Description
Ina Garten’s crusty baked potatoes with whipped feta elevate simple ingredients into a luxurious side dish. Crisp potato skins and creamy feta spread create a Mediterranean-inspired experience you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large baking potatoes (225-280g / 8–10 oz)
- 170g (6 oz) Greek feta, crumbled
- 55g (2 oz) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 80 mL (2.7 fl oz) olive oil
- 2 tbsps fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
- 2 tsps fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp coarse sea salt or fleur de sel
- Zest of 1 large lemon
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Chopped fresh chives, for garnish
Instructions
- Potato Preparation: Meticulously cleanse potatoes, eliminating all surface moisture, then puncture multiple times with a fork to facilitate steam release during roasting.
- Seasoning Fusion: Craft an aromatic herb blend by finely chopping rosemary and thyme, grating lemon zest, and combining with kosher salt for a fragrant seasoning mixture.
- Oil Infusion: Lavishly coat potatoes with extra virgin olive oil, massaging thoroughly to ensure complete skin coverage, then generously roll in prepared herb seasoning, pressing gently to maximize adherence.
- Roasting Setup: Arrange seasoned potatoes on a foil-lined baking tray, maintaining spacing for optimal heat circulation, and position in a preheated oven at 200°C (180°C fan)/400°F.
- Culinary Transformation: Roast potatoes for 60-75 minutes, rotating midway to achieve uniform golden-brown exterior and creamy interior, creating a perfect textural contrast.
- Whipped Feta Creation: Simultaneously blend feta and cream cheese in a food processor until silky smooth, incorporating olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt for a luxurious tangy complement.
- Final Presentation: Once potatoes emerge crisp and golden, allow brief resting, then slice lengthwise, gently squeeze to reveal fluffy interior, and crown with generous dollops of whipped feta and freshly chopped chives, serving immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Potato Prep Technique: Puncture multiple holes with a fork to prevent steam buildup and potential potato explosions during roasting.
- Seasoning Secret: Create a fragrant herb blend by combining finely chopped rosemary, thyme, and lemon zest with kosher salt for maximum flavor infusion.
- Roasting Pro Tip: Space potatoes apart on the baking tray to ensure even heat circulation and achieve a perfectly crispy exterior.
- Cheese Whipping Hack: Blend feta and cream cheese in a food processor until ultra-smooth, adding lemon juice and olive oil for a creamy, tangy finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 25mg