A definitive guide to cooking with potatoes
From creamy mashed to crispy fries and the perfect roasted spud, add these perfect potato recipes to your culinary repertoire.
Potatoes are the ultimate comfort food – whether mashed, roasted, or turned into crispy fries. But even this comfort food has its benefits. While potatoes, bread and pasta have long been demonised as guilty pleasures, the science suggests our gut microbiome suffers when these carbs are excluded from our diets. The resistant starch in potatoes helps keep us fuller for longer. White potatoes, when eaten in moderation, contribute a surprising amount of fibre to meals as well as carrying vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate and iron. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of antioxidants – loaded with vitamins A and C.
In this roundup, we’ve curated over 20 mouth-watering potato recipes, from classic dishes to creative takes that will elevate your next meal.
Potato varieties
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to potatoes. Different varieties shine in different dishes, so choosing the right one can elevate your cooking. Here are some popular types to look out for:
- Kipfler (Fingerling): Small, finger-shaped potatoes with a nutty flavour. Perfect for baking or adding a unique twist to potato salads.
- Pontiac: Large potatoes with red skin and deep eyes. Their white flesh makes them ideal for grating, boiling, and baking.
- Sebago: With white skin and an oval shape, Sebagos are incredibly versatile and work well when fried, mashed, or baked to perfection.
How to cook potatoes perfectly
According to chef Lennox Hastie the key to perfect potato dishes is choosing the right variety for the job. Waxy potatoes, which hold their shape after cooking, are ideal for boiling or making potato salads, while floury potatoes become soft and fluffy, making them perfect for mashing or roasting. Hastie likes to leave the skin on for added flavour and texture. Once cooked, breaking the potato into pieces helps release excess moisture, roughing up the edges to create a crispy, golden-brown crust when caramelised in a hot pan. The result is a satisfying crunch, followed by a soft, fluffy interior.
Potato recipes
Below you’ll find some of our favourite potato recipes that you can make ahead of time, serve at a dinner party or snack on while relaxing on the weekend.
Mashed potato recipes
Whether you like them creamy, buttery, or with a twist of garlic, mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food.
Guillaume Brahimi’s Paris mash
Winter offers hearty pleasures, such as black truffles, black olives and a buried winter treasure: potatoes.
Get the recipe for Guillaume Brahimi’s Paris mash.
Stockman’s pie
This stockman’s pie is shepherd’s pie reimagined, using leftover roast lamb, chunks of sweet carrot and silky onion, and plenty of cheesy, creamy mash.
Get the recipe for Alice Zaslavsky’s stockman’s pie.
Potato salad recipes
Potato salad is a classic for picnics, barbecues, and family gatherings. Explore a variety of potato salad recipes that offer everything from creamy indulgence to lighter, healthier options.
Greek yoghurt potato salad
We’ve swapped mayonnaise for Greek yoghurt making this potato salad lighter and healthier. It’s the perfect side salad for a barbecue or relaxed dinner party.
Get the recipe for Greek yoghurt potato salad.
German-inspired potato salad
This is an oil and broth-based salad, more prevalent in the southern parts of Germany. It’s less heavy and claggy than the mayo variety.
Get the recipe for Yotam Ottolenghi’s potato salad.
Sicilian potato salad
Potatoes with large local capers in dressing is a highly acclaimed speciality on the Sicilian island of Salina. So simple!
Get the recipe for Cettina Vicenzino’s Sicilian potato salad.
Swedish potato salad
A warm potato salad is the perfect late summer accompaniment to a meat or seafood dish.
Get the recipe for Lennox Hastie’s Swedish potato salad.
Potato salad with a Greek twist
This potato salad is a super quick and super tasty addition to any meal that needs a starchy component.
Get the recipe for Ella Mittas’s Greek potato salad.
Garlicky chilli greens & potato
Served with some crusty bread to soak up the fragrant juices, it’s a meal that can solve all problems.
Get the recipe for Elizabeth Hewson’s garlicky chilli greens & potato.
Roast potatoes and homemade chip recipes
Homemade chips are the ultimate snack. Discover crispy, crunchy recipes for making your own at home—perfect for a quick treat or side dish.
Salt and vinegar baked chips
The vinegar infuses the potatoes, giving them that unmistakeable tang that transports me straight to the smell of hot chips with vinegar on the beach.
