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Monday, October 18, 2010

Topping Potatoes: Cutting The Fat

When I am watching my calories, I replace sour cream and butter on my potato with low-calorie alternatives like fat free sour cream and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. I especially like the butter spray for baked potatoes which adds no calories or fat but plenty of good, buttery taste.

Chives, green onions and fat free shredded cheddar also make great toppings. You can also try a quarter-cup of salsa for an increase in both flavor and nutrition.

Other low-calorie alternatives for baked potatoes include low-fat ham, reduced-fat cottage cheese and low-fat chili.

Another potato topping is this spicy lemon and paprika Aioli that can be made with no fat mayonnaise. I use just a little on my baked potato and it gives it an enormous flavor.

Spicy Lemon and Paprika Aïoli

• 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

• 6 large garlic cloves, minced

• 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 1 1/2 teaspoons hot smoked Spanish paprika (Pimentón de la Vera)* or 1 1/4 teaspoons Hungarian sweet paprika and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients in small bowl; whisk to blend. Season aioli to taste with salt and pepper.

The potato recipe below can be made with no or low fat sour cream. Also, The Laughing Cow now makes a Light Bleu Cheese with 50% less fat that can be used in place of the regular bleu cheese.

I can’t believe that I just said that. I love bleu cheese so much that nothing can be a replacement. You use the Laughing Cow and I’ll stick to the Bleu d'Auvergne.

Bon Appetit!

Baby Baked Potatoes With Bleu Cheese Topping

• 20 small new potatoes

• 1/4 cup canola oil

• kosher salt

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

1. Wash and dry potatoes.

2. Pour oil into bowl, add potatoes. Toss to coat.

3. Dip each potato in salt to coat lightly.

4. Place potatoes on baking sheet.

5. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until tender.

6. Combine sour cream and bleu cheese.

7. Cut a cross in top of each potato; open.

8. Top each potatoe with a spoonful of cheese.

9. Sprinkle with chives.