Potato
Potatoes, spuds, tatties, whatever you want to call them are responsible for giving the world some of its most loved foods. They are easy to cook and very economical.
Potatoes are a kind of root vegetable available all year round. There’re many different varieties that vary in shape, size and texture. Some popular varieties are: King Edward, Charlotte, Maris Piper and many many more! Potatoes are super versatile ingredients they can be used in soups, stews, fritters, curry and even bread!
Gnocchi is a variety of pasta made from potato, served with pesto or a simple tomato sauce.
Baked potatoes (also known as jacket potatoes) are a perfect mid-week dinner option, you can toss a few in the oven and add your favourite filling!
Waxy or Floury? Different kinds of potatoes
There are over 200 different kinds of potato each type differs in colour, texture and size.
Waxy potatoes have a creamy texture, they are good for boiling, steaming and roasting because they retain their shape well. Floury potatoes have a softer texture so they tend to mash well, they also fry well making them good for making chips.
Charlotte Potatoes – These potatoes are great for boiling as they have a waxy texture and they hold together well. Perfect for potato salads.
Maris Piper Potatoes – This floury potato is great for making chips, roasting mashing, baking and rösti cakes.
Desiree Potatoes – Are a floury variety with pink skin and yellow on the inside. Try using them for potato wedges and potato fondant.
King Edward Potatoes – Have a light floury texture making them great for chips, roasting mashing and baking. Great for croquettes and hash browns.
Jersey Royal potatoes – Grown on the island of Jersey. They have a firm and waxy texture good for boiling and gratin.
Vivaldi Potatoes – Soft in texture, perfect for mashing and Dauphinoise potatoes.
Baby Potatoes – Like the name suggests these potatoes are quite small, typically they are boiled or steamed with the skins on and served with a generous dollop of butter.
Shetland Black – halfway between waxy and floury, they have a long, oval shape and they have purple skin and insides.
Potato nutritional information
There are about 77 calories in 100 grams of uncooked and unseasoned potatoes.
Potatoes are high in carbohydrates of which most are starch. They are high on the glycemic index so they are not the best for people with diabetes.
They are a great source of potassium, vitamin C and they have decent levels of vitamin B6.
Vitamin c is water-soluble so it is best to steam them rather than boiling them!
Recipe suggestion: Winter vegetable pie, Gluten-free lemon drizzle cake, Salmon & lemon mini fish cakes.
