Loaded Hasselback Potatoes

This impressive potato side dish only looks intimidating. Who doesn’t love a loaded baked potato? Now give that baked potato slices that bake with all these crispy edges, while still keeping the fluffy, tender interior. It’s like a french fry and baked potato in one!

If you stocked your pantry in anticipation of several weeks of self-isolation, then you probably bought a big bag of russet potatoes. Right? Please tell me that I’m not the only one.

So after the mashed potatoes, french fries, roasted potatoes, au gratin, scalloped, and so forth, you may want something a little bit different. That’s where this dish comes in.

I’ve loved looking at the photos of this impressive potato side dish. It makes a pretty presentation and I loved how the toppings ooze down into the slices, but I was hesitant to try them. All those slices…I’m sure to go too far and ruin the whole thing.

Well, I am happy to admit how very wrong I was. With a simple trick, the slicing is foolproof. You may not want plain baked potatoes again.

TIPS ON MAKING THIS IMPRESSIVE POTATO SIDE DISH

• I like using medium-sized russet or Yukon Gold potatoes for this dish, but any size will work. Make sure that you scrub the skin and dry it very well.
• Melted butter is the key to the luscious crispy edges. And you’ll want to slather the butter on twice. Once at the beginning and then halfway through, slather again. You want to get butter down into all of those slices and the potato needs time to ‘fan’ out and allow the slices to separate.
• If you use cheese (and why wouldn’t you), tuck the cheese in between the potato slices and pop the potatoes back into the oven just until the cheese melts and gets gooey.
• These potatoes are best served immediately while they have crispy edges.

VARIATIONS TO THIS RECIPE

This dish has endless possibilities. Here are just a few of my suggestions.

• I am a big fan of butter with potatoes. But you could use duck fat, schmaltz, bacon dripping, or olive oil.
• Play with the toppings. Sour cream, creme fraiche, Greek yogurt, Parmesan cheese, American or cheddar cheese.
• Make it a meal in itself by sliding thin slices of cooked meat like ham or chicken between the half baked potato slices. Or cover the top with pulled pork and tuck some of the meat into the potato.

EQUIPMENT USED

• Pyrex 4 Measuring Cup, Clear with Red Graphics – This is a kitchen staple.
• Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons-6 Piece – I love the long, rectangle design. They even fit into small spice jars.
• AmazonBasics Silicone Baking Mat Sheet, Set of 2 – Why pay for the fancy French name? These are amazing…and inexpensive.
• Checkered Chef Half Sheet Aluminum Rimmed Baking Sheets (set of 2) – I own 6 of these and love them.
• OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush – Use this on the grill, on chicken, pork and throw it into the dishwasher. Love that!
• Charcoal Companion Hasselback Potato Slicing Rack – this little gadget makes it so easy to get perfect slices every time.

Because these potatoes are so impressive, I like to serve them alongside an equally impressive Ultimate Tomahawk Steak, a dish of Steakhouse Creamed Spinach, and maybe a Classic Wedge Salad.

Or to keep it kid-friendly, I will offer Crunchy Batter-Fried Cod and Southern Hushpuppies. Those kiddos are usually pretty happy.

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