Buttered White Bean and Gremolata Loaded Potatoes

Ahhh, yes. Friday. We made it. Let me buy you a drink, or a mocktail, or a chocolate milk, or a basket of tortilla chips. 

Or, let me share this fantastic + super easy loaded baked potato recipe with you instead of promising things I can't actually deliver. Deal?

Stuffed Baked Potatoes - recipe from: The Easy Vegetarian Cookbook by Erin Alderson | edibleperspective.com

Remember reading about my friend Erin last week? The online baby shower? The avocado pesto chickpea sandwich? I know you remember!!

Anyway! 

Erin is not only about to give birth to a living + breathing tiny human being, but she also just gave birth to her second cookbook, The Easy Vegetarian Kitchen! Erin is one of those hardworking individuals who is always accomplishing BIG things. She's one I always ask, how do you do it all?? Basically, she rules. Not only does she rule at life in general but also in the recipe making + food photographing categories.

Erin is a pro at making simple, comforting, and seasonal vegetarian fare that is extremely approachable. She uses ingredients that are easy to find in store, grow on your own, or pick up at your local farmer's market. Then she combines those ingredients together to make some seriously impressive meals. 

Erin took a very unique approach with this cookbook. She came up with 50 classic recipes and then added four seasonal variations to each of those 50. For example, in the book you'll find a recipe for Basic Loaded Potatoes Potatoes and then you'll find four variations for each of the four seasons that add seasonal ingredients. So really, there are 250 recipes and variations in total. The chapters span from breakfast to dessert and everything in between. 

Basically, you'll never run out of recipe ideas with Erin's beautiful + genius cookbook!  I couldn't even decide which recipe to make first, so I decided to make three spring variations and give you a little teaser. I'm sharing one recipe below in full, but you'll have to buy the book to get all of the rest! 

Big congrats to Erin!! I don't know how you do it all. And you do it all so well. xo

Stuffed Baked Potatoes - recipe from: The Easy Vegetarian Cookbook by Erin Alderson | edibleperspective.com

Print Recipe!

printed with permission from: Erin Alderson and Fair Winds Press
recipe from: The Easy Vegetarian Kitchen

Buttered White Bean and Gremolata Loaded Potatoes

gluten-free // yield: 2-4 servings

Basic Loaded Potatoes:

  • 2 medium russet potatoes or sweet potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preheat the oven to 425° F. Scrub the potatoes, pierce a few times with a fork, and rub with olive oil. Place in a roasted pan and bake until soft and a knife can be inserted with ease, 45-55 minutes. Remove from the oven and carefully slice in half. Scoop out the insides and mix with heavy cream, butter, salt, and pepper. Fill the potato skins with the potato mixture and top with your favorite topping.

Buttered White Bean and Gremolata Potatoes: (gremolata is a garnish made with  minced parsley, lemon peel, and garlic)

  • 1 recipe Basic Loaded Potatoes 
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup cooked cannellini beans (drained and rinsed if using canned)
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup minced parsley

Prepare the Basic Loaded Potatoes as directed.

Melt the butter in a skillet over low heat. Add the beans, salt, and pepper and cook until warm, 3 to 4 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, lemon zest, and parsley. 

Divide the bean mixture among the potato halves and finish with a sprinkle of the garlic mixture.

Roasted Strawberry Pistachio Oatmeal - recipe from: The Easy Vegetarian Cookbook by Erin Alderson | edibleperspective.com

Erin's recipe for basic Morning Oats is photographed above.

Her spring variation, Roasted Strawberry and Pistachio Morning Oats, is photographed below.

Such a nice change of pace from my normal oatmeal mix-ins! I've never actually put pistachios on oatmeal. And you gotta love that color contrast!

Roasted Strawberry Pistachio Oatmeal - recipe from: The Easy Vegetarian Cookbook by Erin Alderson | edibleperspective.com

Below we have Erin's spring twist on Lentil Stew. The spring version switches from red lentils to green and adds chard to the mix along with a side of garlic rice. We so enjoyed this for dinner last night and can't to eat the leftovers with an egg on top (obvz). 

Lentil Stew with Chard - recipe from: The Easy Vegetarian Cookbook by Erin Alderson | edibleperspective.com

Cheers to the weekend! 

Ashley

Vegan Nachos Supreme

Pizza and nachos are two of my biggest weaknesses. If they’re there, I’m going to eat the hell out of them.

These vegan nachos are no different.

Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan
Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan

When I’m testing recipes in the kitchen I do my very best to save as much of whatever I made to eat for lunch, dinner, etc. Most of the time the food can be stored in the fridge and eaten at a later time.

But with nachos? You kind of need to eat them immediately.

