potato

The potato (also referred to as tater, tattie, and spud) is a root vegetable that is part of the plant Solanum tuberosum. This perennial is part of the family Solanaceae or the nightshades. In many contexts, the word potato refers to the edible starchy tuber portion of the plant, but it can also refer to the plant itself, which is native to the Americas.
Wild potato species can be found throughout the Americas, from the United States to southern Chile. The potato was originally believed to have been domesticated by indigenous peoples of the Americas independently in multiple locations, but later genetic testing of the wide variety of cultivars and wild species traced a single origin for potatoes. In the area of present-day southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia, from a species in the Solanum brevicaule complex, potatoes were domesticated approximately 7,000–10,000 years ago. In the Andes region of South America, where the species is indigenous, some close relatives of the potato are cultivated.
Potatoes were introduced to Europe from the Americas in the second half of the 16th century by the Spanish. Today they are a staple food in many parts of the world and an integral part of much of the world's food supply. As of 2014, potatoes were the world's fourth-largest food crop after maize (corn), wheat, and rice.Following millennia of selective breeding, there are now over 1,000 different types of potatoes. Over 99% of presently cultivated potatoes worldwide descended from varieties that originated in the lowlands of south-central Chile, which have displaced formerly popular varieties from the Andes.The importance of the potato as a food source and culinary ingredient varies by region and is still changing. It remains an essential crop in Europe, especially Northern and Eastern Europe, where per capita production is still the highest in the world, while the most rapid expansion in production over the past few decades has occurred in southern and eastern Asia, with China and India leading the world in overall production as of 2014.
Being a nightshade similar to tomatoes, the vegetative and fruiting parts of the potato contain the toxin solanine and are not fit for human consumption. Normal potato tubers that have been grown and stored properly produce glycoalkaloids in amounts small enough to be negligible to human health, but if green sections of the plant (namely sprouts and skins) are exposed to light, the tuber can accumulate a high enough concentration of glycoalkaloids to affect human health.

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  1. niemela23

    Ideas for potato side-dishes

    Am looking for a fairly simple potato side dish that is a bit different. I'm making eggplant parmesan tonight so they will be served along with it, the protein I am still unsure of. I'd like to incorporate some garlic (of course), thyme (have some fresh sprigs right now), and cheese (I have...
  2. SatNavSaysStraightOn

    Recipe Vegan Potato Cakes stuffed with Mushroom

    Vegan Potato Cakes stuffed with Mushroom makes 9 cakes or more depending on the size Ingredients 2lb potatoes 2 bay leaves 2 tbsp oil 1/2 lb mushrooms, chopped 1 small onion, diced 2 tsp Dill or parsley, chopped 2.5oz (60-70g) plain flour (1/2 cup) Salt, pepper - to taste Method Wash, peel...
  3. C

    Okay Then! Potato Varieties

    Question! With over 200 commercially varieties of potato/spud/tattie/tatas available. How many can you name? Its not a competition, so by looking them up you'd only be cheating yourself, no-one else. I've a list of of around 300 varieties available. So sit back, and in your spare time write...
  4. Morning Glory

    Recipe Potato Cakes with Smoked Salmon (competition entry)

    I'm not going to claim that this is my recipe, although I have made them and 'yes' I do keep instant potato in my store-cupboard. They are very good and easy to make. A great idea for Xmas parties. You could serve them with caviar instead. Or for a vegetarian version, with pureed black beans...
  5. winterybella

    Recipe Crispy Potato Roast

    http://www.joyouslydomestic.com/2012/12/crispy-potato-roast.html Ingredients: 3 tablespoon butter, melted 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 10-12 russet potatoes, peeled Kosher salt 1 small onion or 4 shallots, peeled and sliced very thin 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) 4-6 fresh...
  6. winterybella

    Recipe Jamaican spiced potato wedges

    Granted I am a Barbadian but in a broader sense I am a Caribbean girl. That said, I heard a voice in my head saying I should post this recipe that is of Jamaican origins. I haven't tried it but once I saw it I had no problem sharing it with you. INGREDIENTS About 5kg Desirée potatoes 4 tbsp...
  7. C

    Recipe Fadge (Potato Bread)

    Ingredients 1lb/500g floury potatoes, cooked and mashed (or use left over mashed potato's) 1 oz /30g butter, melted plus a little extra for greasing 1/2tsp salt 1 medium egg 4 oz/115g plain flour / all purpose flour, plus a little extra for rolling out 1tsp baking powder Preperation Preheat...
  8. C

    Recipe Tattie Cakes (Tattie Scones)

