Potato Recipes

Potato Health and History

Potatoes have a rich, healthy history, and potato soup is a favorite dish with many subtle variations. The vegetable originated in South America thousands of years ago, and today it is grown throughout the world. Potatoes are an important dietary staple in over 125 countries, and many people associate this vegetable with Ireland, where it was first adopted in the late 1700's. In the 1840's, a fungus infected potato crops throughout Europe, which caused devastation among populations that had come to depend on the hardy vegetable as a principal source of food. Known as the Irish Potato Famine, the event led to massive starvation and emigration.

Despite their unassuming appearance, these roots contain high nutritional value. Virtually fat-free, a medium potato has only 100-120 calories (depending on the variety: red, white, or yellow), and contains no cholesterol or sodium. At the same time, potatoes provide essential B vitamins, iron, complex carbohydrates, and vitamin C.

Ancient civilizations such as the Incas used potatoes for medicinal purposes as well as basic nutrition. They were thought to prevent indigestion, and raw slices were used to help heal broken bones. While those ancient practices may be no more than folklore today, modern home remedies include using grated potato to ease the pain of sunburn and treating acne with potato juice.

Potato Soup Tips

Soups generally contain flavorful broth with vegetables, meat, and assorted spices. Potato soup, on the other hand, is often prepared without any meat, though some people prefer to add bacon or canned meat to the recipe. Potato soup is usually thick, with the inclusion of cornstarch, flour, cream, milk, or grain used as an extra thickening agent. When cooking potato soup, be sure to use bite-size chunks of potato, as well as celery, onion, carrot, or any desired vegetables. Depending on the preferred result, potato soup can be chunky (with firmer chunks left floating), or cooked until the pieces are soft and then pureed for a creamy variety. Leftover soup can also be pureed, or simply reheated for another delicious, hearty meal.