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August 8, 2010

Sauteed Shoestring Potatoes

Searching for a simpler and healthier way of preparing potatoes I came up with this simple dish. It does not require an oven or aluminum foil, it does not take loads of oil to fry and it does not lose nutrients as in boiling. Instead, the potatoes cook in their own moisture. I use a 10 inch teflon frying pan with a heavy lid.

Ingredients

Serves four as a side dish.

2 or 3 potatoes, 1 pound
1 large or two smaller white onions, 4 to 6 ounces
Olive oil
Sweet Hungarian paprika or Spanish pimentón
Salt

Preparation

Pare the potatoes. Cut them in half and cut each half into thin shoestrings, about 1/4 inch think or less. By making the pieces thin we cut down on the cooking time which not only saves energy but it also degrades the olive oil less. Place the raw cut potatoes in fresh water, this washes out some of the starch.

Cut off the ends of the onions and remove the outer layer. Cut the onions in half from top to root. Slice the onion halves into half rings about a 1/8 of an inch thick. Put aside.

Put a 10 inch frying pan on medium heat. Add two or three tablespoons of virgin olive oil.

Drain the potatoes.

When the oil is hot, add the onions. Sprinkle half a teaspoon of paprika or pimentón on the onions. Stir until well mixed. Now add the potatoes on top of the onions and spread evenly without disturbing the onions on the bottom. Sprinkle salt on the potatoes. Cover with the heavy lid and lower the heat to minimum.

Cook for about five minutes. The steam under the lid should cook the potatoes but not completely. Remove the lid carefully, be careful not to get burned with the hot water dripping off the lid.

Turn the heat back up to medium. Mix the potatoes and onions with a flat spatula a couple of times. Let the higher heat brown the potatoes. After a few minutes turn the potatoes and onions to let another part brown. Turning this dish is a bit tricky, if you turn it too often it won't brown and if you don't turn it soon enough, it might burn. It takes some practice.

The potatoes can be used as a side dish to a more complete meal. Sometimes I just have the potatoes for lunch.

Enjoy!

Denny Schlesinger

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