Description
Creamy baked potatoes stuffed with cheese, sausage, and colorful toppings. This easy street food favorite brings Istanbul’s flavors right to your kitchen!
Ingredients
- 2 large potatoes
- 2 cups mixed vegetables
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup beef sausage, sliced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Toppings
- 1 tbsp butter (1/2 tbsp per potato)
- 4 tbsp mozzarella cheese, grated (2 tbsps per potato)
- 2 tbsp corn
- Canned mushrooms
- Pickles
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
Instructions
Prepare the Potatoes
Preheat the oven to 390°F (200°C).
- Wrap each potato in a layer of parchment paper, then cover with a layer of aluminum foil.
- Place the wrapped potatoes on a baking sheet and bake for 75 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
Prepare the Toppings
- In a small bowl, combine 2 cups of mixed vegetables with 1 cup of mayonnaise. Mix well and set aside.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/2 tablespoon of butter.
- Add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and 2 cups of water to the saucepan. Stir until well combined.
- Add 1 cup of sliced beef sausage to the tomato sauce.
- Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste.
- Let the mixture simmer for 5-7 minutes until slightly reduced and the flavors have melded.
Assemble the Kumpir
- When the potatoes are done, remove from the oven and carefully unwrap.
- Cut each potato open lengthwise, being careful not to cut all the way through.
- Gently fluff the inside of each potato with a fork.
- Add 1/2 tablespoon of butter and 2 tablespoons of grated mozzarella cheese to each potato.
- Mash and mix the potato flesh, butter, and cheese together while still inside the skin until creamy.
- Top each prepared potato with a generous spoonful of the mayonnaise-vegetable mixture, several spoonfuls of the sausage in tomato sauce. 1 tablespoon of corn per potato, mushrooms as desired, sliced pickles as desired. Finish with a drizzle of ketchup and additional mayonnaise if desired. Serve immediately while still hot and enjoy!
Notes
Choosing your potatoes: Choose large, oval-shaped potatoes with thick skins. Russet or Idaho potatoes work best as they become fluffy when baked.
Foil wrapping: The parchment-then-foil wrapping method helps the potatoes steam slightly while baking, resulting in a tender interior while protecting the skin.
Cheese: Traditional Kumpir uses kaşar cheese. If you can find it, you can substitute it in with a mix of mozzarella (or even some gruyere) for an even more authentic flavor.
Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare all toppings while potatoes are baking so everything is ready for assembly when the potatoes come out of the oven.
Serving Size: One fully-loaded Kumpir makes a generous main dish. For lighter appetites, consider sharing one potato between two people.
Customization: Feel free to customize toppings based on preference. A traditional Turkish Kumpir recipe can be made with a variety of toppings – there’s no wrong way to top your potato!
Vegetarian version: Easily make this vegetarian by omitting the sausage and adding more vegetables or some plant-based proteins.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 75 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Turkish
