Take Baked Potatoes From Drab To Decadent — Load Them Up Greek Style
Beyond following these genius tips to make the best baked potatoes of your life, you need the right toppings for a tasteworthy end result.
That being said, to upgrade your potatoes Greek-style, use a mix of both tangy and creamy extras. For example, instead of crumbled bacon, use chopped olives or a few spoonfuls of tapenade made with chopped olives, capers, lemon juice, olive oil, and seasonings. When it comes to cheese, instead of using shredded cheddar or Colby, crumble feta for an extra salty bite.
In terms of condiments, add spoonfuls of tzatziki, which is plain Greek yogurt mixed with grated cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, dill, and olive oil. Alternatively, use a tahini-based yogurt sauce or hummus for a heartier bite. Or, skip these flavor-specific sauces and keep things simple by topping your potatoes with a good pour of quality olive oil and fresh lemon juice. With so many toppings to choose from, you can even turn Greek-style baked potatoes into a fully-fledged, all-in-one meal.
More delicious ways to prepare and enjoy Mediterranean-inspired baked potatoes
To bulk up the filling of Greek-style baked potatoes, add in some cooked ground beef or lamb seasoned with complementary spices like oregano, parsley, and paprika. Or, serve your potatoes with one or more authentic Greek foods everyone should try at least once like keftedes — Greek-style meatballs — prepared with lamb and signature spices like coriander, nutmeg, and cinnamon. More protein-rich ingredients you can use to enhance Greek-style baked potatoes that don't involve meat include canned chickpeas (or your favorite variety of canned white beans) and toasted pine nuts. You can also fill baked potatoes with cooked green or brown lentils mixed with lemon juice, olive oil, and select seasonings.
To add some grains to this meal, incorporate some tabouli salad, which is cooked bulgur wheat mixed with fresh parsley and mint combined with raw, chopped tomatoes and olive oil. Or, serve some dolmas alongside your potatoes. These individual snacks involve wrapping Mediterranean-spiced beef and rice in marinated grape leaves.
Lastly, to increase your potatoes' warm and savory appeal, feel free to top your next batch with cooked veggies such as chopped shallot and eggplant. You can also include some flavorful jarred extras to the mix, like roasted red peppers and marinated artichoke hearts. Just don't forget to add a sprinkle of fresh herbs and some cooling tzatziki sauce. Or, finish your potatoes with a spoonful of basil pesto for a brighter, more herbaceous flavor.
