Podcast: National Potato Day

the Potato is the world’s third most important food crop with global acreage rising faster than that of any other crop and has excellent nutritional characteristics.

And Friday 2^nd of October is Bord Bia’ National Potato Day. Joe Finnegan spoke to Chef Frank Moynihan and Potato and Fresh Produce manager Lorcan Bourke.

Take a listen here:

Bord Bia have suggested these recipes

Gnocchi with Spinach and Roasted Tomatoes

Serves: 4

Cooking time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

3 floury potatoes (e.g. Rooster) (approximately 500g)

70g fresh spinach

3 tablesp. ricotta

170g Parmesan cheese, grated

200g flour

2 eggs

A little grated nutmeg

400g cherry tomatoes, roasted

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into equal-sized pieces. Boil them in salted water for 15 to 20 minutes, drain and allow to dry for 10 minutes.
2. In the meantime, blanch the spinach briefly in boiling, salted water, place in a sieve and press all the moisture out with the back of a Finely chop the spinach and reserve the boiling water for the gnocchi.
3. Drain the ricotta well. Grate the Parmesan cheese.
4. Mash the potatoes into a puree and mix in the ricotta, flour, egg and 60g of the Parmesan cheese. Season with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Mix everything together and turn the dough out onto a worktop dusted with flour. Knead it carefully until smooth. Add some extra flour if the dough is too sticky.
5. Roll into small balls and place them in a bowl covered with plastic film. Use a fork to flatten the balls slightly. Put the bowl in the freezer until needed.
6. Just before serving, boil them in plenty of salted water. The gnocchi are ready when they rise to the
7. Serve with roasted cherry tomatoes and the remaining Parmesan cheese.

White Pizza with Potatoes

Serves: 4

Cooking time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

2-3 floury potatoes (e.g. Rooster) for steaming/ baking (approximately 400g)

2 balls of mozzarella cheese

½ onion, peeled and finely sliced

1 pizza dough

2 tablesp. of fresh cream

Some small pitted olives

1 teasp. of garlic powder

30g of Parmesan cheese, shavings

1 handful of rocket

1 teasp. rapeseed or olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 7, 220°C (425°F).
2. Start by draining the mozzarella, then slicing/shredding it before draining again, otherwise your pizza soggy.
3. Using a mandolin, cut the potatoes and onion into very thin slices, as if making crisps.
4. Put the potato in cold water.
5. Bring a pot of salted water to the boil and add the potato slices to it, cook for two minutes and drain well.
6. Lightly oil your pizza dish. Roll out the pizza dough and place it on the
7. Spread the dough with fresh cream. Sprinkle with garlic powder.
8. Then arrange the onions, potatoes, mozzarella and olives. Lightly season with salt and pepper.
9. Bake for about 15 minutes.
10. After 10 minutes of cooking time, check that the mozzarella has not released any water and if this is the case, remove it by gently tipping the
11. When the pizza is ready, take it out of the
12. Add a few shavings of Parmesan cheese and fresh rocket. Finish with a drizzle of oil.

Sri Lankan Beef and Potato Curry

Serves: 4

Cooking time: 50 mins

Ingredients:

3 medium floury potatoes (e.g. Rooster) (approximately 600g)

Rapeseed or olive oil

1 large white onion, peeled and finely sliced

2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped

1 thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, grated

450g lean braising beef, diced

2 green chillies, sliced (more if you like it hotter)

1 tin of light coconut milk (400ml)

A large handful of baby spinach leaves

A squeeze of lemon juice

A handful of coriander leaves

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the spice mix:

1 cinnamon stick

4 cloves

4 cardamom pods

12 fresh curry leaves

1 teasp. turmeric

2 teasp. ground cumin seed

½ teasp. chilli powder

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a heavy pan with a
2. Add the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and curry leaves and cook gently for a
3. Add the remaining spices and cook for 30 seconds.
4. Add the onion, garlic and ginger, season well with salt and pepper and cook for six to seven minutes. Add the beef and stir well. Add the
5. Add the coconut milk, bring to the boil, cover with a lid and simmer for 45 minutes. Cut the potatoes into 2cm cubes and add them to the pan after 20 minutes. Just before serving, stir in the spinach leaves and lemon juice and adjust the
6. Serve with the coriander sprinkled over and a pile of warm chapatis

Meanwhile Chef Frank Moynihan gave his recipe for Pommes Boulangere