TikTok Made Me Do It!
Have you seen those baked potato TikToks from the UK, and did you know there were so many baked potato toppings? I have been inundated with TikToks of British spud merchants for the past two weeks, and I have been successfully influenced to explore the world of baked potato toppings! Let’s take a look at some of the varieties of toppings for baked or jacket potatoes around the world!
A Spud for the Ages
Baked potatoes have been enjoyed for thousands of years and are now a beloved dish across the globe. Originating between 8,000–5,000 BCE, potatoes became a staple in many cultures after Spanish explorers introduced them to Europe in the 16th century. Thanks to their easy cultivation and high nutritional value, potatoes quickly spread across the continent and beyond.
Subsequently, by the 18th century, baked potatoes had become a popular street food in London, especially in the colder months, making them a go-to meal for commoners. Around the same time, Irish immigrants likely brought this versatile tuber to the United States through Ellis Island, where it became ingrained in American cuisine. Over the 19th and 20th centuries, baked potatoes evolved into a staple of Western dining, appearing both as a side and a hearty main dish.
As this humble spud traveled across the world, different cultures adapted it with toppings that reflected their local ingredients and culinary traditions. From creamy seafood mixes in Sweden to bold, spice-laden fillings in Turkey, the baked potato has become a canvas for global flavors. Let’s explore the delicious and culturally significant toppings that make baked potatoes a true worldwide comfort food!
Topping It Off
The toppings different cultures use for baked potatoes often reflect unique aspects of their cuisine. In most cases, these toppings are derived from the most accessible and fundamental ingredients of that culture’s culinary tradition. In the U.S., our most popular baked potato toppings come from the Irish, which are either butter and cheddar or butter, sour cream, and cheese! These are cheap, accessible, and easy-to-make ingredients that one would have on hand any day. As bacon became a staple of the American diet, it was added to the staple tuber in bit form. This trend can be seen in other countries like Sweden, Turkey, and the country that’s taken over my For You page—the United Kingdom!
Sweden:
Sweden tops their spuds with a light, bright mix called Skagenröra! Meaning “Skagen,” a place in Denmark, and “röra,” which means ‘mix,’ this summery topping reflects Sweden’s coastal influence from the Baltic and North Seas. Skagenröra is made with steamed or boiled shrimp, roe (if you’re fancy), mayo, crème fraiche, or sour cream for creaminess, herbaceous dill, and a twist of lemon. This mixture harmonizes in fresh, cool contrast to the warm, salty spud. Divine! Want to try it for yourself? Check out the recipe here! If you think Sweden’s choice of topping is unique, let’s head to Turkey!
Turkey:
Kumpir, meaning baked potato, is the name of the deliciously varied topping or filling that people in Turkey commonly enjoy as a street food! There are even Chipotle-style restaurants where you can get your own custom-topped Kumpir! The potato is made by mixing the inside with butter and cheese to set a base for an array of unique topping choices. Commonly, Kumpir toppings consist of sweet corn, Kisir (Turkish bulgur salad), pickles, olives, sliced hot dogs or sausage, and ketchup, mayo, or Turkish Ezme (Turkish ‘salsa’). This is one unique, kitchen-sink-style baked potato topping that genuinely exemplifies the tastes of everyday Turkish people! Need this for tonight’s dinner? Here’s the recipe! I haven’t tried or seen this dish firsthand, but I have seen our next destination’s classic potato accouterment!
United Kingdom:
Hail to the Queen… or King! While the UK did not always top their potatoes with such unique offerings, today, there are bustling street businesses built on the customization of your Jacket Potato, aka Baked Potato. I have become a great fan of the businesses who post their work on social media, as I did not know there was such a demand for massive, toppling jacket potatoes! The UK’s topping choices are a great example of their relationship with the rest of the world’s cuisine and their island influence.
Some of the most popular toppings include the usual, of course: butter and cheese. But they take it to another level with offerings such as baked beans, coleslaw, Tuna Mayo (aka tuna salad), Chili con Carne (think of Cincinnati chili), Beef Bolognese, Coronation Chicken (cool, creamy, curry-spiced chicken salad), and Curry or Butter Chicken! One of the most popular combos I see again and again on TikTok is potato, butter, cheese, beans, and tuna mayo!
To the American palate, this seems weird at first due to the idea of mixing cold, tinned fish and mayo with a warm spud and cheese. However, I would implore Americans to think of it as a tuna melt—with a potato instead of bread—and give it a try! I actually challenged myself to try some of these delectable options in a video here, and blog here—check it out and let me know which one you’re excited to try! Indeed, the UK’s take on the baked potato showcases its rich culinary diversity, blending traditional comforts with global influences to create a truly unique street food experience.
One Spud, Infinite Possibilities
Undoubtedly, the world of baked potato toppings is as diverse as the cultures that embrace them. What started as a basic and hearty meal has grown into a canvas for culinary creativity, influenced by local ingredients and traditions. Whether topped with seafood, spicy meats, or simple butter and cheese, the baked potato continues to bring people together, proving that even the simplest foods can be endlessly reinvented. So, which global spud creation are you most excited to try?
