Crispy Baked Potato Fans Recipe Cooks Country

CRISPY BAKED POTATO FANS

Steps:

• 1. For the bread crumb topping: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. Pulse bread in food processor until coarsely ground. Bake bread crumbs on rimmed baking sheet until dry, about 20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then combine crumbs, butter, cheeses, paprika, garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in large bowl. (Bread crumb topping can be refrigerated in zipper-lock bag for 2 days.) 2. For the potato fans: Heat oven to 450 degrees. Following photos 1 to 3 at left, cut 1/4 inch from bottom and ends of potatoes, then slice potatoes crosswise at 1/4-inch intervals, leaving 1/4 inch of potato intact. Gently rinse potatoes under running water, let drain, and transfer, sliced-side down, to plate. Microwave until slightly soft to the touch, 6 to 12 minutes, flipping potatoes halfway through cooking. 3. Arrange potatoes, sliced-side up, on foil-lined baking sheet. Brush potatoes all over with oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake until skin is crisp and potatoes are beginning to brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove potatoes from oven and heat broiler. 4. Carefully top potatoes with stuffing mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Broil until bread crumbs are deep golden brown, about 3 minutes. Serve. Prepping Baked Potato Fans These potatoes may look difficult to make, but we found a few simple, no-fuss tricks to ensure perfect potato fans every time. 1. Trim 1/4-inch slices from the bottom and ends of each potato to allow them to sit flat and to give the slices extra room to fan out during baking. 2. Chopsticks provide a foolproof guide for slicing the potato petals without cutting all the way through the potato. 3. Gently flex fans open while rinsing under cold running water; this rids the potatoes of excess starch that can impede fanning.

CRISPY BAKED POTATO FANS

Steps:

• You can use one slice of bread in place of the bread crumbs. Chop up and place in food processor, pulse until you get fine crumbles. Bake on cookie sheet in 200° degree oven until dry, about 20 minutes. Let cool.
• Place bread crumbs in medium-sized bowl and add butter, cheeses, paprika, garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoons pepper. Mix well.
• Bread crumb mixture can be refrigerated for 2 days in zipper-lock bag.
• For the potato fans, heat oven to 450° degrees. After potatoes have been scrubbed, find flattest part of potato and cut skin off slightly so potato doesn't rock. Cut both ends off about 1/4" or so. Then proceed to fan potato, making 1/4" slices. Use something on either side of potato (dow rod or chop sticks) so that you don't cut all the way through. You should have a bit more than a 1/4" left at the bottom. Once all are cut (very important part), rinse through running water getting gently in-between the slices. Let drain and then place sliced-side down on microwavable plate. Microwave until slightly soft to touch, 6-12 minutes, flipping potatoes halfway through.
• Arrange potatoes, sliced-side up, on foil-lined baking sheet. Brush potatoes with olive oil all over and try to get in-between some of the slices, season with salt and pepper. Bake until skin is crisp and potatoes start to brown, about 25-30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let sit for about 5 minutes. Carefully top potatoes with bread crumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Try to get a bit in-between slices, but don't push too hard or they will separate too much. Broil until bread crumbs are deep golden brown, about 3 minutes. Serve warm.
• NOTE: You can substitute the Monterey Jack for Cheddar or another semi-firm cheese. The Parmesan helps bind the bread crumbs.