Cheese Stuffed Potatoes With Yogurt Spice Paste And Sesame Seed Crust Recipes

FETA SAGANAKI WITH A SESAME-SEED CRUST

Steps:

• The feta should be a rectangular, not triangular, piece.
• Cut it into four 1/2-inch slices and cut each slice into quarters to get bite-sized rectangles.
• Beat the egg lightly in a shallow bowl. Spread the sesame seeds onto a large plate. Dip the cheese in the egg and then in the sesame seeds.
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a large, heavy, nonstick skillet.
• Place about 6 of the cheese pieces in the skillet, and sauté over medium-high heat.
• As soon as the feta begins to soften, flip it over to brown on the other side.
• Remove and serve hot.
• Repeat with the remaining feta and sesame seeds.

CHEESY STUFFED BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Scrub and pierce potatoes. Rub with oil if desired. Bake until tender, 50-75 minutes. When cool enough to handle, cut each potato in half lengthwise. Scoop out pulp, leaving a thin shell; set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 375°., In a small skillet, saute onions in 1/4 cup butter until tender. In a large bowl, mash potato pulp. Stir in sauteed onions, cream, sour cream, salt and pepper. Fold in cheese. Stuff into potato shells., Place on a baking sheet. Melt remaining butter; drizzle over potatoes. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake until heated through, about 20 minutes.

CHEESE-STUFFED POTATOES WITH YOGURT-SPICE PASTE AND SESAME SEED CRUST

Steps:

• For potatoes and stuffing:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°F. Place potatoes directly on oven rack and bake until tender when pierced with fork, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Transfer to platter and let stand until cool enough to handle. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Cut potatoes horizontally in half. Using spoon, scoop out pulp, leaving 1/3-inch-thick shell. Transfer potato pulp to medium bowl and mash; mix in cheese, melted butter, cilantro, green onion, chile, and sesame seeds. Season potato mixture generously with salt and pepper; divide among potato shells.DO AHEAD: Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
• For yogurt-spice paste:
• Combine first 6 ingredients in processor. Using on/off turns, blend until mixture is finely chopped. Add yogurt, oil, and lemon juice and process until smooth puree forms. Transfer to small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Remove top rack from grill. Place disposable aluminum baking pan in center of bottom rack (if using 2-burner gas grill, place pan on 1 side of burner). Add enough water to pan to reach depth of 1 inch.
• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). If using charcoal grill, light briquettes in chimney and pour half onto rack on each side of disposable pan. If using 3-burner gas grill, light burners on left and right, leaving center burner off. If using 2-burner gas grill, light burner on side opposite disposable pan. Return top rack to grill. Place sheet of foil on grill rack above unlit burner; brush with vegetable oil.
• Place sesame seeds on small plate. Place half of yogurt-spice paste in shallow bowl and reserve. Spread remaining yogurt-spice paste over top of potato filling in each potato half. Sprinkle with half of sesame seeds. Dip bottom of each potato half into reserved spice paste, then dip into remaining sesame seeds. Place potatoes atop foil on grill rack above disposable pan. Cover barbecue and grill until potatoes are heated through and bubbling in center, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer potatoes to platter and serve.
• A thick yogurt; sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores (such as Trader Joe's and Whole Foods markets) and Greek markets. If unavailable, place regular yogurt in cheesecloth-lined strainer set over large bowl. Cover and chill overnight to drain.