Moringa Bacon Twice Baked Potatoes
Servings Prep Time
8halved potatoes 30minutes
Cook Time
90minutes
Servings Prep Time
8halved potatoes 30minutes
Cook Time
90minutes
Ingredients
Potato Prep
  • 4medium Russet/baking potatoes
  • olive oil/ peanut oilpotato prep
  • kosher(course) saltpotato prep
  • black pepperoptional
  • garlic saltoptional
Potato Filling
  • 1/2cup cream cheesecan substitute sour cream or combination; room temperature
  • 2Tbsp butterroom temperature
  • 2/3cup parmesan cheeseshaved or finely grated; divided
  • 2Tbsp minced garlic
  • 1/4cup milk
  • 1/2tsp saltincrease to taste
  • black pepperto taste
  • cayenne pepperto taste
  • 4-6slices baconcrumbled
  • 3cups packed fresh Moringa leaveschopped; possible substitution 3 Tbsp Moringa powder (to taste)
  • 4tbsp chives or green onionsto taste
Instructions
Potato/Bacon Prep (oven)
  1. Preheat oven to 350-400 (depending on your time). (Sit out butter/cream cheese/sour cream to bring to room temperature.) (Prepare Moringa leaves now or ahead of time by washing, removing stems, and chopping. I used an immersion blender intermittent pulses.)
  2. Begin preparing potatoes by thoroughly scrubbing them and piercing them 8-12 times to allow the steam to escape during the baking process.
  3. Brush outer potato (skin) with olive oil and rub with kosher salt. (Optional: Sprinkle with garlic powder and black pepper.)
  4. Place potatoes on cast iron griddle or directly on oven rack (place a dish below potatoes if using oven rack method in order to reduce mess in your oven). Bake for 60 -80 minutes. (Adjust time according to temperature…if you are in a hurry and you increase your temperature, reduce your time. ) Once potato can be pierced easily with a fork, remove from oven. (Optional: Prepare in microwave)
  5. If you are preparing bacon in the oven, prepare simultaneously on a separate baking sheet. Remove bacon when crispy. Place on paper towels to drain. Crumble when cooled. Set aside. (Optional: prepare in microwave or on stove top.)
  6. Allow to cool. Slice horizontally and scoop out center of potato. Leave about 1/4 inch of potato meat along the edges to hold form. Set aside
Potato Filling Assembly
  1. Place potato meat in mixing bowl and mash.
  2. Preferably while potatoes are still warm, use a hand mixer to combine room temperature butter and cream cheese/sour cream.
  3. Add in minced garlic and all but 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese. Stir in milk. Optional: Add 2 Tbsp chopped chives or green onions
  4. Season to taste with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
  5. Stir in (about) half the crumbled bacon then add chopped Moringa Adjust seasonings.
  6. Place potato shells on baking dish/cast iron griddle. Divide seasoned potatoes among potato shells. Sprinkle with remaining bacon and cheese (and chives/green onions if desired). (Can prepare ahead of time. At this step, cover and put in refrigerator until ready to bake.)
  7. Place in preheated oven set to 450 F for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. (Optional: Set oven to a lower temperature for a longer period of time to further reduce fresh Moringa to heat exposure.)
  8. Serve warm. Enjoy.