Smashed Baked Potatoes

I heard about Smashed Potatoes a while ago and finally got on the bandwagon and I'm sure glad I did.  When you cook Potatoes this way, you get the soft goodness of the inside of a Baked Potato with the delightful crunchy bits of a Roasted Potato. Topped with Butter, Bacon Bits and barely cooked Green Onion, it was divine!  My daughter-in-law also topped hers with some Sour Cream and was delighted with this dish too. I used small Red Potatoes that I boiled for just 20 minutes before smashing them and finishing them off in a hot oven.  This is going to become a family favorite and if you haven't made Potatoes, this way, I encourage you to try this recipe right away!

Smashed Baked Potatoes

12 small Red Potatoes, washed

2 Tablespoons Vegetable

5 Tablespoons Melted Butter

1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt 

4 Slices of Bacon, cut into small pieces

4 Green Onions, trimmed and cut into small pieces

Place Potatoes in a medium pot and cover with Water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for about 20 minutes or until a fork can be inserted easily into a Potato. Drain and reserve.

Heat the oven to 425 degrees.

Drizzle Oil over a sheet pan. Place Potatoes on the sheet pan and smash using a potato masher until the Potatoes are about 1/2" thick.  Drizzle the melted Butter over the Potatoes and then sprinkle with Sea Salt.

In a frying pan, cook the Bacon pieces until crisp and then add in the Green Onion pieces. Stir until the Green Onion pieces wilt slightly and drain the Bacon and Green Onion bits on a paper-plate lined Paper Towel

Place in the oven and cook for 25 minutes. Sprinkle the Bacon and Green Onion pieces on top of the Potato and cook for an additional 5 minutes.  Serve with Sour Cream if desired.

Five Element Analysis

Potatoes belong to the Earth Element. The Green Onions and Butter contribute the Metal Element and the Bacon brings in the Water Element. The Wood and Fire Elements are missing so this would be a great side with Chicken (for Wood( and a salad (for Fire) or Lamb for Fire and green vegetables for wood or any Wood or Fire vegetarian options that create balance.