The prince of potatoes (From Halesowen News)

The prince of potatoes

7:00am Saturday 16th June 2012 in Lifestyle

With the mighty Jersey Royal still in season for another month, we show you some creative ways to cook with these tasty little potatoes.

By Diana Pilkington.

There's nothing like eating seasonal produce to make you feel you're in tune with Mother Nature, and the Jersey Royal is a good place to start.

These tasty little potatoes, in season from April to the end of June, are celebrated for their unique nutty flavour.

While purists believe they should be boiled and served with butter and mint, there are plenty of other ways to incorporate them into your cooking.

Richard Allen, executive head chef of the Michelin-starred Tassili restaurant in Jersey, is a big fan and has experimented with everything from Bombay potatoes and wedges to runny potatoes mousseline and little jacket potatoes. He's even made them into crisps to use as canapes.

He says: "Most people use the smaller ones early on in the season but I find them a bit metallic so I wait for the ware potatoes to come, which are slightly larger and have a milder taste.

"People like you to stay classic and just boil them. They think you can't do anything else with them but I find that you can."

Here are some royally good recipes to get you started...

Jersey Royals with hot smoked salmon and watercress salad in a horseradish dressing (Serves two) 500g Jersey Royal new potatoes 100g creme fraiche 1tsp creamed horseradish Juice of 1 lemon 2 spring onions, finely sliced 2 hot smoked salmon fillets, skinned and flaked 1 bunch watercress, rinsed Bring a pan of water to the boil. Add the potatoes and reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the potatoes for about 15 minutes or until tender.

Mix together the creme fraiche and creamed horseradish. Add enough lemon juice and black pepper to taste.

Drain the potatoes and leave to cool slightly. Add the spring onions and salmon. Stir in the creme fraiche mix until all the ingredients have a light coating.

Toss in the watercress and serve, ether slightly warm or cold.

Tip: If you can't find hot smoked salmon use smoked mackerel, smoked salmon or even roast beef Jersey Royals bubble and squeak (Serves four) 500g Jersey Royals, scrubbed and halved 125g shredded Savoy cabbage 2 carrots, peeled and cubed 1tbsp frying oil 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped 3tbsp chives or parsley, chopped Salt and pepper to taste Lightly seasoned plain flour for coating 200g shredded ham hock 4 farm fresh eggs 2tsp white wine vinegar Bring a pan of water to the boil. Add the potatoes and reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the potatoes for about 10 minutes. When just cooked, drain and lightly crush.

Cook the carrots in boiling water for five minutes, add the cabbage and cook for a further four minutes. Drain and add to the potatoes Heat the oil in a pan and add the onion. Cook over a low heat until softened but not coloured. Combine the onion, potatoes, cabbage, carrot and herbs in a large bowl and mix well. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

Spoon the mixture into chef rings or shape the mixture into four cakes and toss them in the flour to coat. Heat about 1cm of oil in the pan and fry the cakes for about 4 minutes on each side, or until slightly browned and holding together.

Meanwhile bring another pan of water up to simmering point add the vinegar and carefully break in the eggs and simmer for three minutes. Remove and keep warm.

To serve, top each bubble and squeak cake with a pile of ham hock and top with a poached egg.

Tips: The ham hock can easily be replaced with crispy bacon.

When making poached eggs make sure you use the freshest eggs possible. If you have a number of eggs to poach cook the eggs in advance and pop into iced water. When ready to serve just drop into boiling water to heat up.

Lemon crushed Jersey Royals served with bacon wrapped chicken (Serves four) 800g Jersey Royal new potatoes, scrubbed 8tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 1/2 lemon, juice only 1 lemon, zest only 2tbsp coarsely chopped flat leaf parsley 4 skinless chicken breasts 150g cream cheese 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1tbsp chopped fresh parsley and chives Salt and freshly ground black pepper 8 rashers back bacon, sliced 1tbsp olive oil 2 small leeks, washed and finely sliced 150ml white wine 284ml carton double cream Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan oven 160°C, gas 4.

Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Make a cut lengthways along the side of the chicken breast.

Mix the cream cheese with the garlic and herbs and season. Spoon the herby cheese into the pocket in the side of the chicken breasts. Wrap the bacon around the chicken, stretching the bacon slightly. Make sure the bacon joint is underneath the chicken.

Put the chicken in an ovenproof dish and bake for 35 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the leek and cook until the leeks start to colour. Add the white wine, bring to the boil and boil to reduce by half. Add the cream and cook gently for another 4-5 minutes. Season to taste.

For the potatoes: bring a pan of water to the boil. Add the potatoes and reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the potatoes for about 15 minutes or until tender. Drain and crush with a fork or potato masher - you just want to break them up, not mash them - and add all the lemon juice and zest, parsley and olive oil. Season and fork everything through.

Serve the sliced chicken alongside the lemon potatoes and green beans and asparagus.

Tip: Add lightly fried chestnut mushrooms to the sauce, if you like.

Cheese schnitzel with Jersey Royals and beetroot salad (Serves four) For the schnitzel: 4 medium slices of mild cheddar cheese 100g flour for dusting 4 whole eggs (beaten) 8 slices of bread (crust off and made into breadcrumbs) Olive oil for frying For the salad: 6 pieces asparagus, cut at a 45 degree angle 2 medium carrots cut into thin slices 1 red pepper cut into fine strips 1 medium red onion cut into wedges and separated 500g Jersey Royals boiled in salted boiling water 300g baby beetroot, boiled Salt and pepper for seasoning To make the schnitzel, cut the cheese into 0.5cm thick slices and dip it in the egg, flour and breadcrumbs.

In a pan shallow fry the cheese, turning only once with a spatula. When nice and golden brown remove carefully and place on absorbent paper.

For the salad, place the beetroot in cold water and bring to boil and simmer until it is cooked to your liking (about 30 minutes).

In a separate pan do the same with the Jersey Royals (about 20 minutes).

Blanch the asparagus and carrot strips in boiling salted water (about three minutes).

Toss all the salad ingredients together with a knob of butter and season with salt and pepper to your liking.

Serve the schnitzel and the salad together.

Baked Jersey Royals with a chive and blue cheese glaze (Serves two as a starter) Six medium Jersey Royals One egg yolk 100ml double cream Salt and pepper to taste Lemon juice to taste 1/3 bunch chopped chives 20 small rocket leaves 100g blue cheese Olive oil for drizzling Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan oven 160°C/Gas 4.

Sprinkle the Jersey Royals with sea salt and cook in the oven until tender when pricked with a knife (about 30 minutes).

Once baked, cut a 6mm deep cross in the top of the warm Jersey Royals and open slightly.

Drizzle the Jersey Royals with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Fold the cream, lemon juice, blue cheese, chives and egg yolk in a bowl.

Spoon a little of the mixture into each of the Jersey Royals and place under a hot grill until golden.