BAKED POTATO

ingredients

2 fat, floury potatoes 

olive oil

flaked sea salt

for the gratinated smoked trout filling

2 smoked trout fillets

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or chives

2 handfuls grated mature cheddar cheese

1 tsp hot horseradish sauce or english mustard

2 large knobs of butter

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

for the curried cream cheese topping

150g/5oz cream cheese

1 tbsp medium curry paste

4 spring onions or ½ small red onion, chopped

2.5cm/1in piece cucumber, chopped into dice

1-2 ripe tomatoes, chopped

small handful chopped fresh mint or coriander leaves

good squeeze of lemon or lime juice

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

preparation method

preheat the oven to 200c/400f/gas 6.

wash the potatoes well, dry them and prick several times with a fork. pour some olive oil into your hands and rub over the potatoes, then scatter over some sea salt which should stick to the oil. place directly on the shelf in the oven and bake for 1¼-1½ hours, depending on the size of the potato. when cooked, the potato should be golden-brown and crisp on the outside and give a little when squeezed. serve split open with lots of salted butter or try one of the fillings below.

for the gratinated smoked trout filling, preheat the grill to medium-high.

split the baked potatoes in half and scoop out most of the fluffy flesh with a fork into a bowl. flake in the trout and add the parsley or chives, three-quarters of the cheese, the horseradish or mustard and butter and stir with the potato flesh until just combined. season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

spoon back into the potato skins, sit on a baking sheet and scatter over the remaining cheese. grill until the cheese is bubbling and pale golden-brown.

for the curried cream cheese topping, mix together all of the curried cream cheese ingredients and season, to taste, with salt and pepper.