Is there anything more comforting than a steaming jacket potato when the weather is cold and crappy? The Hairy Dieters include recipes for baked potatoes in their second (Eat for Life) and sixth books (Make it Easy) and they are a handy option to fall back on when you want something easy, cheap and nourishing to eat.
I tried their no frills Jaunty Jacket Potato with Cheesy Beans Filling and it was just what I needed on a freezing, wet day. A word of caution though to those counting every calorie. In this recipe you only get just over 100g of baked beans per person (based on serving 4), which isn’t a lot. There are approximately 169 calories per 225g potato, and 280 calories in total by adding the beans, light-cheese triangle and spring onions.
You can cook your jackets in a microwave if pushed for time, but I prefer to bake mine in the oven for an hour – 1 hour and 15 minutes so they go nice and crispy, topped with some good quality baked beans, like Branston.
Recipe: Jaunty Jacket Potato with Cheesy Beans Filling
Calories: 280 per portion with potato
Serves: 4
Book: Hairy Dieters – Eat for Life
Prep time: Approx 5 minutes
Cooking time: Approx 3 minutes + the time it takes you to bake your potato (in the oven or a microwave)
Ingredients:
- 4 jacket potatoes (approx. 225g each)
- 415g can of baked beans
- 4 reduced-fat cheese triangles (halved)
- 4 spring onions (trimmed and finely sliced)
- Flaked sea salt
- Ground black pepper
Cost per portion: Approx £0.47
Method:
Heat the beans in a saucepan until hot, stirring. Divide them between the hot potatoes and top with the cheese triangles. Scatter over the spring onions and season with salt and black pepper.
If you don’t fancy the beans, serve the potatoes, cheese and spring onions with a colourful mixed salad instead. You’ll save yourself some calories too.
Flatten Your Curves 