Image Credit to: idazs
Fried or baked, potatoes never fail to fill up the family with comfort and love. Indulge in some potato goodness with a cheesy tang.
What Are Cheesy Wedges
Potato wedges are potatoes that are large and unpeeled, baked or fried into perfection. Commonly served as a side dish at restaurants and fast-food restaurants. They are usually served with ketchup or sour cream however for cheesy wedges; it is topped with cheese sauce.
The cheesy sauce is traditionally made of shredded cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese. In some recipes, they have added Dijon mustard or pepper to make it slightly spicy.
Potato wedges are known by many names. In some areas of the United States, it is called Jojos, and it is usually fried in the same vat as the chickens. They are eaten without seasoning alongside fried chicken, coleslaw and baked beans.
In Germany, the locals call it Kartoffelspalten (potato-clefts), wilde Kartoffeln (wild potatoes) or Kartoffelecken (Potato Wedges).
Difference Between Wedges And Fries
For one, the shapes are different. French fries are cut into strips or rectangular shapes where potato wedges are sliced radially in huge chunks. French fries are usually deep-fried while potato wedges are either baked or roasted on a sheet pan. Thus, wedges have a crispy outside with a soft centre.
History Of Potato Wedges
The invention of potato wedges came around the time when the pressure fryer was introduced. How it works, essentially, is that the pressure fryer is filled with hot oil to cook meat far more quickly. The Broaster Company of Beloit, Wisc was one of the firsts to make the pressure fryer. Although it could be found at dive bars in Portland, it was a company under the name, Flavor-Crisp that introduced broasted chicken and jojos to Portland.
A man by the name, Nicewonger, distributed pressure fryers across the Portland area even selling the first batches to drive-in theatre chains in the year 1958. According to Nicewonger, his father was the first person to invent the Jojo.
He said that his father was performing a demonstration of the pressure fryer at a restaurant trade show and he was coincidentally beside people from Idaho who were selling some potatoes. He started to cut up the potatoes and cooked it for the passersby. It was then that the name Jojo came into mind.
Nutritional Information For Cheesy Wedges
The nutritional value of cheesy wedges depends on how it is prepared. The healthiest way of preparing potato wedges is by baking it. This method ensures that the potato doesn’t lose its nutrient content.
Potatoes are high in potassium, iron, calcium, vitamin C and vitamin B6 which can be found mostly on the potato skin. It is said that you should skip boiling the vegetable as vitamin C leaches out into the water. This can also happen if the potatoes are left to soak.
Cheese contains a lot of nutrients like calcium, protein, zinc, phosphorus, vitamin A and vitamin B12, which are essential building blocks for strong bones and muscles. For those who are lactose intolerant, there are different cheese options such as Swiss or Cheddar that contain low lactose content. Although the saturated fat in cheese is not that much of a concern, it is still high in calories.
Where To Find Cheesy Wedges
Cheesy wedges can be easily found at any western restaurants in Malaysia. Here is the list of restaurants you can visit to get a taste of the potato goodness.
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