Over the holidays, I received lots of goodies that I haven’t been able to share with you yet. Today, I’m sharing a potato dish that will dress up your winter dinners without a lot of extra effort – Grilled Baby Potatoes with Green Harissa.
Frieda’s sent me some beautiful tri-colored potatoes before I left town for the New Year, and Sartori Cheese provided my guests with a beautiful assortment of cheese for our Christmas Eve Open House, including a very special cheese called Merlot BellaVitano, which I used to make a pasta dish for our party.
I drew inspiration for this dish after spotting a recipe for Green Harissa in Bon Appetit magazine. Naturally beautiful blue, red, and yellow potatoes, topped with a bright green sauce, and a sprinkling of cheese, elegant yet simple.
Potatoes are definitely on the list of comfort foods, especially during the winter. Last night, I made a healthier version of Garlic Mashed Potatoes that I posted on Facebook, made with mostly cauliflower, some Yukon Gold potatoes, Parmesan cheese, fresh garlic, Roasted Garlic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, chicken broth, and a little salt and pepper. The boys said they were some of the best mashed potatoes they’d eaten – I had to try to keep a straight face when they asked what I had put in the mashed potatoes.
Today, I’m joining a group of bloggers for Food Network’s Comfort Food Fest where potatoes are being featured this week. Please check out all these fabulous potato recipes:
Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Grilled Smashed Baby Potatoes With Green Harissa Sauce
Devour: 5 Ways to Cook Potatoes
Haute Apple Pie: Twice-Baked Southwestern Sweet Potatoes
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Healthy Warm Potato Salad With Onion and Vinegar
Red or Green?: Spicy Baked Sweet Potatoes
And Love It Too: Sweet Potato Hasselback Potatoes
Virtually Homemade: Twice-Baked Potatoes With Cheddar and Caramelized Onions
Big Girls, Small Kitchen: Crispy Potatoes With Baked Eggs and Pesto Yogurt
Cooking With Elise: Vavos Stewed Potatoes
The Heritage Cook: Potato and Sweet Potato Gratin With Bourbon-Laced Cream Sauce
The Cultural Dish: Garlic and Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
Thursday Night Dinner: If You Need Me, I’ll Be With My Potato Soup
Feed Me Phoebe: Baked Sweet Potato Fries With Rosemary
Add a Pinch: Loaded Smashed Potatoes
From My Corner of Saratoga: Garlic and Herb Infused Cheesy Potatoes
FN Dish: Well-Loved Potato Sides
[rss-cut]
Grilled Baby Potatoes with Green Harissa Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
Green Harissa
- 2 tablespoons cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
- 3 jalapenos seeded
- 2 scallions sliced
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup parsley leaves
- 1/2 cup cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Grilled Potatoes
- 16 mixed colored baby potatoes
- Garlic extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- shredded Merlot BellaVitano cheese optional
Instructions
Green Harissa
- Place cumin and coriander seeds in a small skillet over medium heat; toast until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes; cool. Place seeds and remaining Green Harissa ingredients in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth.
Grilled Potatoes
- Boil potatoes in water for 15 minutes, or until tender. Cool. Using back of a large knife or a mallet, gently press down on potatoes to smash. Brush lightly with garlic olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Grill on panini grill or in cast iron skillet until lightly browned on both sides.
- Spoon some Green Harissa sauce on top and sprinkle some shredded cheese on top, if desired.
Recipe Notes
Green Harissa recipe adapted from Bon Appetit.
Oh yes… I do smashed baby potatoes all the time. Though I typically drench them in brown butter after. This is a bit healthier 🙂
Brian – brown butter definitely sounds tasty, but you’re right, this is healthier LOL 😉
That green harissa looks amazing. I make a chimmichuri (sp?) with cilantro that is very similar.
Great doing comfort food with you 🙂
Thanks Liz. I make chimichurri too – this green harissa has more spices so it has a more complex flavor. It’s nice for a change. Love all the comfort foods in today’s comfort food feast event.
I love all the colors here! And, of course, I’m a fan of grilling smashed potatoes on the panini press. 🙂
I thought of you when I used the panini press for the potatoes Kathy ;). Great for winter grilling!
This is a gorgeous dish Jeanette and I’m dying to try the green Harissa Sauce-yum!
These look so yummy! Especially with that sauce! Great post!
I love smashed potatoes and love the addition of green harissa, Jeanette!
EA, Elyse and Julie – hope you try the green harissa. I served it with roast chicken the other night and the boys really liked it. Easy way to dress up just about anything.
This just shows that “healthy” can equal “flavor packed”. What a fantastic dish, Jeanette!
Beautiful pics….love the harissa to go along with it…must try!
Great flavors!! I love smashed potatoes so much 🙂
Green harissa? That’s new to me, so of course I have to try it, maybe with some grilled chicken.
I didn’t know there was such a thing as green harissa! But when I’ve had the red kind, it’s been so spicy that I can only eat a tiny bit. I love the idea of adding a little cheese to temper the heat. Such an awesome side dish!
What a great idea and pretty presentation!
Oh my these potatoes all look so good. I’m drooling. Great photo and creative way to showcase it all. Thanks for sharing this idea & the nice blog visit 🙂
I tried voting like five times for you 🙁 I keeps popping up the ‘login with Twitter or FB” and I do it, do it… even refreshed. It just keeps doing it! (Found this post through spabettie’s tweet 🙂 )
Hi Veronica – thanks so much for trying to vote. You do need to be logged into Facebook or twitter first before voting. You can actually vote on both, but need to be logged out of the other in order to do so. I’m on page 2 right now. Thanks so much for your persistence. I really appreciate your support, especially since the voting system is not very user friendly.
You really hit it on the head when you called this ‘comfort’ food….I adore potatoes (must be the Irish in me ;-)) and this version is full of irresistible ingredients including the harissa sauce… great idea Jeanette. Yum!!
Kelly – potatoes are comfort food aren’t they, especially when it’s cold out. Hope you are well!
Oh my goodness this looks amazing!
That green harissa sounds fantastic, I must try that!
I saw that Harissa recipe! What a great use of this sauce and the smashed potatoes are a great twist on comfort food.