Fixing the ultimate baked potato

By Santa Ynez Valley Star Staff · Tue Mar 17 2020

By Vida Gustafson

Contributing Writer

Sometimes you don’t have a fully stocked pantry to cook from, but when ingredients are low, the deficit can be made up with technique. A properly baked potato is the perfect example. Crunchy, nutty and perfectly seasoned on the outside and light as air and buttery on the inside, nothing beats it for comfort and simplicity. No foil, poking, parboiling or special ingredients needed. You can dress it up as fancy or as rustic as you like. Potato purists will want to serve it with only butter, salt and pepper. I like sour cream and onion myself, but you can truly go wild with potato toppings. Carne Asada or El Pastor is really popular as baked potato toppings in Southern California or try bechamel sauce and ham for a twist on a Croque Monsieur! 

Ingredients