Ugh. It still hurts. But they tasted so good.

Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan
Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan

Of course there are a million different ways to get your nacho on. But my nachos always include roasted peppers. Please do not be alarmed by the charring on this pepper. You don’t actually eat the char. You’ll peel that completely away and then you’re left with a tender, sweet, juicy pepper.

And while you can simply cube your avocado and call it a day, I like to make things a little saucier (I’m this funny in real life, too) with my favorite avocado crema.

“Crema” makes me sounds super fancy but the ingredients are actually super simple.

avocado + lime juice + salt

Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan
Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan

Add to my list of weaknesses, chips.

Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan
Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan

I decided to put a little spin on classic tortilla chip nachos and bake thin slices of russet potatoes into extra crispy chips. I rubbed them with a few Mexican seasonings for good measure.

Why yes, I did just give you a recipe for sweet potato chips on Monday. You have such a good memory! Those would be an excellent choice here, but I wasn’t in the mood to babysit my oven. It happens.

And there is always the option to use bagged tortilla chips, because that is about 100 times easier. No shame!

But, I mean, look at these beauties. They’re just waiting to be dipped.

Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan
Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan

This queso has been sitting in my fridge for a few days and it’s just as good as it was on day one. Have you made it yet? You’ll be making a really great decision if you do.

Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan
Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan

So after you do the 5 million tasks I’ve just asked you to do, then all you have to do is layer everything together!

And then die. Because the delicious factor of these nachos will kill you.

Alternative serving option: Make a nacho bar for your guests (or for dinner!) with different chip options, warm queso, and all other ingredients.

Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan
Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan

Print Recipe!

Vegan Nachos Supreme

gluten-free, vegan // yields 2-4 servings

for the nacho potato chips:

  • 2-3 medium russet potatoes
  • 2-3 tablespoons cooking oil (I used refined avocado)
  • 1-2 tablespoons Mexican seasoning blend
  • sea salt

for the toppings:

  • 2 bell peppers
  • 2 large avocados
  • 1-2 limes, juiced
  • 1 batch vegan queso
  • 1 cup black beans (drained + rinsed)
  • green onion
  • red onion
  • jalapenos (optional)

chips: (or, simply use your favorite tortilla chips!)

Heat oven to 375° F.

Using a mandolin (or sharp knife) slice the potatoes lengthwise 1/8-inch thick or slightly thinner. Rinse in a colander thoroughly with cold water. Pat with a towel to dry (as best you can).

Place 1/2 of the potato slices in a bowl and toss with about 1 tablespoon or so of oil until all sides are well-coated but not dripping. Add more if needed. Add 2-3 teaspoons of seasoning and rub in (no salt yet). Line a large baking sheet with foil and lightly oil. Place potato slices in a single layer (not overlapping). Repeat with the rest of the potatoes and place on another baking sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes, flip all slices, then bake for another 10 minutes. Flip again and bake for 3-8 minutes watching closely during this time. As the potatoes start to fully crisp remove them and place on a cooling rack. Continue to bake until all are golden brown and stiff. Generously salt once out of the oven and let fully cool.

peppers:

While potato chips are cooking, roast your red peppers over a gas flame on med-high/high heat. Place the dry pepper directly on the grate and let cook on each side until the pepper is fully charred (It takes about 4-5 minutes per side and is normal to hear popping.). Or, turn your oven on to broil and roast peppers about 5-6 inches away from the heating element until fully charred on all sides. Once fully charred place in a large bowl with plastic wrap tightly over top for at least 15 minutes. Rinse under cool water and peel off all of the charred skin. Drain liquid, remove seeds, and thinly slice. Set aside.

After peppers and chips are done, toss sliced peppers on a pan with the black beans, a squeeze of lime juice, and big pinch of salt. Bake for 5 minutes at 375° to remove a bit of liquid. Let cool for 5 minutes.

avocado crema:

Place avocados, juice from 1 lime, and a generous pinch of salt in a food processor. Turn on until pureed. Add more lime and salt to your liking. Refrigerate in a sealed container until ready to use.

nacho making:

Lightly heat the queso.

Layer nachos with these chips or your favorite tortilla chips.

Chips –> queso –> avocado crema –> peppers/beans –> repeat and top with onion, jalapenos, cilantro, etc.

Notes:

For easier application of the avocado crema you can scoop into a bag, cut a small tip from the corner, and pipe over the nachos.

If your peppers and queso are steaming hot it will soften the chips more quickly. I layered the nachos when the peppers, beans, and queso were warm.

Just like with regular saucy nachos, if your chips are drenched in queso they will soften.

Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan
Vegan Nachos Supreme | edibleperspective.com #vegan

Happy weekending!

Ashley