I Heart Potatoes

I stumbled upon this pic of a heart-shaped potato- a natural mutation that was made into a cute little postcard (bottom). So, I got to thinking... for those of us who aren't so lucky to actually find a potato shaped like a heart, why not make one?

Well, it was an easy concept in my mind, but it took a few tries to keep the sucker from falling apart. But once I figured it out, it turned out to be a really simple side dish to make!

Step 1: Pick out your spud- use a waxy potato (not russet), and look for one that's evenly shaped and more on the tubular side if possible.

Step 2: Wash it and put it straight into your microwave, zapping it on high for 7-9 minutes, turning it over half way through. Test with a light squeeze to make sure it's soft, if not, zap if for a bit longer (times may vary).

Step 3: While it's still warm, gently make an indentation with a chopstick lengthwise, shimmying it back and forth, being careful not to break the skin.


Step 4: Turn it over and gently pinch to make it pointy. Then let it cool down to room temp.


Last steps: Slice into 1/2" thick pieces (using a wet knife helps), sprinkle with smoky paprika and ground sea salt, and fry in a skillet with a little margarine or oil. Serve with vegan sour cream and chopped chives.

Note: This would be great with red skinned potatoes if you want to be extra Valentine-y!