If you’re looking to add another reliable side dish to your entertaining options, this one deserves a look.
My Verdict: Cook It!
What it is: Cooked potatoes, lightly smashed, coated in a fresh basil and olive oil mixture, topped with feta and baked.
The result? A flavourful, golden potato side dish with the freshness of basil and the salty hit of feta. More interesting than simply serving roasted potatoes.
There’s a catch, though. You’ll need to cook the potatoes before smashing and baking them. So, while the recipe itself is straightforward, it’s not quite a last-minute side dish.
My verdict? Foolproof to make and a potential hit with guests.
When Should You Make It?
Best category: ENTERTAINING / MAKE AHEAD.
Worth considering if:
- You’re tired of serving the same roasted potatoes.
- You want something special without getting overly complicated.
- You can cook the potatoes ahead of time and finish them closer to serving.
I made this when I had extra cooked potatoes. It made it an easy way to test this dish rather than just reheat the potatoes.
Why categorize your recipes? If you shopped online without a size filter, it would take much longer to find shoes or clothes that fit. Yet that’s how most people plan meals: scrolling through endless recipes that don’t fit their schedule, family, or health goals.
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The Recipe: Smashed Feta Potatoes
Before You Start: The potatoes need to be cooked before you smash them.
Ingredients (that I used to test this recipe)
- 4 cooked potatoes
- Handful, fresh basil
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons minced onion
- salt
- Feta cheese, crumbled
Method
1. Prepare the oil mixture
Blend the fresh basil and olive oil together. Add the diced onion and season with salt.
2. Prepare the potatoes
Arrange the cooked potatoes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle the basil mixture over the potatoes. Lightly smash each potato.
3. Add feta
Top each potato with a generous amount of crumbled feta.
A lesson from my first attempt: The feta easily falls off the potatoes if they are not flat enough. Simply smash the potatoes a bit more to settle the salty feta on top.
4. Bake
Bake the potatoes in a 400°F oven until they are golden and the feta is warmed through, about 20 minutes.
5. Serve
Serve and let your taste buds decide whether your guests would wish you made more!
Final thoughts
The salty feta pairs very well with the savory basil sauce. Be liberal with both!
Would you put Smashed Feta Potatoes in your ENTERTAIN category?
If you’re new here, I’m Brent.
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