about from my meat eating days and I absolutely loved “potatoes are a vehicle, but what a vehicle”!!!
:) Then your ranking is perfect and complete! x
Hehehe thank you so much for your support in this important matter 🙏🏻🙏🏻
"When I was seven, I dressed up as a roast potato." - Best opening sentence I've read so far on Substack 🙂 My vote is for chip shop chips here in England.
Hahaha thank you so much, a great honour. And a fantastic vote!!!!!
You're welcome. I could see it being an opening line to an Ed Sheeran song, got that kind of vibe!
This made me laugh so much, you’re absolutely right 😂😂😂
Here to voice my support for hot chips from the chippie shop smothered in chicken salt
Arrogant potatoes straight to the compost
Omg forgot about chicken salt!!!!!
Here to defend the hassleback. Of course it's arrogant but it's the whole point!! The hassleback is like the potato getting dolled up for date night. It's not an everyday thing!! I only make them for special occasions because the careful slicing is so much work. But they are devine when done right. You have to baste them part way through cooking to get the little slices crispy. Then a little parm grated on top. YUM.
Welcome welcome I love this defending of the hasselback, I’d like to eat one very very soon
Full disclosure, I'm Irish and we pretty much had potatoes with dinner every day. Stop messing with them. The variety is important. Simply steam them until they become fluffy and the skins crack and basically fall away. Eat with salt and good quality real butter - heavenly!
Yummmmm
Ok, three things:
First, can we get a bit more specific about roast potatoes? The best roast potato is actually a super crispy, smashed baby potato that also goes by the street name “glass potatoes”.
Second, mashed potatoes should be illegal other than when they’re on a pie with mushy peas and a waterfall of gravy that serves to completely disguise the existence of the mashed potatoes. Nevertheless, if you could be having a truffle Parmesan fry with the pie then the mashed potato should remain where it belongs: in potato prison.
Thirdly, have you ever had a breakfast burrito from Guzman y Gomez? They put a hash brown *on it* and it’s just so utterly sublime. Add the guacamole and sautéed veges all while purchasing as a drive through breakfast and you have entered AM nirvana.
Potatoes forever!!!!!!!!
I feel seen
Hahhaa this is why I write
I accept your provocation and I am going public with it. SO MANY CHIPS KATE.
Hahahhaa I actually didn’t notice how chip mad I went till later….. I really could’ve called this article I Love Chips and Hash Browns A Lot
I have arrived to defend the baked potato!!! Baked in aluminum foil (or as the Brits pronounce it ALuMINium) for an hour, topped off with butter and a dollop of sour cream. YUM. And, if you roll them in sea salt, the skin is even better. I always cut the baked potato all the way up into chunks and eat it skin and all.
-
Now, I read that you’re plant-based, but my mother makes The Best potato salad, but the secret ingredient is bacon grease. 5 lbs of Yukon gold potatoes, 6 hard boiled eggs, mayo (diluted with apple cider vinegar), celery, a bit of onion (but don’t tell my ex—husband, and by the way, he loves it), a full pound of bacon, and a few tablespoons of bacon grease at the end. That sounds gross, but it makes it SOOOOO GOOOOOOD. Also, my mother has sworn you to secrecy on this recipe.
-
Also, mashed potatoes are elevated by being mixed with peas.
Ah yes! Of course! The baked potato defender!! I’m pleased to have you here, I knew you would come. Don’t worry, I’m Australian not American, I pronounce aluminium correctly!! Haha. Tell you what, I’m gonna be rolling the skin in salt. Also; my boyfriend agrees with you and I think he may be deeply disappointed in my slander of the baked potat!!!!
Well at last, the article that needed writing.
Of course potatoes, like our children, are excellent in all their forms but we do have favourites. I was sad to see no mention of the trustworthy and coquettish croquette. And a personal favourite is the cocky and coronary inducing fondant.
Now I know that to question the merits of the roast potato is akin to suggesting that anyone other Connery is the best Bond. So I won't..............
But I want to..........
Do both.
HELLO Philip!!! Here’s the thing, for the ranking I was sticking to potato with minimal extra ingredients. The croquette, usually being coupled with something else eg a cheese or vegetable, seemed to me to be a Potato Plus product, rather than your more straightforward Potato fare. I did think fondly of your fondu but also considered that to be a Cheese First experience.
I am INTRIGUED by your roastie opinions!! I don’t think I knew this about you! Sacrilege but also I admire the courage it took to even hint it
I understand the sacrilege comment so we'll leave that there as I realise that to pursue it, would be to chose the hill on which I perish.
The croquette does have a AN additional ingredient; breadcrumbs (and of course there's the neceassary culinary glue of egg and flour). But no vegetables or cheese please. No thank you, no.
It's hard for me to disagree with any of what Johanna has said.
P.S. I think that you may have fondue (melted) and raclette (scraped) mixed around.
Yes I think it could be potentially dangerous to speak out too loudly against the roast potato and we do need you to be safe.
Ok yes I did not think of the potato croquette this way, I accept your suggestion but it’s still not going on my list. And also, in your original message you said “fondant” which I assumed was a typo for “fondu” hence the confusion. Unless fondant is a potato as well as a cake/icing? Which your beloved uses so well?
Eating Rostis at huts in the Swiss Alps changed my life
I believe you Tom, this sounds like a perfect life experience