When you’re busy picking out your green outfit this St. Patrick’s Day to avoid getting pinched, don’t forget about one of the best parts of the holiday: the food! From soda bread to corned beef and cabbage, Ireland boasts some delicious traditional food options, but the one food that Ireland is known for more than any other is potatoes.
As a staple of many people’s diets and as one of the most versatile foods out there, potatoes deserve some recognition. And what better day to celebrate them than St. Patrick’s Day? Keep reading to find out all of the ways you can and should be using potatoes:
Breakfast
Potatoes are crucial part of any savory brunch, and while hash browned potatoes are the most famous version, there are dozens of other ways to start off your morning with potatoes. Mix potatoes into casseroles and egg bakes or fry them up as potato pancakes. You can even use potatoes to form the crusts of breakfast quiches.
Lunch
You may not eat potatoes for lunch on a regular basis, but you should be! Sweet potatoes are full of nutrients and make wonderful additions to green salads when they’re roasted. Picnic-style potato salad also makes a hearty lunch option, along with a hot cup of sweet or baked potato soup. And of course, no sandwich is complete without a side of potato chips! Try baking or frying up your own at home.
Dinner
When it comes to dinnertime, there are limitless ways to use potatoes. Roasted red potatoes make wonderful accompaniments to roasted and grilled meats, as do baked, mashed or stuffed baked potatoes. Potatoes can also be used in casseroles, either as an entrée or side dish, in curries, and even as pizza dough.
Dessert
Dessert is where sweet potato recipes really get to shine. Brown sugar and sweet potatoes is one of the tastiest combinations out there, and you can make all sorts of different desserts with sweet potatoes. Sweet potato pie, sweet potato cheesecake, sweet potato pudding and sweet potato cake are just some of the deliciously sweet ways to use them—the possibilities are endless.
Snack
Did you think French fries really wouldn’t make the list? Fried potatoes, whether as sweet potato fries, waffle fries, curly fries or tater tots, are great guilty pleasures. Cover them in cheese, ketchup or whatever other toppings you love and indulge a little.
Give potatoes a spicy Mexican twist with this yummy potato & chorizo brunch frittata. Make it in the morning to get ready for a day of St. Patrick’s Day festivities!
- 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 fresh chorizo sausages
- 1 bag Alexia hashed browns
- 1 medium onion
- 8 large eggs
- ½ cup milk
- Kosher salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
- 1 cup mixed baby greens
- ½ lemon, juiced
- Pour three tablespoons olive oil into a 12-inch nonstick ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Cut the chorizo into slices and add to the pan; fry for 5 minutes. Chop the onion and add it to the skillet along with the Alexia Yukon Select Hashed Browns. Fry until the onions start to soften, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat and cover the skillet. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 8 minutes.
- Remove the cover, raise the heat back to medium-high and cook until the potatoes are brown and crispy, about another 4 minutes. Meanwhile, break the eggs into a large bowl and add the milk. Season the egg mixture with salt and pepper, then whisk until frothy. Pour the egg mixture into the pan, shaking the pan to distribute the eggs evenly. Put the pan into the oven and cook until puffy and set, about 12-15 minutes.
- Turn out onto a cutting board and let cool to room temperature. Toss the baby greens with the remaining oil and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Place the greens on top of the frittata, cut it into thin wedges and serve.
Author Bio: This is a guest post by Meredith K. on behalf of Alexia. For delicious potato side dishes and frozen appetizers, visit www.alexiafoods.com.