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Any hacks/tips for eating potatoes without butter?

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Now, you know better than this--we need to know why you want to go butter-free. With your reasons, I have lots of options. – Nance Nov 14 2011 at 4:14
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My suggestion would be to eat the potato but without the butter. – Jay Nov 14 2011 at 4:37
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Too funny Jay!!! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 5:10
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salsa! Lots of it! Yum. And mushed up avocado. – Paleo-ish Nov 14 2011 at 13:05
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Roast them whole and keep in the fridge. When you want to eat them cut into bite sized pieces and put under the broiler for crispy. Mash with marrrow butter. Whip with a fat and herbs. Any sweet potato is good as is - simply roasted, smashed, baked. – jesuisjuba - paleorepublic.com Nov 14 2011 at 14:34
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16 Answers

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I find that white-fleshed sweet potatoes are delicious (this is coming essentially from a monk, mind you) when cut about 3/4cm thick and microwaved for about 8 minutes per plate. This is pretty much the only way I eat tubers. Have to find the right variety, though. They're usually called Japanese or Oriental sweet potatoes. I've tried this with standard potatoes and even I thought it was a bit too bland.

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Thanks Travis! I am going to try and find some of those. :-) – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 6:56
Oriental/Japanese or Murasaki Sweet Potatoes – Dark purple outside and dry and white inside, this sweet potato, known as either an Oriental or Japanese Sweet, have a full, nutty flavor. They are an exotic alternative to traditional sweet potatoes, and an eye-opening alternative to Irish potatoes. – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 7:47
They look healthy as well: livestrong.com/article/… – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 8:17
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You can get those at my local indian food store. Good stuff – JakeA Nov 14 2011 at 14:49
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You may have to experiment with thickness/microwave time, but when you dial it in, they taste great totally plain. Been eating them for months and months and I never get sick of it (I'm a bit weird though). – Travis Culp Nov 14 2011 at 19:14
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Roast in duck fat - salt & pepper

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i DEFINITELY second the duck fat! – Futureboy Nov 14 2011 at 4:25
Thanks Comment!!! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 4:32
I fried some precooked potatoes side by side with a duck breast a week ago. The skin on the breast threw off plenty of fat to cook in, and everything was done at the same time. – thhq Nov 14 2011 at 23:52
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I put coconut cream on my sweet potatoes. yum

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Awesome Paul!!! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 7:27
It's my dessert: coconut cream on sweet potatoes with maybe some cinnamon on top! – Toni Nov 14 2011 at 17:35
What? NO WAY. That sounds awesome... I was out of butter the other day an I just added heavy cream...wish I would have thought of the coconut cream. – paleoprimal Nov 15 2011 at 0:10
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Am I the only one who thinks potatoes are a total waste of calories? I'd much rather down some green veggies or meat... even dousing them with butter can't make up for the blah-ness!

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Well said Phazo!!! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 7:27
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I do have the meat maxed out at least. :-) – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 7:31
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Ha, +1 for hating potatoes my friend. They're the epitome of boring. When I think of the absolute last thing I'd want to eat for dinner it's a limp, brown potato. – Phazo Nov 14 2011 at 7:36
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I must upvote any potato-hater simply on principle. – Shari Bambino Nov 14 2011 at 17:14
It does take a TON to make up for the "blah-ness" ...by the time I make a tater edible its usually a cheat meal. – JayJay Nov 15 2011 at 4:29
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For mash, just beat in a couple of egg yolks. I do this with all root veg.

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Great Idea Joanne! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 15:23
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My husband eats them with salsa. Are potatoes paleo friendly? I thought they were in the Avoid camp.

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Thanks! They are not strictly paleo. But many eat them. Similar to butter is not strictly paleo. :-) – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 4:49
I love salsa on baked potatoes. It was a fave when I was vegetarian! – NewEra Nov 15 2011 at 2:30
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Salt them.

I also eat potatoes with low-fat condiments like tomato paste, or I'll mash up roasted garlic and basil (much lower fat than pesto) or other herbs to put on top. Or crack a soft-boiled egg over them. I actually prefer all those things to eating potatoes with butter (which I find makes it too easy to overeat.)

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Great Ideas Olivia! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 4:48
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pasta sauce makes a good condiment for potatoes. I've made a pretty tasty potato salad with avocado, olive oil, jalapeno, lemon juice and salt

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That Sounds Great Cliff! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 4:48
We will see if I can end my VLC streak Cliff. :-) I may need that book you and Merideth are reading about carbs. – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 8:41
www.raypeat.com :) – cliff Nov 14 2011 at 12:58
Thanks Cliff!!! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 20:35
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Cheese! or Truffle oil.

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Sounds awesome Peter! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 15:22
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I'll second Comment's duck fat suggestion! If you like sweet potatoes, those are great with coconut oil.

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That sounds great Jules! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 15:24
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I went temporarily insane last night and ate potatoes roasted in olive oil. They were spectacular. Didn't miss the butter one bit.

I actually have duck fat in my fridge and now that I see that suggested here I am kicking myself for not using it. Holy mother potatoes roasted in duck fat are something beyond delicious.

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Only now, at the end, do you understand. Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the Starch Side! – Travis Culp Nov 14 2011 at 17:35
+1 for star wars ref – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 18:50
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How about real mayonaisse? or clarified butter/ghee - so the dairy solids are gone but you still get the yummy butter taste!

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I am trying to reduce my dairy fat. Bracing for my lipid panel results this week... – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 5:12
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Whip them with some half and half, then? – air_hadoken Nov 14 2011 at 7:19
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I have no idea, but discussing potatoes without butter in depth is why I like PaleoHacks.

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Thanks Lizz!!!! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 5:12
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Me too, Lizz!!! – Toni Nov 14 2011 at 5:20
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My first thought was "Potatoes aren't worth eating without butter" but since you asked, my second thought was roasted in the oven with olive oil and salt. If using sweet potatoes, add some cinnamon.... mmm mmm good.

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I second this - I add rosemary sometimes too, very nice. – Renee Nov 14 2011 at 14:39
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some cayenne goes good with that cinnamon on a sweet tator....but I'm also drenching it in butter :) – JayJay Nov 15 2011 at 4:32
mmm Cayenne! I was trying so hard to remember my mom's "secret" ingredient. thank you :) – Andrea S. Nov 16 2011 at 1:19
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So you're avoiding dairy fat I see... I was going to suggest a poutine-ish thing with paleo gravy and curds, so maybe if that sounds appealing to you you could try low-fat/fat-free cheese (though finding high quality stuff without the fat is hard - maybe a really nice parmesan would work? Or low-fat ricotta?).

Other-wise, I like to use potatoes to make Aloo Gobi every now and then. Or mash them up with coconut milk.

I've been known to smear my roast potatoes with pate as well.

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Thanks Slightly Reworded! I consumed enough butter fats the last five months to last me the rest of the year for sure. Just resting a bit. Thanks for the response! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 6:06
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I roast them in coconut oil and make fries or chips- then I dip them in avocado mashed with salsa and greek yogurt/cream

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Thanks Feerless Food! – Eric Nov 14 2011 at 6:57

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