Description
These French-inspired baked potatoes pair fluffy oven-baked centers with a cool, creamy fromage blanc, crème fraîche, and fresh chive filling. They make an elegant vegetarian side dish or a satisfying light main course.
Ingredients
6 large potatoes
250 g fromage blanc
3 tablespoons crème fraîche
1 bunch fresh chives, finely chopped
6 bay leaves
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 210°C (410°F). Thoroughly wash and scrub the potatoes, dry them well, and wrap each potato individually in aluminum foil.
- Place the wrapped potatoes in the oven and bake for approximately 1 hour, or until tender when pierced through the center with a knife.
- Meanwhile, combine the fromage blanc, crème fraîche, and finely chopped chives in a medium bowl. Season with salt and black pepper and stir until smooth and evenly combined.
- Carefully remove the potatoes from the oven and unwrap them, taking care with the hot steam. Slice each potato lengthwise across the top without cutting completely through.
- Gently open each potato and fluff the soft interior with a fork. Spoon a generous amount of the fromage blanc and chive mixture into the center.
- Insert one bay leaf into each stuffed potato. Return the potatoes to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and serve warm. Remove and discard the bay leaves before eating.
Notes
Choose large floury or all-purpose potatoes of a similar size for even cooking and fluffy interiors.
If fromage blanc is unavailable, substitute thick plain Greek yogurt or another mild, creamy fresh cheese.
For extra herb flavor, add chopped parsley, dill, or tarragon to the filling.
Minced garlic, shallot, or a little lemon zest can be added for additional flavor.
For a richer version, sprinkle grated Gruyère, Comté, or Emmental over the potatoes before the final baking.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When possible, store unused fromage blanc filling separately.
Reheat the potatoes at 180°C (350°F) until hot throughout, then add a spoonful of fresh fromage blanc mixture if desired.
Whole bay leaves are used for aroma and presentation and should be removed before eating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 190 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