    Ingredients 1lb/500g potatoes, cooked and mashed 1 oz/30g butter, melted plus extra for greasing 1/2tsp salt 1 medium egg 4 oz/125g flour, plus a little extra for rolling out 1tsp baking powder Preperation Preheat the oven to 395°F/200°C/Gas 6 Place the mashed potato in a large baking bowl...
  9. Morning Glory

    Recipe Potato wine (take 2)

    Potato Wine Wash well but do not peel 1/2 gallon small potatoes. Put them into a pan with 1 gallon of water. Bring to boil for 5 min (If any longer the potatoes might burst and make wine cloudy) Have ready a stone jar or bowl. Put into the jar 3 lb Demerara sugar, the rind of 2 sliced lemons...
  10. Morning Glory

    Recipe Leek, potato and saffron soup

    I made this last night to use up some elderly leeks. Originally I was just going to make a basic leek & potato soup - but then I thought why not jazz it up a bit. Hmm... saffron perhaps... oh, and some basil oil drizzled over the top. Ingredients: 2 large leeks (chopped into rings) 2...
  11. C

    Recipe Potato Wine

    You can use potato wine in similar ways as you use vodka though potato wine has a much lower alcohol content. Ingredients: 10 pounds white potatoes 2½ pints white grape juice concentrate 35 pints water 1 1¼ pounds sugar 15 teaspoons acid blend 2½ teaspoons tannin 5 teaspoons nutrient 1 package...
  12. C

    Recipe Potato McShake

    The Base Shake: 50g cooked potato 100ml milk pinch of salt 1 tblsp honey 1 tblsp lecithin granules The Fruity Bit: 200g fresh mango chunks (flesh from 1 ripe mango) or 1 ripe banana You'll Also Need: A blender The Steps: You need just a small amount of potato which has been boiled or...
  13. C

    Recipe Potato, Fish And Tomato Stew/Soup

    You’ll need: Vegetable oil for frying 1 small onion (approx. 100g), finely chopped 1 small fennel bulb, trimmed and finely sliced (approx. 100g) 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 medium-sized potatoes (approx. 400g), scrubbed and chopped into 0.5cm dice 1 tblsp tomato puree 1 x 400g tin of...
  14. C

    Recipe Balsamic Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Loaded Baked Potatoes

    Ingredients: 4 large baking potatoes 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, yellow or red 1/4 teaspoon sugar 1 clove garlic 16 ounces baby portabella mushrooms 8 ounces red wine 3 ounces balsamic vinegar 3/4 teaspoon cornstarch 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, minced Salt and pepper, to taste...
  15. C

    Recipe Baked Potato Grilled Cheese

    Ingredients ◾2-3 Strips of Bacon ◾1 Potato ◾2 tbsp of Sour Cream ◾Cheddar Cheese ◾Green Onions/Chives ◾2 Slices of Bread ◾Butter ◾Canola Oil ◾Garlic Powder ◾Salt & Pepper Instructions To start things off, get a pan on medium heat with enough canola oil to lightly cover the bottom (you could...
  16. Morning Glory

    Recipe Garlic and thyme potatoes (competition entry)

    This is a very simple recipe. It would be silly to post exact quantities of ingredients. Its down to common sense and individual taste as to how much garlic you like. I made this last night to accompany roast lamb and brussels sprouts. Garlic and thyme potatoes Ingredients: Cooked potatoes...
  17. Morning Glory

    Recipe Cheesy potato fritters (competition entry)

    This is a competition entry for the challenge set by @SatNavSaysStraightOn: An ingredient 'a week' competition I hope on not going to be the only entry. Surely others of you must have potato recipes! Deadline is 14th Nov. Cheesy potato fritters I first made a these as a simple potato fritter...
  18. OhioTom76

    Recipe Au Gratin Potatoes

    I've made these in the past with varying degrees of success - but for some reason these last several times I've made it they came out great. I'm thinking maybe it's because I used russet potatoes, and perhaps my ratio of butter and flour to milk for the bechamel sauce was better. Who knows, but...
  19. L_B

    Recipe Potato Skins

    http://www.chowhound.com/recipes/basic-potato-skins-29404 I was home alone for dinner last night so I made these up. They were delicious. I will definitely make them again sometime. :) So has anybody else made potato skins and if what do you top yours with? Mod edit: recipe added...
  20. joycemcgregor

    Recipe Potato Soup

    Fall is slowly creeping into North Alabama and it is soup weather. I love making soup for dinner as the weather gets cooler and last night I made some really good potato soup. I also make a mean beef barley soup as well as ministrone, chicken soups of different kinds, and yummy vegetable...
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