Cheese And Potato: Melting Moments Of Comfort Food

The jacket potato is a British staple, and while it can be served as a side dish, it can also be a meal in itself. The best potatoes for baking are large, floury potatoes such as Maris Pipers, King Edwards, or Melody. The perfect jacket potato should be round and fat, providing a broad surface area for lots of crispy skin and a pile of soft potato. When it comes to toppings, the options are endless, but one classic combination is cheese and beans. The cheese of choice is usually cheddar, but other popular options include mozzarella, gouda, parmesan, and cream cheese.

Mozzarella and cheddar with spring onions, mustard, mayo and soy sauce

The humble jacket potato is a versatile dish that can be topped with a variety of cheeses and other ingredients to create a hearty and comforting meal. One mouth-watering combination includes mozzarella and cheddar cheese, spring onions, mustard, mayonnaise, and soy sauce. This flavourful duo of cheeses blended with the right mix of toppings takes the classic jacket potato to a whole new level.

Ingredients

For the ultimate comfort food experience, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Baking potatoes (large and round varieties like Maris Piper, King Edward, or Melody are ideal)
• Mozzarella cheese (100g)
• Cheddar cheese (100g)
• Spring onions (2, sliced)
• English mustard (½ teaspoon)
• Dark soy sauce (2 teaspoons)
• Olive oil

Preparation

To prepare this indulgent treat, start by preheating your oven to 200°C. Pierce each potato a few times with a skewer or fork to allow steam to escape during the baking process. Drizzle olive oil over the potatoes and rub it all over to ensure even cooking. Place the potatoes on a baking tray and pop them into the oven for about an hour.

Cheese Filling

While the potatoes are baking, it's time to prepare the heavenly cheese filling. Combine the grated or shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses in a large bowl. Finely slice the spring onions and add them to the cheese mixture. Next, measure and add the English mustard and dark soy sauce. You can also add a bit of milk to the mixture, as suggested by BBC Good Food. Give everything a good mix, and your filling is ready!

Assembly

Once the potatoes are baked to perfection, it's time to assemble this delicious creation. Remove the potatoes from the oven and make a cross-cut on each one. Gently squeeze the potatoes to open them up a bit. Now, it's time for the star attraction—pile that cheese mixture generously on top of each potato, gently pressing it down. Return the potatoes to the oven for an additional 5-10 minutes, just enough to melt the cheese and bring all the flavours together.

Serving

Finally, take the potatoes out of the oven, and you're almost ready to indulge! For an extra touch of decadence, add a dollop of butter to each potato and let it melt into the hot, fluffy interior. You can also season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve your mozzarella and cheddar jacket potatoes with a simple salad or as part of a more substantial lunch. These potatoes are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven, but you can also store leftovers in the refrigerator for a tasty next-day treat.

Cheddar with Worcestershire sauce

A jacket potato is a British classic and a true comfort food. The perfect jacket potato should be round and fat, with a broad surface area for lots of crispy skin and a pile of fluffy potato inside.

Potato Preparation

First, select a floury potato variety such as Maris Piper, King Edward, or Melody. Then, rub the potatoes with olive oil and salt, and prick them with a fork to allow steam to escape. Bake in the oven at 180-200°C for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the skin is golden and crisp and the potato is tender.

Cheese Filling

For the cheese filling, mix together grated mature/sharp Cheddar, butter, and a generous dash of Worcestershire sauce. You can also add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.

Assembly

Once the potatoes are baked, cut a cross into each and squeeze them slightly to open them up. Then, pile the cheese mixture on top, pressing it down slightly. Return the potatoes to the oven for 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Serving

Jacket potatoes with Cheddar and Worcestershire sauce can be served as a main dish or a side. For an extra treat, serve them with a side of tortilla chips or a classic coleslaw. They also go well with a peppery salad like rocket and juicy tomatoes, or even some crispy bacon or chilli flakes.

Tips

• For an extra crispy skin, roll the potatoes in olive oil and salt before baking.
• To prevent your tongue from getting cremate, remember to pierce the skin with a knife and let out the steam before adding the cheese filling.
• Always use butter, not margarine, to do your jacket potato justice.
• For an extra kick of flavour, add a dash of mustard to the cheese filling.
• If you want to reduce the cooking time, use smaller potatoes. However, keep in mind that bigger potatoes make a more impressive statement.

