It’s always fun when you see new exotic or exotic-looking food appearing at your local grocery store. This was the case on my last visit to a Middle Eastern market. They had blue potatoes!
I have no clue if I have eaten blue potatoes before but I know I have had purple ones. A few years back I was in Peru and there are about 3,000 different kinds of potatoes there. Actually, it is believed potatoes originate from Peru. I do remember eating in a whole-in-the-wall nontouristy place where the soup had 6 different varieties in it alone. the soup was the best part of that meal…it was not good but I paid the equivalent of $0.60 for a 3-course meal.
But back to my blue potatoes bought in Montreal. I wanted to taste them without too much altering so it was hard finding a way to cook and serve them. Finally, I decided to go for a salad presentation with sliced tomato.
First I sliced my potatoes and boiled them till just tender. See what the interior of the tuber looks like below. And if anyone wants to ask…yes the water in the pan does turn blue a little bit. I took a picture of it. I got a really nice red ripe tomato and just sliced it up. I just loved the intense color contrast on a plate.
I put my potatoes under running cold water to stop the cooking process and then drained them. I just simply laid them in rows on a plate with the tomatoes. Spritzed a bit of olive oil and lemon juice. Sprinkled a pinch of salt, pepper, ground chili, and dill.
Since this post, I have also tried purple sweet potatoes if you are curious.
Very simple dish. I can’t say my blue potatoes tasted any different then the regular kind but presentation was a shocker. Loved my salad.
What exotic ingredient have you tried lately?
At the middle-eastern store you say? I love it! Oh for exotic I have been a glutton lately with loquats, found at the middle-eastern grocer in my neighborhood, It is actually found everywhere but people don’t pay attention to it; It is my favorite fruit in the spring, in Lebanon people love it. I would urge you to look for it, you would love it too. (get the big fat orangy ones)
I love anything that looks like Dr. Seuss food. Right? It’s just more fun. Lately i have tried lorroco, a Salvadorean flower thingy that you find in pupusas. Very distinctive!
Do I love potatoes? If I could…I would shamefully sneak them into every meal!
Any color will do. These blue ones raw and sliced are gorgeoues for any plate presentation.
If, I may make one suggestion: I find that although the cooking process may be a little longer…I simmer boil the potatoes whole. The taste and nutrition seem to get captured better. I would imagine that maybe these colored potatoes would be even more appealing ;o)
Thanks for sharing your experience. Flavourful wishes, Claudia
How interesting! I don’t think I’ve seen blue potatoes before in my local grocery store… I will have to try and hunt them down. I do agree that the colour contrast is amazing!