Get the recipe for Elizabeth Hewson’s salt and vinegar baked chips.
Fish and chips
Nothing says holiday eating like fish and chips, says James Martin, who scoured the UK to come up with the ultimate recipe.
Get the recipe for James Martin’s fish and chips.
Crispy potatoes with chive crème fraiche
The reward of this recipe is a satisfyingly audible crunch, followed by a burst of fluffy potato goodness.
Get the recipe for Lennox Hastie’s crispy potatoes with chive crème fraiche.
Lemon and artichoke potato gratin
This lemon, artichoke and potato gratin is more than just a side. Dress it up with additional ingredients to turn the gratin into its own meal, or enjoy it as is with a perfectly dressed green salad and crisp glass of riesling.
Get the recipe for Elizabeth Hewson’s lemon and artichoke potato gratin.
Rice-stuffed tomatoes with baked potatoes
Pair these rice-stuffed tomatoes with sliced potatoes for an utterly irresistible meal.
Get the recipe for Elizabeth Hewson’s rice-stuffed tomatoes with roast potatoes.
Sweet potato recipes
Sweet potatoes are a delicious and nutritious alternative to the classic potato.
Slow-cooked sweet potato soup with harissa
This rich, slow-cooked soup made from delicious sweet potatoes is chock-full of Moroccan flavours.
Get the recipe for Michele Southan’s slow-cooked sweet potato soup with harissa.
Sweet potato and pea curry
These moderately spiced vegetarian curries will win over even die-hard meat eaters. Serve them with naan bread and a dollop of natural yoghurt.
Get the recipe for David Herbert’s sweet potato and pea curry.
Sweet potato wedges
David Herbert serves up crispy sweet potato wedges, the perfect addition to a festive spread.
Get the recipe for David Herbert’s sweet potato wedges.
Potato pie and tart recipes
Potatoes aren’t just for the basics. These unique potato recipes offer creative twists.
A hearty tuna and potato pie
Chef Justine Schofield puts a twist on an old family favourite adding potatoes, lemon zest and capers in this hearty tuna and potato pie recipe.
Get the recipe for Justine Schofield’s tuna and potato pie.
Potato and rosemary tart
This potato tart is perfect on its own, but a sprinkle of chilli flakes and a drizzle of honey can be glorious additions.
Get the recipe for Elizabeth Hewson’s potato and rosemary tart.
Potato and spinach pie
This rustic star is sure to take centre stage at your table. With paper-thin slices of potato, spoonfuls of spicy chermoula and a flaky base, Yotam Ottolenghi has given us ‘feel-good’ in spades.
Get the recipe for Yotam Ottolenghi’s potato and spinach pie.
The perfect potato accompaniments to any dish
Potatoes are the perfect ingredient to round out a delicious meal. Pair with a roast to soak up the juices or alongside a versatile one-pan chicken recipe.
Grilled octopus with potato
This dish is full of brilliant flavours and textures: charred, tender octopus, fresh, aromatic salsa verde and salty, earthy potatoes.
Get the recipe for Luke Powell’s octopus with potato.
Salt-crust potatoes
Lennox Hastie’s mind-blowing salt-crust potatoes, also known as “papas arrugadas”, are the Canary Islands’ answer to the world’s craving for starchy comfort. Serve with mojo picon, a vibrant, zesty sauce and a perfectly cooked steak.
Get the recipe for Lennox Hastie’s salt-crust potatoes.
One-pan chicken with marjoram, potatoes and tahini yoghurt
The chicken and potatoes are slightly crusty with a deep, smoky flavour from the paprika. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skins onto it all – so delicious!
Get the recipe for Belinda Jeffery’s one-pan chicken and potatoes.
Family-style slow-cooked lamb and potatoes
This slow-cooked lamb dish, with green olives and potatoes, can be made ahead of time, and served family-style, with salad and crusty bread for a long lazy lunch.
Get the recipe for Silvia Colloca’s braised lamb shanks with potatoes, olives and lemon.
Want more cooking ideas? Check out these fun and fresh zucchini recipes or host a romantic dinner with these aphrodisiac inspired dishes. For more recipes, go to theaustralian.com.au/life/food-drink.
