On the Side: Purple Potatoes with Cotija, and Pattypans with Pepitas

purple potatoes with cotija and onions

Perhaps surprisingly given that we’ve been deluged with guests for the last month, we haven’t actually cooked for them much, or at least, cooked anything we’d dare post. As anyone who’s been a host knows, having guests is an exhausting experience, but especially so when you’re playing the role of tour guide too, so here are two simple side dishes instead of something that required more lengthy preparation.

chipotle lamb rib chops, hanger steak and purple potatoes and pattipans

We ate them with some enormously meaty lamb rib chops and a fat lump of hanger steak that had both been rubbed with a chipotle-cumin-Mexican oregano mix. A hearty red Zinfandel accompanied it all fearlessly.

pattipan squash with pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

chipotle lamb rib chops, hanger steak and purple potatoes and pattipans

Purple Potatoes with Red Onion and Queso de Cotija
Ingredients

  • 1lb purple potatoes
  • 1 red onion, finely sliced into rings
  • 4 tbsp grated cotija
  • 2 tbsp good olive oil
  • 2tbsp chopped cilantro
  • kosher salt to taste

Recipe

  1. Boil potatoes until they will easily fall off a knife poked into them
  2. Drain potatoes and while still hot, return to pot with onions, oil, cilantro and cheese.
  3. Mix ingredients well.

Pattypan Squash with Pumpkin Seeds (Pepitas)
Ingredients

  • 1lb pattypan squash
  • 1/2cup pumpkin seeds
  • kosher salt
  • Lots of fresh-ground black pepper
  • 2tbsp unsalted butter

Recipe

  1. Toast pumpkin seeds in a dry pan until lightly browned, but no more. Reserve.
  2. Boil squash for five minutes or until tender (but not soft)
  3. Drain and, again, while still hot, return to pan with butter, pumpkin seeds, salt and pepper
  4. Combine ingredients well and serve on the side of plenty of red meat.

purple potatoes with cotija and onions

21 thoughts on “On the Side: Purple Potatoes with Cotija, and Pattypans with Pepitas

  1. thoses pattypan squashes are just fantastic, like little alien spaceships…..
    both lovely and original as usual ( you do make me feel a bit boring.) you have also got me in the mood for fearless red wine and big pieces of red meat
    Hope all is well and good in your new place – vast I hope.

  2. Delightful combination of exciting vegetables and excellent colour choice !
    Cute pattypan squashes and dramatic purple potatoes make an irresistible side-dish… You got me drooling with envy and thinking about some other devilish match…
    Great post !

  3. Pattypan squash – I have never heard of nor seen these adorable little guys. They made me laugh! And Zin is definitely the go-to wine for zesty food. Cool close-up shot of the purple spuds – I had no idea what they were and couldn’t wait to read your post to find out!

    1. Hey marc! They were the russian blue potatoes. i’d love to get my hands on some of those asian purple yams… they are even more gorgeous than the russian ones!

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