Q: This summer, I signed up for organic CSA baskets for the first time. I've decided to continue getting baskets throughout the winter, because I'm trying to source my food more locally. However, I'm currently overloaded with potatoes. I've never been a huge eater of potatoes, so they accumulated throughout the summer months and now I'm receiving them in my winter basket. One of my fridge drawers is full of them and I have one full grocery bag above and beyond that.
I'm looking for recipes! I usually eat oven roasted potatoes for breakfast on the weekend and add potatoes to stews and soups. I'm not a big fan of mashed potatoes. I was able to freeze and can my way through other veggie gluts, but I'm at a loss with what to do with so many potatoes.
Sent by Liette
Editor: Liette, one suggestion is to grate, blanch, then freeze your potatoes. You can find more info on how to do that in this Good Question we published in September.
One other idea, since the holidays and the gift-giving season are upon us, is mashed potato candy. This sounds very, very strange, but it's actually a deliciously chewy little candy that recipients invariably love. Here's one recipe, and if you search around via Google you will find plenty more. Maybe a reader has a favorite family recipe for mashed potato candy?
Readers, what would you do with a glut of potatoes?
Related: Sixteen Kinds of Potatoes
(Image: Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan)

Comments (37)
I guess it kind of depends on what kind of potatoes you have, but this recipe from The Pioneer Woman is so great. They're basically twice baked red potatoes that you flash freeze. I portion them into ziploc bags after they're frozen and keep them in my freezer for a quick and easy side dish. They reheat in the oven and get wonderfully creamy.
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/01/fluffy-new-potatoes/
Potatoes should be stored in a cool environment, such as an unheated porch or celler. They last longest when stored between 45-50 degrees. The fridge will most likely be too cold for them.
Lidia Bastianich has a great recipe for potato soup- the base is used in several other soups so you don't get tired of the same old thing. It's in the Lidia's family table book. I have a few csa potatoes myself & will make the soup this weekend.
Another solution is to give some away to friends. Share the bounty!
Make a huge pot of potato soup and freeze it. I love potato soup.
A Portuguese or Spanish fish stew would be awesome. We've made it with various fish and shellfish, chorizo, tomatoes, potatoes, onion, garlic, saffron, paprika, a little red green bell pepper, and (absolutely necessary) orange zest. It's awesome.
Also a Spanish tortilla (egg-potato frittata) is always good.
Spanish tortillas are one of my fave potato dishes, and they're very handy: you can eat them hot, cold, room temp, for any meal, and serve them slice into wedges with sherry and call it tapas. If you've got any holiday parties coming up, potato fritters are a popular appetizer.
Potato soup, potato salad (I still enjoy it in the wintertime), or twice baked potatoes, as someone mentioned. You can freeze them for meals.
I like to eat a potato with salsa and a salad for lunch many times. I love potatoes.
Or roast a bunch on the weekend to eat with your weekday meals?
Fresh made hashbrowns in the mornings or as a side dish with dinner! I've been using yukon golds for this for a couple months now and it even beats out waffles!
Potato-spinach curry!
I usually have the same problem. I love potatoes but hubby is very particular. I make a couple of batches of gnocchi. It freezes pretty well if you make the version with egg in it. I then make Tomato, Onion and Butter sauce for it from Marcella Hazan and Swiss chard and beans from EatingWell.
gnocchi? lots of people who don't like potatoes so much love gnocchi.
You can still can the potatoes if you enjoy canning so much. They could still be used in soups etc. I am not really a potato person myself so I understand, but I do enjoy canned potato in particular in soups/stews - especially the whole baby kind. canned potatoes are really good roasted by the way....
Make homefries! Potatoes Anna! Potatoes Au Gratin! Baked potatoes! Cock-a-Leeky soup! Corned Beef Hash! Potato Salad! Baked potato casserole! Bubble and Squeak! French fries!
Mmmm.
Sweet potatoes:
I dice them fairly fine, and sautee them in rosemary and oil before putting them in a frittata. It adds the most wonderful creamy sweetness! Regular potatoes too. Cut that small, it doesn't take any time at all to cook them. I usually add mushrooms and spinach as well. Meal in a skillet!
As a base for lentil soup as well - a couple of pureed sweet potatoes. YUM
Perogies are a lot of work, but you can do a big batch and freeze a bunch, it's aneasy lunch once they're frozen.
I love creamy potato soup, or you could always make massive amounts of bread!
Also, most people love potatoes. Give them away, or have a baked potato bar party!
You could always give them away. Maybe post on craigslist or freecycle. That way you don't force yourself to eat them, and someone gets fed.
You could trade/barter too.
I made an easy potato cauliflower curry roast that is great with rice or lentils, or just on its own. You basically toss potatoes and cauliflower with a little oil, coconut milk, curry powder, and salt and pepper, and roast for about 30-40 minutes. So good. In fact, I'm having it for dinner tonight.
