Accordion or Hasselback Garlic Potatoes

Hasselback potatoes may look difficult to do, but you'll be amazed at how easy it is to  prepare these elegant baked potatoes. The skin is crisp on the outside while the inside is tender and flavored with  a buttery garlic and onion flavor. 

You don't have to wait for a special occasion to serve these potatoes. Your family will love them and ask for them often

Ingredients

6  to 8 potatoes
1/2 c. butter
1 onion
2 to 3 Tbs. garlic, minced
2 tsp. garlic powder
2/3 c. cheddar cheese, shredded (optional)
1/3 c. Parmesan cheese (optional)
bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°.  Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan or dish.

Scrub potatoes to remove soil or debris.  Pat dry.

Make parallel cuts about 1/4-inch wide across the potato  Do not cut all the way through the potato. Stop when you are about 1/4-inch from the bottom of the potato.  Fan out potatoes slightly and place in prepared baking dish. 

Cut the onion in half and then slice the onion cut into thin half circles. Place a slice of onion into each slit of the potato.   

In a small saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter.  Add minced garlic. Sauté the garlic for about a minute over medium-low heat. Add the rest of the butter and garlic powder. Stir until the butter melts and the garlic powder mixes in.

Drizzle half of the garlic butter over the potatoes, making sure it goes into each one of the cuts. Season with salt and pepper.

Bake the potatoes for 30 minutes.  Remove from the oven. Drizzle the remaining garlic butter over the potatoes, especially letting it get down into the cuts of each slice.  

Put the potatoes back into the oven and bake another 30 to 40 minutes, or until done. To check the potatoes to see if they are done, stick a toothpick or a fork into one of the center slices. If the fork or toothpick goes in easily, the potatoes are done. However, if it feels hard or has some resistance, continue to bake the potatoes for another 5 minutes or so until tender. 

Combine cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese together. Sprinkle the cheese and the crumpled bacon over the potatoes.  Bake another 5 minutes, or until the cheese melts.

Handy tip

To help make sure that you do not cut all the way through the potato, place a small wooden dowel or wooden spoon handle alongside the potato. When your knife hits the dowel or spoon handle, you know it is time to stop.