Shetland Black Tatties

[maree]

I was unsure whether to add this thread to crofting or gardening . Mr maree has arrived home with a small bag of Shetland Black tatties thanks to Frances & Geordie, so I thought I'd take a couple of snaps afore they went in the pot. Nymm, nymmm

The first shot shows the Shetland Black with, and without, the skin and the second shows the beautiful patterns inside when they're sliced.

[benjiesmum]

Wow those look brilliant tatties, maree. I knew I'd seen mention of them before so I've been searching around the forum for ages. .. then I remembered where I'd seen them talked about - in Gardening, under tatties!!! ;D

But I've never seen tatties like that before. I know that there are now purple carrots - but that's another story. Those tatties are just wonderful inside and out. If you mash 'em does your mash go pale purple???

[Fifi]

Groovy tatties.

[deltinglass]

Yum yum! Must admit I couldn't live without my spuds be they black eens or purple eens or whatever colour!

[hampdenquilts]

Maree, I am curious as well - do they turn lavender when mashed? Do they taste like - well, I was going to say Idaho potato, but then realized that you may not have had them before.
How would you describe the taste?

[maree]

The purple hue takes on a greyish colour when cooked.........at least it does when i cook them!! The normal "white" bits of the tattie are a yellowish colour, so when they're mashed they take on a slightly yellow appearance.

I'm not sure about your Idaho tattie hq, so I can't compare , but the Shetland Balck has a slightly sweeter taste than your run of the mill maris piper etc.

[Pat]

When I was in Bavaria on holiday a few years ago I discovered a stall at a market with Shetland Black tatties (at least they were identical in every way). They were being sold as 'Salad Potatoes' and were hugely expensive!

[bonna]

They have a quite distinctive earthy taste, but as I've said before, the taste imparted to any tattie depends a lot on the soil it's grown in.

Idaho tatties - what variety or varieties are grown there?

[hampdenquilts]

Bonna,
We have several varieties of potatoes in our markets here. The most popular are Idaho. Not sure if they are only grown in that state or it is really a variety name. They are a baking potato with a very white dry-ish flesh. I use them for mashing too, but they are not the best for that.
We also have Yukon Gold which has a pretty gold and moist flesh. The flavor is a bit sweet. The other common potato is the Maine variety. They are round and perfect for mashed and saute and fries.
There are lots of lesser known varieties available sometimes. My fave is the Idaho though. I use it all the time!
On my next trip, I plan to try different local food. I have started a list already!

[bonna]

Tatties named after states - I suppose it's a good enough idea. But does a whole state only grow a single variety? When I was a lad they used to grow a variety called Russet Burbank in Idaho, but that wasn't yesterday so probably it's not found now.

Now then - how to achieve a lavender-coloured mash using black tatties! Tried and tested this very evening. Firstly, boil them with the skins on, as any decent tattie should be boiled (Maree - shame on de for parin dem!). Next, remove the skins carefully from the boiled tatties, not by paring, but simply by slipping them off - they should detach easily enough - leaving behind the lovely outer purple bits. Then mash to produce lavender mash!

[Fifi]

bonna said:

Then mash to produce lavender mash!

Sounds a bit camp, bonna! <but still brawly groovy >

[oldbat1949]

At lunch at the Queens Hotel on Saturday one of the starters was Shetland Black Tattie and Leek Soup - really good, also Reestit Mutton Soup and a Waas Bannock. Good local produce and reduced food miles.

[bod]

Maree, they are the strangest potatoes I've ever seen. What makes them go that colour inside?

[Fifi]

oldbat1949 said:

At lunch at the Queens Hotel on Saturday one of the starters was Shetland Black Tattie and Leek Soup - really good, also Reestit Mutton Soup and a Waas Bannock. Good local produce and reduced food miles.

That sounds really good, oldbat. Did the soup have a purple tinge or just normal colour?

[oldbat1949]

A slight purple tinge but the taste was good no matte the colour