How often does this happen to you?
You open your fridge and there are those potatoes staring back at you. Your eyes veer away to look for something else but it’s looking pretty bleak. What can you do that you have not already done? You want to feed your family and friends something different, but what?
How about sautéed baby potatoes drizzled with fresh pesto and sprinkled with bacon on top! Who would ever say no to that! Seriously… tell me! Don’t worry vegetarians—I have you covered as well! Just subtract the bacon and you’re all set! Plus the pesto is dairy-free!
I’ve spent some time experimenting with these flavors, and the results have been outstanding! I have served this alongside a variety of dishes and also on its own—it does well either way!
How to make jaw dropping potatoes!
What you need:
- 3-4 lb. of red baby potatoes (or any except Russet—these are used for mashed potatoes)
- 1/2 cup of chopped onion
- 1 full clove of garlic, minced
- 1 cup of fresh basil leaves
- 1/3 cup of pine nuts
- 1 tsp. of salt
- 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil (I prefer distributors from Greece)
- 2 oz. of crispy bacon, minced (I normally get spicy bacon jerky at a grocery store where everyone wears Hawaiian apparel…)
How to get it done:
- Rinse the potatoes and place them into a large pot with enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil and cook for roughly 10-12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, throw the basil, pine nuts and salt into a blender. With the blender running, drizzle in a 1/4 cup of the oil and mix for roughly 3 minutes.
- Heat a ½ cup of the oil in a frying pan. Throw in the onions followed by the garlic and stir until browned. (You may add a liquor here such as a ¼ cup of wine or whiskey to give it some extra bam!)
- Add the potatoes, then the remaining ¼ cup of oil and stir for 3-5 minutes to get the potatoes nice and golden
That’s it! Get a plate ready and place the potatoes first followed by a drizzle of your vegetarian style pesto followed by that minced bacon on top. You now have a quick, fresh and delicious dish. Serve it as an appetizer, as a side dish or snack or take it for lunch at work! Can’t go wrong with these sautéed baby potatoes. The last time I had my friends over for dinner, as soon as I set these potatoes down there wasn’t even one left for me to try!
Fun Fact
Did you know that there are over 5,000 varieties of potatoes around the world? Most are found in South America and are one of the easiest crops to grow— especially in high-altitude climates.
What is your favorite potato recipe or what do you like to pair them with? Considering there are 5,000 types, which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!