15 Easy Potatoes Recipes You Should Serve At Your St. Patrick's Day Dinner (2024)

FAQs

Are red potatoes Irish? ›

Ireland grows numerous potato varieties. The country is partial to their yellow and red skin varieties.

Russets are ideal for light and fluffy mashed potatoes. They also fry up crisp and golden brown, and are the potato of choice for baking. The delicate flavor and fluffy texture of baked russets goes well with a variety of toppings, from traditional sour cream and chives to spicy and bold Mediterranean or Latin flavors.

White potatoes are a great go-to potato for roasting, baking, and frying. You'll probably know these potatoes as Idaho Russets, or maybe Red Bliss potatoes. Either way, white potatoes should be a kitchen staple. You'll be amazed just how many incredible recipes can be made with this simple spud.

The Irish Potato Market

Traditionally Irish people like a “floury” potato with medium-high dry matter. Most of our popular varieties are above 20% dry matter. These other varieties are mainly white skinned potatoes, the most popular being Maritiema, Cultra, Navan, Nectar and Electra.

The Irish language is very descriptive the common word for potato in Irish is práta (pl. prátaí), hence the origin of Praties for Potatoes, There are literally 50 Irish words and descriptive phrases relating to the potato.

All potatoes can fit into a healthy diet, but purple potatoes, red potatoes, and sweet potatoes—which are often grouped with potatoes—stand out due to their high amounts of protective plant compounds and essential nutrients.

At what point do potatoes go bad? Potatoes have gone bad if they show visible signs such as mould, green parts, sprouts, soft or mushy texture, musty smell, or changed taste. Can potatoes last six months? Yes, they can!

Our World Famous Fries® are made from quality potatoes, including Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet and the Shepody. The suppliers we work with first peel, cut and blanche the potatoes. They then dry, partially fry and quickly freeze the fries for our restaurants.

To keep your salad from falling apart into mush, it's important to use the best potatoes for potato salad. Skip the russet potatoes and use a waxy variety instead, like Yukon gold, red potatoes or fingerlings.

What kind of potato is best for mashed potatoes? ›

The best potatoes for mashed potatoes are a starchy varieties like russet, Idaho or Yukon gold. Starchy potatoes are best for mashed potatoes because they have a fluffy, almost airy texture that breaks down easily.

Potatoes also have vitamin C, unlike rice. Plus, potatoes contain three times more minerals than rice, such as phosphorus, potassium and magnesium when you leave the skin on. Sweet potatoes on the other hand are even healthier than the standard potato, containing as much as twice the high amounts of vitamin!

Potatoes contain two toxic glycoalkaloids called solanine and chaconine. However, fresh potatoes that have not sprouted contain only small amounts of glycoalkaloids at concentrations that are safe for consumption. Exposure to light greatly increases the formation of chlorophyll and glycoalkaloids.

No matter what kind of potato you're buying, look for one that has tight, unwrinkled skin. Avoid sprouts, green coloration, and soft spots or other signs of rotting.

The most notable growing area for Red potatoes is the Red River Valley, a fertile growing area stretching across North Dakota, Minnesota, and Manitoba, Canada and boasts over 250 potato producing growers. Reds are also important to Wisconsin, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, and California growers.

As was shown in the previous section, the potato gained importance as a crop in Ireland in the period running up to the famine. However, the potato was not a native of Ireland. It had been found by Spanish conquistadors in south America in the 1500s was shipped to Europe, and reached Ireland around 1590.

Irish White is a variety of potato that was traditionally grown in County Donegal and Antrim. It was raised by Robert Christie of Ballytaggart about 1882. The tubers are long, irregular and white skinned with very deep eyes, similar to an 'Irish Lumper' in appearance.

Historically speaking, while the White potato originated in Ireland, Russet originated in Massachusetts, United States where it was developed by Luther Burbank in the 1870s. This particular potato is known as the Russet Burbank which is the original Russet potato.