Dress up your baked potatoes with a tasty selection of toppings.
Baked potatoes are not only delicious, they can also be a classy and sophisticated appetizer or side dish if you are entertaining. Dress up your baked potatoes with an appetizing potato bar filled with topping choices, and upgrade this homely side dish to a standalone centerpiece that is sure to impress.
Garlic Broccoli
Add some garlic broccoli to the potato bar for a tasty hot selection to top off baked potatoes. Garlic broccoli is simple to make and can be quickly cooked using either fresh or frozen broccoli. Heat about a tablespoon of olive oil over a medium flame with a few cloves of minced garlic. Saute the garlic until it is fragrant and slightly browned and add the broccoli. Mix well to cover all of the broccoli pieces with garlic and oil and cook until the broccoli is slightly softened, but not mushy.
Place the broccoli on the potato bar in a warming tray. If you don't like broccoli, you can also make this dish with cauliflower.
Cheese Selection
Don't limit your potato bar to just one kind of cheese. Offer several varieties of shredded cheese, such as cheddar, mozzarella or flavored cheeses. Impress your guests with a spreadable cheese, such as soft cream cheese with chives and onions. The creamy texture of a spreadable cheese goes well with the creaminess of the baked potato. If you want to make a pourable cheese, melt one stick of butter with 1/2 lb. cheddar cheese and add 1 8-oz. container of sour cream. Mix well to incorporate all the ingredients and heat just before serving.
Salsa
Salsa is a popular choice for baked potatoes, adding a little kick and spice that some people love. You can serve a ready-made salsa from a jar, choosing either spicy, mild or medium, or you can make your own salsa using canned tomatoes.
To make your own salsa, add canned tomatoes to a large pot and turn the flame on to low heat. Add two chopped bell peppers, 10 cloves chopped garlic, 1 cup chopped onion, salt and pepper to taste and 1 tsp. chili powder.
International Styles
For a Tex-Mex style baked potato, add refried beans, sauteed onions, fresh cilantro, salsa and sour cream to your potato bar. For a Mediterranean theme, offer hummus and parsley or feta cheese and chopped olives. For some Southern comfort, slather on sour cream, crumbled bacon bits and sharp Cheddar cheese.
Tags: sour cream, baked potato, baked potatoes, baked potatoes, baked potatoes with, broccoli potato