Here’s a flavorful recipe for **Savory Baked Potatoes with Meat and Vegetable Filling**—a hearty dish perfect for lunch or dinner!
### Ingredients:
– 4 large baking potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold)
– 1 tbsp olive oil
– Salt and pepper, to taste
#### For the Filling:
– 1 lb (450 g) ground beef, chicken, or turkey
– 1 small onion, finely chopped
– 2 garlic cloves, minced
– 1 small bell pepper (red or yellow), diced
– 1 carrot, peeled and grated
– 1 cup spinach, chopped (optional)
– 1 cup mushrooms, diced (optional)
– 1 tsp paprika
– ½ tsp cumin
– ½ tsp dried oregano
– ½ tsp chili flakes (optional, for heat)
– ½ cup tomato sauce or canned diced tomatoes
– ½ cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or your favorite cheese)
– Salt and pepper, to taste
– Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
### Instructions:
1. **Preheat the oven** to 400°F (200°C).
2. **Prepare the potatoes**:
– Scrub the potatoes clean and pat them dry.
– Rub them with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
– Pierce the potatoes a few times with a fork to allow steam to escape.
– Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
3. **Cook the meat and vegetable filling**:
– In a large skillet, heat a bit of olive oil over medium heat.
– Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
– Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
– Add the ground meat, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
– Stir in the diced bell pepper, grated carrot, mushrooms, and spinach (if using). Cook for another 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
– Add the paprika, cumin, oregano, chili flakes (if using), and season with salt and pepper.
– Pour in the tomato sauce or diced tomatoes, and let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
4. **Assemble the baked potatoes**:
– Once the potatoes are cooked, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly.
– Slice each potato open lengthwise, and gently fluff the inside with a fork to create a cavity for the filling.
– Spoon the meat and vegetable filling into each potato.
5. **Add cheese and bake**:
– Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top of the stuffed potatoes.
– Return the potatoes to the oven for 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
6. **Serve**:
– Remove the potatoes from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro.
– Serve with a side salad or sour cream, if desired.
Enjoy your **Savory Baked Potatoes with Meat and Vegetable Filling**!