Twice-Baked Potatoes with Chorizo and Roasted Red Pepper

By garciamoss

Manchego, chorizo, and smoked paprika lend a Spanish flavor to a beloved American comfort food. These potatoes are big enough to be a main dish; make halves (see variation below) if you’d like to serve them as a side.

Ingredients

• 4 large russet potatoes (10 to 12 oz. each), scrubbed, pierced 5 or 6 times with a fork
• 2 oz. (4 Tbs.) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tsp. sweet smoked paprika
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 oz. coarsely grated Manchego (1-1/2 cups)
• 1/2 cup cooked, crumbled fresh chorizo (from one 5- to 6-oz. fresh chorizo link) OR diced cured chorizo
• 1/2 cup drained, diced roasted red pepper
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley; more for garnish
• 1 Tbs. canola oil

Details

Adapted from finecooking.com

Preparation

Step 1

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F. Place the potatoes directly on the oven rack and bake until tender when pierced with a fork, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to a cutting board and let sit until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.

Cut a 1/2-inch-thick slice lengthwise off the top of each potato; scrape the flesh from the slices into a large bowl and discard the skins. Spoon the flesh from the potatoes into the bowl, leaving a 1/4-inch shell. Add the butter, paprika, 3/4 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper and mix with a potato masher until blended; do not overwork (lumps are OK). Gently fold in half of the cheese, the chorizo, red pepper, sour cream paprika, and parsley with a silicone spatula. Season to taste with more salt and pepper.

Using your fingers, rub the outsides of the potato shells with the oil. Distribute the filling among the shells, mounding it, and place on a rimmed baking sheet.

Bake the potatoes, uncovered, until heated through, 25 to 30 minutes. (To check, insert the blade of a small knife into the center of a potato for 5 seconds; it should be hot.) Sprinkle the potatoes with the remaining cheese and bake until the cheese melts and browns lightly in some places, 2 to 3 minutes more. Garnish the potatoes with parsley, let sit 5 to 10 minutes, and serve.


Make Ahead Tips:
The potatoes can be baked and filled up to 1 day ahead. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Bring them to room temperature and heat the oven to 400°F before doing the final bake.
Variations

Twice-Baked Potato Halves: After the first bake, halve the potatoes lengthwise. Scoop the flesh out of both halves, leaving a 1/4-inch shell. Make the filling, then fill both halves of each potato, bake, and finish as directed.