Jacket potatoes are a classic lunchtime favorite, but achieving the perfect balance of crispy skin and fluffy filling can be tricky. Poppy O'Toole, known as the 'potato queen' for her viral spud recipes, has shared a simple cutting technique that promises to make your potatoes 'extra delicious and crispy'.
The Star Cut Method
Instead of the traditional cross cut, O'Toole recommends cutting a star shape into the potato using three or four lines. This increases the surface area, resulting in crispier skin and allowing more of the delicious filling to be added. She demonstrated the method on This Morning, where hosts Dermot O'Leary and Josie Gibson couldn't hide their enthusiasm, exclaiming 'wow' after tasting.
Ingredients
- 2 large Maris Pipers or Russet potatoes
- 80g cream cheese
- 100g salted butter
- 1 bulb garlic
- Small bunch parsley, roughly chopped
- Salt, ground white pepper, fine sugar and neutral oil
Method
Preheat your oven to 200°C fan/220°C/440°F, or 200°C/400°F for the air fryer. Prick the potatoes all over with a fork and drizzle with oil. Season generously with salt, then bake for 45 minutes to an hour until cooked through and crispy.
While the potatoes are baking, chop the top off a bulb of garlic, drizzle with olive oil, season, and wrap tightly in tin foil. Add to the oven or air fryer with the potatoes. When the potatoes have 10 minutes left, remove the garlic bulb from the foil and squeeze the roasted garlic into the butter. Microwave together, season with salt, and stir in the parsley. Set aside.
In another bowl, mix the cream cheese with a pinch of salt, ground white pepper, and fine sugar. Set aside. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut a line in the middle, then two more crossing over to form a star. Gently open the cuts with a knife and add a spoonful of the cream cheese mixture into each cut, filling around the sides.
Place the potatoes on an oven tray or air fryer basket and spoon the garlic butter on top. Increase the oven temperature to 210°C fan/230°C/450°F, or leave the air fryer temperature the same. Return to the oven for 10-15 minutes until golden brown, bubbling, and buttery. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and enjoy.
