Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Stuffed baked potatoes are a delicious dish that’s quite simple to prepare. They can be stuffed in various ways, but I’ll give you a basic recipe that can be customized according to your tastes or needs. Here are the ingredients and instructions for preparing Italian-style stuffed baked potatoes:

Ingredients

• 4 large potatoes
• 200 g diced cooked ham (optional, for a vegetarian version you can omit it)
• 150 g grated cheese (for example mozzarella or emmental)
• 100 ml cooking cream
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Chopped parsley (for garnish)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
2. Wash the potatoes well and dry them. Prick the potato skins with a fork, then brush them with a little oil and lightly salt them.
3. Place the potatoes in the oven on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake for about 45-60 minutes, or until soft in the center when pierced with a fork.
4. Once cooked, remove the potatoes from the oven and let them cool slightly. Cut a lid from the top and gently scoop out the inside with a spoon, being careful not to break the outer skin.
5. In a bowl, mash the removed pulp and mix it with the diced ham, cream, grated cheese, salt, and pepper.
6. Stuff the potato skins with the mixture and sprinkle with more cheese if you want a crust.
7. Return the stuffed potatoes to the oven for another 15-20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and browned.
8. Remove the potatoes from the oven, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve hot.

Remember, you can add your favorite ingredients to the filling: artichokes, olives, pancetta, vegetables, or make the dish lighter by using yogurt instead of cream and low-fat cheeses.

Stuffed baked potatoes are versatile and welcoming, ideal for a family meal or to impress guests with a special dinner. Enjoy your meal!