December 22nd, 2009
Quick and Easy Pan-Baked Potatoes
If you celebrate Christmas, the big days are almost here. I say days, because for most families, it’s more than just the actual day when we’re celebrating and sharing meals with family and friends. Those days are Christmas Eve and Christmas day in our family.
So, you have selected your main dish for your dinner or special meal—perhaps the slow-cooked POM’d Pork from the Holiday Food Fest—and now you want a lovely side dish to accompany it. Why not make your side dish both attractive and delicious, but as fuss free as a slow cooker meal? Here’s a simple side dish that fits the bill. This recipe comes straight out of the manual/cookbook that came with my Kenmore (Sears) microwave, which proves once again that you can still rely on your old “mainstream” cookbooks to cook gluten free. Recipes that are gluten free naturally or easily made gluten free—gfe—abound. One just has to recognize them as gluten-free, even though they don’t have a gluten-free label. That’s another advantage of focusing primarily on real foods and understanding ingredients.
The original pan-baked potatoes recipe contains dairy, but I’ve made it dairy free when needed just by using almond flour in place of the Parmesan cheese and olive oil in place of the butter. That modification works very nicely. The almond flour and olive oil combination don’t brown quite as well as the Parmesan/butter combo, but a quick minute under the oven broiler can solve that problem if you’re going for that visual appeal. Seasoned gluten-free bread crumbs or a similar topping, like gluten-free cornflake crumbs, will also work in lieu of cheese.
This recipe is one I often make to accompany a “gift meal,” too. The potatoes go great with a meat/fish entrée or can be an easy vegetarian/vegan meal when paired with a salad. This recipe is always very well received. Folks have even referred to these potatoes as twice-baked potatoes before. While I don’t think they taste like twice-baked potatoes, they are a much easier, healthier alternative and do taste delicious. Sometimes I just make these potatoes for us as part of a weeknight meal because they are so quick, easy, and tasty. They can also work well as a breakfast potato dish to accompany egg dishes and such.
Pan-Baked Potatoes
(Click here for a print version of this recipe.)
2 tbsp butter (or margarine, oil)
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (or almond flour, bread crumbs, cornflake crumbs)
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp white pepper
4 medium potatoes (or larger potatoes cooked longer or cut to those sized pieces)
paprika, to taste
Melt butter in microwave-safe bowl (about 30 – 45 seconds on High). Set aside.
Stir together Parmesan, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl (one that is big enough so you can place your potatoes face down in it).
Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Dip cut side of potato in butter, then in cheese mixture.
Place potatoes, cut-side up, in shallow microwave-safe baking dish or plate. Sprinkle with paprika, as desired. Pour any remaining butter over the potatoes.
Cook on High 10 to 12 minutes, or until tender.
Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Shirley’s Notes: Potato halves make the loveliest presentation, but if making this recipe for your family, you can cut larger potatoes into smaller pieces for faster cooking and additional “crispy” edges. I like to poke my potatoes with a fork after I’ve cut them to ensure faster baking. You can easily adjust the recipe for more or less servings.
Adapted from Kenmore Microwave Cooking
Enjoy! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays once again to all!
Shirley
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Comments
29 Responses to “Quick and Easy Pan-Baked Potatoes”
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Such lovely little potatoes! I love my potatoes, always have =D.
Merry Christmas my dear! Have a fantastic time in Key West!
Hi Lauren–I think you’d love these potatoes.
So easy to make a batch to test out, too.
Thanks so very much for the Christmas wishes! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, too. See you when I get back!
Hugs,
Shirley
Luv the artwork…so cute!
Enjoy!
P.S. Shirley..you silly girl…I didn’t enter a doggie basket giveaway…it was just a basket giveaway (didn’t know the type)….lol!!!
Hugs and enjoy!
Hi Pam–Glad you like Son’s Santa.
That is one of the Santas he made for me for my Santa collection. Looking at it always makes me happy!
LOL on the doggie basket giveaway … heck, I didn’t know … you might have been a giveaway junkie entering giveaways for goodies you didn’t even have a need for.
Shirley
Yummy potatoes! And I have that blue dish!
Hi Alta–Thanks re: the potatoes. I love cobalt blue dishes and glasses, but I’ve only had that baking dish about two years. A girlfriend was moving out of state and decided she had to let some stuff go to save on shipping costs. I was happy to help her out! A simple baking dish, but I love it. How neat that you have the same dish.
Somehow the blue dish makes whatever is cooked in it special, doesn’t it?
