Last Friday, I sweet-talked Glen, the owner of our favourite potato and onion stall at Flemington Markets, into selling me a selection of gourmet potatoes. He was being very kind – these are usually sold by the kilo, but he let me buy just a few of each to try. They had about a dozen varieties on offer!
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These are Nicola potatoes, recommended for salads, but also supposedly good for roasting and mashing. They originated in Germany, but are now grown all over the world.
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Next up are Dutch Creams, which have a waxy yellow flesh. Great for mashing, in soups or as a roasted potato.
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These King Edward potatoes are white fleshed, with interesting pinkish eyes. They aren’t recommended for salads, but are great for mashing or baking, as they’re quite a floury spud.
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One of my favourites – Royal Blue potatoes – they’re the large purplish ones at the back of the photo. These are a delicious all-rounder, and we use them for mashing, roasting and in soups. They have a yellow flesh and are similar in flavour and texture to a Desiree.
The ones at the front which look like petrified lumps of dinosaur poop are a variety known as Purple Congo. The flesh is a bright purple colour and very dry. They need to be boiled and mashed, as a lot of liquid is required to make them palatable.
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These Bintje potatoes originated in Holland – they’re a versatile all-rounder, and the internet tells me that they’re now the most widely grown yellow-fleshed potato in the world.
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And finally, an old favourite – Kipfler potatoes – originally from Austria and now widely available, and one of the better known gourmet varieties. These are good for just about everything except chips.
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Time to go play in the kitchen! I think I might start by mashing each type separately, and comparing how they taste. I’ll report back tomorrow…
Continued here: Gourmet Potatoes #2
What happened to the Charlotte potatoes?
See, I knew you’d ask. :)
They didn’t have any last week, so I’ll look out for them when we’re next there.
Oh, I know the Bintje….never bought them though. Will have to :-), seeing as I’m in the right place.
Absolutely Oz! And the Dutch Creams as well… :)
Where abouts is this place @ flemington markets??
Lyssandra, roughly in the middle of the markets, near one of the doors on the side facing the carpark. They’re a pretty big operation…