Middle Eastern Jacket Potatoes
Easy Middle Eastern Jacket Potato Recipes - Perfect for Winter
Middle Eastern Inspired Jacket Potatoes
With winter season here, there’s something about a delicious warm meal that makes winter worthwhile. I wanted to create a meal that is simple, wholesome and warm that delivers on flavour, texture and satisfaction.
Let’s start with the base: the good old potato. cooked in the oven or air fryer until the skin is beautifully crisp and the inside is all fluffy, the perfect bowl to house all ingredients. The air fryer made things super simple, just poke some holes, rub olive oil, sprinkle some salt, and a bit of patience. In under an hour your potato is cooked!
The Mince
The mince is where this jacket potato comes alive, it’s deeply inspired by Middle Eastern flavours. I used a simple blend of cumin, paprika, and cinnamon, which are all common spices across Middle Eastern cooking. They bring this beautiful warmth and depth to the lamb without overpowering it. The cinnamon adds a subtle sweetness that rounds everything out, while the cumin gives it an earth backbone. It’s not spicy, just incredibly fragrant and comforting. the kind of meal you’d get from a family kitchen.
Want to take it up a notch?
I have to talk about the sauce. If you are already familiar with my Miss Bliss OG Tahini Sauce, this is the perfect addition to the potato. The tanginess of the sauce cuts through the richness of the lamb and adds that fresh pop that balances the dish amazingly. It also soaks into the fluffy potato like a dream!
Why I love this recipe
When I started cooking this dish, I had a feeling it was going to be delicious, but I honestly did not expect just how incredibly good it would turn out. The flavours were rich and comforting, the textures so satisfying, and every bite felt like a warm, nourishing hug. It was hearty in the best way possible, filling but not heavy, full of real ingredients and vibrant flavour.
Yes, the potatoes take a bit of time to cook, and yes, there’s a little effort involved in preparing everything just right. But let me tell you , it is 100% worth every minute. This is the kind of recipe that reminds me exactly why I love cooking. It’s not just about the food , it’s about creating something that brings people together. Watching my family and friends take their first bite and seeing their eyes light up with surprise and delight? That’s the best feeling in the world. That moment of connection, of shared joy over a homemade meal, makes it all so worth it.
Middle Eastern Jacket Potatoes
Makes: 3 Serves
Prep Time: 20-30 minutes
Cooking Time: 1-2hours
Ingredients
3 large potatoes (330-350g)
Pickled onions
Parmesan
1 tbsp butter
Middle Eastern Mince
500g lamb mince
1 brown onion
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
1/4 cinnamon
salt and pepper (to taste)
Herb Salad
2 cups parsley/mint, finely sliced
1 tomato, deseeded and diced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp pine nuts, lightly toasted
Salt
Method:
Oven Method Potatoes:
Preheat oven to 220°c
Poke holes in potatoes with a fork
Place potatoes on a tray, coat with olive oil and salt
Place in oven and let cook for 1hour, then flip and cook for another 1hour
AirFryer Method Potatoes:
Preheat airfryer to 200°c for 3-5minutes
Scrub the potatoes clean and pat dry, then prick each potato a few times with a fork to allow steam to escape
Rub each one with olive oil and sprinkle with salt
Place the potatoes in the basket with space between them and cook for 35-45 minutes (Flip halfway to cook evenly)
Poke potatoes with a fork or knife it should slide in easily, and the skin should be crispy. If not, cook for another 5-10 minutes repeatedly until soft.
Mince:
Heat a pan over medium heat with olive oil
Add one diced onion and cook for 3-5 minutes until it softens and becomes translucent
Once onions are translucent, increase temperature to medium-high (to caramalise), then add in the lamb, break the lamb up, add seasoning and salt, and pepper (5min)
Reduce to a low for another 5 minutes to finish up and simmer away
Herb Salad:
Finely slice parsley/mint and place into a large mixing bowl
Deseed and finely dice the tomato and add to the mixing bowl
In a small pan over medium heat, toast the pine nuts for 2-3minutes, stirring often until golden. Remove from heat and set aside.
Drizzle olive oil and lemon juice into the bowl, adding salt to taste, and gently toss everything together
Combine:
Once all ingredients are prepared, slice a cross into the potatoes and pinch the sides to open slightly
Add butter to the inside, grate parmesan, add mince, herb salad, pickled onions, and OG tahini sauce then ENJOY!