Shirley
We love roasted potatoes – I never thought about making them in the microwave. Quite clever! I’ve always done them in the oven or on the grill. I roast them for Joe once or twice a month. I don’t eat them and as much as he loves them, I forget to make them for him. I would go for the parm any day.
Thanks for linking to Slightly Indulgent Tuesday!
Amy–It was a good day when I came across this recipe.
I think this would be an easy and wonderful way to make Joe’s roasted potatoes for him. I know he’d love them. 
Shirley
I love potatoes just about any way you cook them. This recipe is new to me and it looks delicious.
Hi Linda–It’s such a quick way to have terrific potatoes. I like to cook them until the tops are nicely browned and the centers are fairly soft.
Thanks!
Shirley
Those potatoes look good. Thanks for the recipe and linking to TMTT. May you have a blessed Christmas.
Hi Lisa–Thanks! Give this recipe a try when you want a tasty, easy side dish.
Your TMTT roundup each week is impressive!
Thanks so much for the Christmas wishes! I sincerely wish you the same. This very special time of year is finally almost here.
Shirley
I tried these tonight for dinner. They were delicious. Thanks so much for posting.
Hi Sharon–Welcome to gfe! Thanks so much for reporting back after giving this recipe a try. That’s the very best recommendation and I really appreciate it!
Congratulations on your brand-new baby girl! This Christmas will be a very special one for your family indeed.
Shirley
Yum. Can’t do parmesan so will try with vegan parmesan alternative (basically equal amts walnuts and nutritional yeast and a little pinch of salt – yum). Thanks for the recipe – it sounds perfect!
~Ellen
http://www.Iamglutenfree.blogspot.com
Hi Ellen–Thanks! I’ve heard of the nutritional yeast in the place of dairy, but haven’t tried it yet. The walnuts and yeast must be similar in taste and texture to the almond flour and olive oil combination I mentioned (the one that Ali came up with in her zucchini dish). Thanks so much for mentioning it. I’m really planning to try more non-dairy alternatives in the new year.
You can also try one of the other non-dairy possibilities—bread crumbs or another crunchy topping like cornflakes.
Shirley
Those look great!!
Have a great holiday if I don’t get a chance to tell you again.
Kim
Hi Kim–Thanks so much re: the potatoes and the holiday wishes! I hope your holiday is fantastic, too!
Shirley
Just a quick sneak-by to say Merry GF Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Hi Nance!–Thanks so much! The three of us are having a splendid time here in Key West. Hope you are enjoying a wonderful Christmas/New Year break with your family, too.
I really appreciate you stopping by gfe.
Shirley
Shirley,
I gave you a “Happy 101″ blog award…Congrats!
Hugs
Wow, Pam, thank you sooo much! I am truly honored. Many congrats on your award as well—very cool.
Shirley
Hi, I just discovered your website here, having googled gluten free popovers, and this site is fantastic! My husband is gluten intolerant, and I am thinking of having my 17 year old daughter tested as well. My husband is 60 and was just diagnosed last year.
I love the challenge/fun of remaking recipes; most from my own repertoire – but I will be visiting this site frequently.
One question that I have is how do you get the fiber from the GF flours that one can usually get from whole wheat grains and cereals?
Thanks, Nancy
Hi Nancy–Welcome to gfe! I’m glad you found me and I truly appreciate the kind words.
I’ll look forward to seeing you in the future, too.
The fiber content (and nutritional value, in general) of the flours and starches used in most gluten-free flours, mixes, and products is low for sure. Buckwheat, sorghum, millet, teff, amaranth, and quinoa are the some of the flours that offer much more in the way of fiber and nutrition. There are even grain-free flours like coconut and almond that are high in nutrition and fiber. Note that you will see rice flour and cornstarch used here at gfe, because I’ve had issues with some of the “heavier” gluten-free flours. Remember that fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds are also a great source of fiber. Many folks eat completely grain free as well as gluten free and still get plenty of fiber. Hope that info helps.
Sorry for the delay in replying … I’m on vacation with my family.
Thanks again!
Shirley
I am on a potato kick, these days and all I seem to post is potatoes and cookies, potatoes and cookies, potatoes and cookies. We do eat other things. Smiling….
These look delicious and I would like to try them. My instincts tell me, they will be a success.
Hi there, Chaya–Potatoes and cookies! LOL Comfort food, indeed!
It’s funny how our posts present a totally different view, huh? I think you’ll enjoy this recipe … let us know—thanks!
Shirley