When you think about it, potatoes are really elite vegetables. I don’t think there is a more versatile food. The meals that can be made from potatoes are numerous, and we probably wouldn’t have it any other way. It might even be impossible to exhaust all the potato recipes, and even if you do, you will probably never get tired of eating potatoes. Waru really is bae.
Here are a few recipes that you should try out.
- Viazi Karai
Viazi Karai reminds me of the Mombasa Culture. If you have been to the Coast of Kenya and not had the viazi karai from there, you are missing out. The food has since spread to other counties and towns in Kenya. It is a cheap delicacy, just like many other street foods. The good news? You don’t have to wait until you’re in Mombasa, or until you can buy it from anywhere else. You can make your viazi karai at home.
This recipe serves two people.
Ingredients
- 8 medium-sized Potatoes
- One cup of water
- A pinch of food colouring
- Coriander (dhania)
- 2 cups of flour
- 2 teaspoons of Garlic
- Salt and pepper
- Cooking oil
Instructions
- 1. Wash the potatoes thoroughly till clean then peel and cut them.
- Add water to a sufuria then add the peeled potatoes and boil till tender.
- In a bowl mix the flour, garlic, food colour, salt, pepper, turmeric, and sliced coriander.
- Make a thick paste by adding water a little at a time as you mix.
- Deep your potatoes inside this paste and mix well
- Preheat the cooking oil in a sufuria. Dip the potatoes in hot oil and fry till golden brown.
- Serve hot.
- Roast Potatoes
Roast potatoes are almost like Viazi Karai, but with a slight variation and fewer spices. If you’re looking for something a little simpler, then this one is for you.
This recipe serves two
Ingredients
- 8 potatoes
- Vegetable oil
- Rosemary (optional)
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
- Coriander for garnish
Instructions
- Wash your potatoes thoroughly and dice them into medium-sized cubes.
- Place in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and rosemary
- Toss until the potatoes are well coated.
- Put the potatoes on a baking sheet and spread them out.
- Roast in the oven for at least 1 hour, or until browned and crisp.
- Flip the potatoes to ensure that they have cooked evenly.
- Remove the potatoes from the oven.
- Garnish with your coriander and serve hot.
- Bhajia
The word bhajia itself can make you salivate. Few potato recipes beat this one, and I’m sure many of you agree with this. If you are looking to make your own at home, here is a recipe you might like.
Ingredients
- 10 Irish potatoes
- Cooking oil
- Dhania
- Wheat flour (some use green grams flour)
- 3 Onions
- Food colour
Instructions
- Wash, and cut your potatoes into small pieces.
- Chop the onions and dhania.
- Put the onions and dhania in a bowl containing coloured wheat flour.
- Add salt to your liking.
- Drop in the chopped potatoes.
- Deep fry.
Have these bhajias with some chicken – 5 Chicken Recipes That You Need To Try Out
- Lyonnaise Potatoes
This recipe, originally from France, is delicious and you can never have enough of it.
This recipe serves two.
Ingredients
- 6 large potatoes
- Vegetable oil
- 4 onions, thinly sliced in rings
- 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
- ½ cup butter
- Salt to taste
- Ground white pepper
- 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
- Peel your potatoes and cut them into slices. Your slices shouldn’t be too thin, otherwise, they will turn to crisps.
- Place sliced potatoes in a sufuria then cover with water.
- Boil for a few minutes for them to soften up.
- Place the potatoes in the oven with vegetable oil.
- Allow them to cook for about 10 minutes.
- In a separate sufuria, fry the onions. Add garlic and saute until onions are deep brown and garlic is soft.
- Melt butter, season with salt and pepper and mix
- Open the oven and spread this mixture over your potatoes.
- Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are tender and browned on top.
- Transfer to your serving bowl.
- Garnish with parsley if you would like
- Serve hot
- Jacket Potatoes
Have you eaten a potato with the skin on it? If you haven’t then you are missing out. Check out this recipe for jacket potatoes.
This recipe serves five.
Ingredients
- 5 large potatoes
- Vegetable oil
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Wash your potatoes thoroughly, especially since you will be cooking them whole with the peel.
- Dry them so that they turn out crispy.
- Season them with salt and black pepper.
- Poke holes in the potatoes before baking them using a fork, otherwise, they may explode in the oven.
- Preheat oven to 170°C.
- Bake until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.
Jacket potatoes are very good with other things – You can cut them in half and add some yummy ingredients like butter, cheese, bacon, mushrooms etc. Be adventurous.
6. Potato wedges
Potato wedges are delicious! This is another potato recipe with the potato skin still on. You might want to try it out.
This recipe serves two.
Ingredients
- 6 large potatoes.
- 4 cups of vegetable oil.
- 1 tablespoon of paprika
- Fresh Rosemary
- Thyme (finely chopped)
- 1/2 tablespoon black pepper powder
- 1/4 tablespoon turmeric powder (optional)
- 1 tsp red chilli powder (optional)
- 1/2 tablespoon of ground garlic
Instructions
- Wash your potatoes thoroughly, especially because you will not be peeling them. Cut them into even wedges.
- Boil the potatoes with some salt until they are semi-soft.
- Meanwhile, mix your spices in a separate bowl.
- Once the potatoes are boiled, drain out the water.
- Toss your potatoes inside the spices and mix well.
- Heat your oil in a sufuria or a fryer.
- Deep fry your potatoes until cooked and golden brown.
- Once the potatoes are fried, take them out of the oil and drain the excess oil
- Serve hot.
Love potatoes. Check out these other potato recipes Waru Is Bae: Different Ways To Cook Potatoes and Lifestyle: Some Great Foods To Meal Prep Over The Weekend
