Baked Potato Salad

Recipe by :  Ariel Jasa,  Mandaluyong City, Philippines

This baked potato salad recipe is not your usual potato salad -- that which uses mayonnaise and sour creme mixed in the boiled potatoes.

I got the idea when we dined out at a restaurant in Quezon City, and we were served with this amazing salad that was so creamy and cheesy.

The salad was so rich and delicious that I thought it couldn't be made just with mayonnaise.

That's when I decided to use my sister's bechamel sauce recipe and add lots of cheese,  just like in her lasagna recipe.

Though this is more like baked potato than a salad,  I guess it can go either way.

I like to pair this with roasted chicken, steak or barbecue as a side dish, served either hot or cold.

YOUR SHOPPING LIST:

• Potatoes
• Bacon Strips
• Butter
• Evaporated Milk
• Green Onion

IN THE PANTRY:

• All-purpose Flour
• Cheddar Cheese
• Salt and Pepper

Ingredients

• 1 kg. medium Potatoes (quartered)
• 10 strips bacon (fried and chopped)
• 2/3 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cup Evaporated Milk (1 can)
• 2/3 cup All-purpose Flour
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup cheddar cheese (grated)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4-5 Stalks Green or Spring Onion(chopped)

How to Make

Pre-heat the oven at 350 deg F or 180 deg C

1 Peel the potatoes and cut in quarters. Boil them with 1 tbsp salt until soft but still firm, about 15 mins.  Strain, then set aside.

2 In a separate pan, fry the bacon until golden brown and crispy and chop in bits.

3 Remove most of the bacon grease, leaving only about 2 tablespoons in the pan.

4 With medium low heat, melt the butter in the oil, then add the flour and stir continuously for about a minute.

5 Mix in the milk and water and stir until smooth.

6 Melt 3/4 of the grated cheese into the sauce and season with salt and pepper.

7 Mix the sauce with the potatoes and bake for 15 mins.

8  Top with the bacon bits, green onion and the remaining grated cheese.