Halloumi with chilli oil

Halloumi is a popular choice for a jacket potato, and for good reason. Its salty flavour and squeaky texture make it a delicious and satisfying option. Here is a guide to making a jacket potato with halloumi and chilli oil.

Ingredients:

• 1 large baking potato
• Halloumi
• Chilli oil
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Optional: butter, yoghurt, greens, fried egg, chilli flakes, red onion, houmous, parsley, lemon zest, mint, and melon wedges

Method:

First, preheat your oven to 200°C. Wash the potato and dry it off. Prick the potato a few times with a fork, then rub it with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Place the potato on a foil-covered tray and bake for around 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the skin is golden and crisp and the flesh is soft.

While the potato is baking, prepare the halloumi. Slice the halloumi into 1 cm thick pieces and fry them in a pan on medium-high heat until both sides are golden brown. Remove the halloumi from the pan and set aside. Optionally, you can also fry some sliced red onion in the pan until slightly brown.

Once the potato is baked, cut it open and add a dollop of butter and a pinch of salt. Use a fork to rough up the filling and spread it around. You can also add some yoghurt for a tangy flavour. Next, add the fried halloumi and red onion (if using). Finally, drizzle chilli oil over the potato and enjoy!

If you're feeling adventurous, you can also try adding other toppings such as greens, fried egg, chilli flakes, houmous, parsley, lemon zest, or even a glass of water infused with mint, lemon, and melon wedges.

Cottage cheese with bacon bits

A jacket potato is a versatile dish, and a great way to enjoy a baked potato. The most popular toppings are beans in tomato sauce, chilli con carne, cottage cheese with cream, or tuna with mayonnaise. But one delicious option is to top your jacket potato with cottage cheese and bacon bits.

Ingredients

• 4 medium-sized potatoes (around 700g)
• 250g cottage cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• A pinch of black pepper
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 3 strips of bacon, cooked and diced

Method

First, wash, clean and dry the potatoes. Prick each of them with a fork and place them on a baking tray. Put the tray in an oven preheated to 190 degrees Celsius for one hour and 30 minutes. Before removing the potatoes from the oven, check with a fork if they are soft. Then, cut each potato in half and brush with butter.

Put the cottage cheese into a bowl and mash it with a fork. Next, add finely chopped chives, salt, pepper and, if you like, a little sour cream. Combine all the ingredients thoroughly.

Finally, serve the jacket potatoes while still hot, topped with the cottage cheese mixture and sprinkled with bacon bits.

Blue cheese with Edam

Blue cheese is a soft, creamy cheese with a subtle, tangy, almost smoky flavor. It is often blended into mashed potatoes, providing a subtle flavor that everyone will love, even those who don't usually like blue cheese! Blue cheese can be balanced with something like Edam to ensure it does not overpower the dish.

Edam is a semi-hard cheese with a mild, slightly nutty flavor and a firm texture. It is often used as a table cheese, served with crackers and fruit, but it can also be melted and used in cooked dishes, such as jacket potatoes.

When making a jacket potato with blue cheese and Edam, it is important to consider the ratio of the two cheeses. Blue cheese has a strong flavor, so using too much can be overpowering. A good rule of thumb is to use a smaller amount of blue cheese than Edam.

• Preheat your oven to 200°C.
• Wash and dry your potatoes, then rub them with olive oil. Prick the potatoes with a fork to allow steam to escape during cooking.
• Place the potatoes on a baking tray and bake for 1 hour, or until they are tender.
• While the potatoes are baking, prepare your cheese filling. Crumble the blue cheese and grate the Edam. Mix the two cheeses together in a bowl, adding in some sliced spring onions, mayonnaise, mustard, and soy sauce to taste.
• Once the potatoes are cooked, cut a cross into each potato and squeeze them slightly to open them up.
• Pile the cheese mixture on top of each potato, pressing it down slightly.
• Return the potatoes to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
• Top each potato with a small knob of butter and serve immediately.

This combination of blue cheese and Edam creates a delicious and flavorful jacket potato that is sure to impress. The mildness of the Edam balances the tanginess of the blue cheese, resulting in a harmonious blend of flavors.

Frequently asked questions