Greek Potato Skins

      

“By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Sabra Dipping Co. LLC, and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I received coupons for free product used in testing this recipe. I was not compensated for my time.”

So who likes hummus?  I think I’m seeing everyone raise their hands.  Hummus is delicious, convenient, creamy, versatile…the list goes on.  But did you know it scores pretty well on the healthy scale too?  Two large spoonfuls of hummus each day will fulfill the daily recommendation for beans for the week.  (And we all know we should be eating more beans!) For more information on the health benefits of hummus, visit http://sabra.com/wellness-nutrition#benefits.

I think these days hummus is a staple at every tailgate or any sport watching event.  There is always a tub of hummus somewhere nearby.  I love hummus just as a dip, but I was feeling creative and decided to see what would happen if I paired hummus with crispy of potato skins.  Luckily, it was a perfect match!

For me, potato skins are a food almost entirely reserved for sports watching.  They aren’t an everyday kind of food, but after trying this recipe I think they might become a little more popular in this household.  Especially since this version of potato skins is pretty darn healthy.  Potatoes are actually a great source of Vitamin C, potassium, Vitamin B6, and fiber.  They just get a bad rap because they are most commonly consumed in the french fry form.  But I’m here to tell you, potatoes when baked not fried are a pretty great food.  Plus we have the protein rich hummus and fresh colorful veggies, feel free to indulge in these RD approved potato skins!

I think these are best when the skins are still warm (but lets be honest, they were pretty good cold too).  If you wanted to take them to a tailgate, I might recommend keeping the skins wrapped warm in tinfoil and then topping right before eating.  You could also just set out the toppings and let people top their own.

I went with traditional Greek inspired toppings but really the topping options are endless.  You could add roasted red peppers, onion, banana peppers, or sun dried tomatoes.  They are naturally gluten free and can be dairy-free and vegan if you leave out the cheese.

I would say this recipe makes enough for 4-6 people (or two really hungry people in our case) so scale it up if you are planning to bring to a tailgate or a party. Also the potatoes I used where pretty petite, so also scale up the recipe if you are using larger potatoes.

Greek Potato Skins

8 small Russet potatoes

1 cup of Sabra Classic hummus

1/2 cup marinated artichokes, chopped

1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped

1/4 cup black olives, chopped

1/2 cup feta cheese

1/4 fresh cilantro, chopped

1 teaspoons salt

Scrub potatoes and prick all over with a fork.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place potatoes in a microwave safe bowl and cook for 5 minutes to help speed along cooking time.  Remove from microwave, coat potato skins with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt. Place on baking sheet.  When oven is preheated,  place potatoes on center rack and cook for about 45 minutes (longer depending on potato size) until potatoes can be pierced easily with a fork and the skins are starting to loosen.  Remove from oven and let potatoes rest until they are cool enough to touch.

Cut potatoes in half and scoop out insides leaving about 1/4 inch potato flesh in the skin.  Leave enough so the skins are able to stand up and be sturdy on their own. Preheat broiler. Reserve potato filling for another use (mashed potatoes, soup, etc). Place scooped out skins under broiler for about 5 minutes.  Keep a very close eye on the skins while under the broiler to watch for burning.  Cook until they are at desired crispiness. Rotate pan if needed to help skins cook evenly.  Fill potatoes with a large spoonful of hummus and top with artichokes, tomatoes, black olives, cilantro, and feta cheese.

If you are looking for more inspiration on different ways to use hummus, check out the link up.  These Recipe Reduxers have never made hummus look so good. #twospoons

Be Happy, be healthy!