Potato soup and pierogis, which can both be frozen. But I love baked potatoes topped with chili. Also, scalloped potatoes. You can also cook chicken or fish "in paper" - put sliced potatoes in the bottom, layer chicken on that and then top with sliced onions, green or red peppers, spices, a little butter and salt and pepper. Wrap it up and bake. My husband survived his lean college years on potatoes and amazingly, still loves them just mashed.
Aloo mutter is my favorite way to use starchy potatoes. It's a potato and pea curry. Yum!
Some food banks take produce - call around and see if there is one in your area that would take them. Alternatively, a soup kitchen would probably put them to good use, too.
I know you said you weren't a big fan of mashed potatoes but I made these potato croquettes with my leftover Thanksgiving mashed potatoes and they were incredible. I think you could probably freeze them after you've fried them and then re-heat without too much loss of texture. I just wouldn't microwave them. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/potato-croquettes-recipe/index.html
Spanish tortilla. With or without onions. Or peppers. Frankly, I could eat this every day.
Conversely: do you live near me? :)
Potato pancakes are very tasty, make sure to have some applesauce on hand for dipping! They are great hot or cold and probably freeze well too.
I have no problem with extra potatoes and cook extra specifically to freeze. I cook halves in the microwave or boil them, let the steam dry off the surface after cooking and then freeze the halves. When I want a mashed potato or chunks,I pull out the frozen halves, microwave them hot in a covered bowl and smash. The texture and fluffiness are not affected and no one knows the difference. Sweetpotatoes come out well, too.
We just threw together a fantastic potato rutabaga roast with a buttermilk/blue cheese sauce. I will have the recipe up soon.
I would give them to a food pantry. They often take the overflow from home gardeners so I would bet they would be happy to receive yours.
If you're feeling adventurous, norwegian lefse is one of the most delicious and comforting things I have ever eaten. Our neighbor used to make them with us and we'd eat them fresh off the griddle with butter. She would also send us home with a ziploc bag full which would sometimes get frozen, they thawed nicely.
They are normally cooked on a big electric griddle, the same type of thing you'd do fresh tortillas on, but I am positive you could improvise.
Ha! I had the same problem with my CSA, but fortunately mine ended so my accumulated potato supply will last me until March. I keep trying to bring mashed potatoes to potlucks. Sometimes another guest will foil my plans by calling mashed potatoes before I do.
Freezing doesn't help Liette much, because she still has to eat them eventually and she keeps getting new ones. (But I am glad to hear the ideas; someone told me once that potatoes freeze horribly so I've never tried.)
She could decide that every lunch will be a potato-based lunch and then go to town with all the suggestions. I think potatoes are healthier than they get credit for being. I read once that, but for the existence of potato chips and french fries, half of Americans would have scurvy.
Make potato rolls and freeze them. Here's a Food Network recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/potato-rolls-recipe/index.html
This time of year I like to make buffalo wings and homemade potato chips. You'll need lots of potatoes.
Hashbrowns or potato cakes can be not only breakfast but a base for dinner dishes. For my hashbrowns, I prefer to grate the potatoes, then fry them in a thin layer in bacon grease until golden. Then flip and do the same on the other side. You'll get a large piece of potato. Potato cakes are the same, only made with mashed potatoes. Sometimes I add some corn to this and serve with black beans and chicken or a fried egg.
Indian food - Aloo Ghobi or Masala potatoes.
so many good ideas!!!
Cook until very tender and add to bread. Makes very tender and moist rolls.
Thanks everyone for your great ideas. This is my question and I'm happy to get some much needed inspiration.
Taterspoon -- I'm having a potato-based brunch this Saturday; I'm hoping to go through part of my supply.
Keep the good ideas coming, and thanks again!
potato pancakes! hashbrowns, or, give them away to friends, with some fancy bacon or interesting winter vegtable and a mason jar with spices?!
Hay Day Market cookbook has a great recipe for Potato Bread...that would use up some of your potatoes, plus it would make an awesome Christmas present for friends!
gnocchi, perogies, and your potato brunch sound like great ideas.
In ye olden days, this happened every year... Winter meant a few long months with only a few veggies on hand and usually starchy ones. Corn and grains from the fall harvest and potatoes and squash from the garden. In order to survive eating potatoes and squash every day of the week for 4 months, people quickly thought of as many ways to cook them as possible.
This is my idea of the origin of recipe.
Anyway, onto the real answers... potato pancakes, potato chowder or bisque, potato chips (real easy fried in a skillet to go with morning eggs), boiled potatoes chilled and tossed into an otherwise green salad, potato salad, mix with other shredded winter veggies and make fritters, gnocchi was a good suggestion, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, potatoes au gratin, french fries, home fries, and finally... use the more boring potatoes to make potato print wrapping paper for the holidays! :)