Smoked Potatoes ♥

When I became the unexpected owner of a Camerons stovetop smoker last spring, naturally, I wondered about the potential of smoked vegetables. What would emerge?

First up, lovely woody nutty smoked potatoes. "Tastes like bacon," remarked one taste tester -- thus proving that bacon tastes like smoke, not bacon, yes?

And just like smoking trout, shrimp and scallops (my favorites on the smoker and the real reason to buy a smoker if considering one), smoked potatoes are easy-easy cooking. Just slice and season, arrange in the smoker, then walk away. In fact, the recipe I followed specified smoking the potatoes for 45 minutes. But I forgot to set the timer and so these cooked for almost twice that: no problem. (I do recommend paying attention to the timer, however.)

NUTRITION NOTES These were smoked with zero fat -- but still were absolutely delicious, especially smeared with good mustard. That said, my chef friend tells me that slathered in duck fat beforehand (since it won't burn like butter would) before smoking, smoked potatoes move to a whole new plane.

LEFTOVER REPORT I used the leftovers to make a mustard-y vinegar-y potato salad with fresh herbs, again, just great.

WHY ARE THOSE POTATOES PINK? The variety has red skins that stains the flesh. It's pretty in raw form but decidedly not when cooked. Don't plan on a pretty pink plate with these!

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MAKE IT A MEAL Smoked potatoes would go great with the very fall-ish Buffalo Ragout.

MORE VEGETABLE RECIPES See the Recipe Box for all the potato recipes but if you've got access to just-dug new potatoes, think about our family favorite, mashed potatoes & carrots, the oh-so-lovely lavender potatoes, the classic new potatoes with browned butter, the delicious roasted potatoes and red onion or this quick potato okra curry.

A YEAR AGO Cornmeal Catfish with Warm Potato Salad, one of Kitchen Parade's famous Quick Suppers (yes, September is prime potato season!!)

SMOKED POTATOES

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time to table: 50 minutes? 90 minutes?
Serves 8

2 pounds potatoes (the inspiring recipe called for baking potatoes, 2 pounds exactly filled the smoker)
Salt & pepper

Place 1 tablespoon wood chips in the stovetop smoker (I used cherry, the inspiring recipe said oak or apple) and set on the stove over medium flame. Wash potatoes (or if they're already washed, wet again, the moisture is important). Slice 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thick. (I cut these length-wise so they wouldn't fall through the grill.) Season both sides with salt and pepper. Close the smoker and cook til done (the inspiring recipe said 45 minutes, mine cooked for 1 hour, 40 minutes.

NUTRITION ESTIMATE
Per Serving: Per Serving: 82 Cal (2% from Fat, 10% from Protein, 88% from Carb); 2 g Protein; 0 g Tot Fat; 0 g Sat Fat; 0 g Mono Fat; 18 g Carb; 2 g Fiber; 1 g Sugar; 11 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 7 mg Sodium; 0 mg Cholesterol; Weight Watchers 1 point

HOW MANY CALORIES, CARBS & WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS IN RED POTATOES Nutrition Information Per 1/4 pound of raw red potatoes, the flesh and the skins, 82 Cal (2% from Fat, 10% from Protein, 88% from Carb); 2 g Protein; 0 g Tot Fat; 0 g Sat Fat; 0 g Mono Fat; 18 g Carb; 2 g Fiber; 1 g Sugar; 11 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 7 mg Sodium; 0 mg Cholesterol; Weight Watchers 1 point

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE
Adapted from the Camerons Stovetop Smoker 'Cooking Guide' that accompanied the smoker, there's also an occasional newsletter that includes several recipes, when I registered the produce, they sent several back issues which was great

SHORTHAND RECIPE
SMOKED POTATOES Slice ½ - ¾ “ thick, S&P, (duck fat?), 1T chips, 45-90min on med. VV07

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Eat more vegetables! A Veggie Venture is the home of Veggie Evangelist Alanna Kellogg and is the award-winning source of free vegetable recipes, quick, easy, and yes, delicious. Start with the Alphabet of Vegetables or dive into all the Weight Watchers vegetable recipes or all the low carb vegetable recipes. © Copyright 2007