For a long time I dismissed potatoes as being in the same category as white bread or other starchy carbs. They were a “filler” food that I should probably avoid on a regular basis — save potatoes for special occasions.
I can’t really think of any potato-based special occasions, so luckily I changed my attitude about potatoes not so long ago. They’re a plant! Of course I should love them!
So, yes, they are starchy carbs. But they’re also a great source of vitamin C and vitamin B6, and are mostly made up of water (at least when raw!) and they deserve a place in a well balanced diet.
We now enter my next dilemma.
Potatoes are so, so good when they’re fried.
I want to eat fried potatoes every day. Sometimes with a lot of salt, sometimes with a lot of ketchup, sometimes with both. Ugh.
So I came up with this meal, which I eat on a semi-regular basis when I have a bag of potatoes to work through.
I label it as a breakfast or brunch dish because I think that’s what it most resembles. But I have yet to find a time on the clock when I’m not excited to eat this.
Vegetable options
In this recipe I use one of my standard rotations of veggies to go with the potatoes: bell pepper, shallot, and spinach.
The key is really to find a nice blend of colours, and to make sure that everything is cut to a size that will cook properly and quickly.
You don’t have to feel limited by these options, though. Check what’s in your fridge and consider:
- frozen peas or corn
- small broccoli florets, or slices of broccoli stem
- carrots cut into medallions
- slices of zucchini
- leeks or onions instead of shallots
You can also add in some chickpeas. If I have a small leftover amount of beans sitting in the fridge from another recipe, I throw it in with some seasonings.
Patented potato method
Okay, so patent pending.
Instead of cooking the potatoes thoroughly in oil (unhealthy) or cooking them from raw in the pan (takes forever), I start the recipe by scrubbing a potato or two and popping them in the microwave.
This way, I know they’re cooked, and the rest of the veggies are usually done right around the same time as the microwave is finished (and if I’m being slow, well then the potatoes have had a chance to cool).
They then get put into the pan with all the veggie flavours, a little extra olive oil, and some salt and pepper to crisp up and get some flavour. Mmmm! I think sea salt is the best choice because it adds a little crunch and its strong.
Finally, I drizzle the whole thing in balsamic glaze because it’s just so good, and this dish deserves it.
Easy Skillet Potatoes and Veggies
Ingredients
- 2 large potatoes
- 1 bell pepper (any colour)
- 1 cup washed spinach
- 2 shallots
- 1 clove garlic
- sea salt
- black pepper
- olive oil
- Balsamic glaze (optional)
Instructions
Wash both potatoes and prick with a fork to let steam escape. Put in the microwave on the potato setting for 2.
Slice the shallots into pieces and mince the garlic. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add about a tablespoon of olive oil. When hot, add the shallots. Let cook for 2-3 minutes and add the garlic.
Slice the bell peppers into strips. Add to the frying pan and put a lid on it, cooking for about 5 minutes.
If the potatoes are done, remove them from the microwave and allow to cool enough to peel off the skins. Roughly chop the cooked potato into smaller pieces and put aside.
When the peppers are about cooked, add the spinach and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cover again and allow the spinach to cook and wilt.
When the veggies are cooked, remove them from the pan and plate them. Add another tablespoon or two of olive oil to the hot pan and return to the heat.
Add the chopped potatoes to the pan. They will absorb the oil pretty quickly so allow them to sit for a moment before stirring up, so the surfaces that made contact with the oil could crisp up. Add sea salt, about a teaspoon or so, and pepper to taste. Plate when smaller pieces start to brown.
Add balsamic glaze on top if desired.
