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Vegetarian, Maghreb and Middle East

Kumpir, Turkish loaded baked potato

Kumpir is a large baked potato mashed with butter and cheese, then loaded with corn, olives, and fresh vegetables. It serves 4, takes 1 hour 15 minutes, is easy to make, and costs €1.90 per serving. The key is choosing large potatoes and baking them slowly wrapped in foil, so the flesh turns tender and soaks up the butter and cheese.

A kumpir, that big baked potato mashed with butter and cheese and topped with corn, olives and fresh veggies.

Kumpir, Turkish loaded baked potato
Total time
1 h 15
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.90
Calories per person
600 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Kumpir turns a simple baked potato into a full meal. Once baked, you split it open and mash the flesh right in its skin with butter and shredded cheese, until it turns into a rich, creamy filling. That warm, cheesy base is what holds together every topping you pile on top, from crunchy fresh vegetables to soft olives.

It works for a weeknight when you want something easy but still fun, and it's just as good for a casual dinner with kids, since everyone gets to build their own potato exactly how they like it. The colors of the corn, red cabbage, and tomatoes make it feel like a bit of an event without any real cooking skill required.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Large potatoes 4
  • Red cabbage 200 g
  • Tomatoes 2

Dairy

  • Butter 60 g
  • Shredded cheese 150 g

Pantry

  • Canned cornoften in the pantry 1 can
  • Black olives 80 g
  • Pickles 4
  • Mayonnaiseoften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Scrub the potatoes, prick them all over, and wrap them in foil.

    Pick large, evenly shaped potatoes for even cooking.

  2. Bake at 200°C until a knife slides through easily. 1 h

    They're done when they give in easily to pressure.

  3. Split each potato lengthwise and mash the flesh with a fork along with the butter and cheese.

    Work the flesh right in the skin to keep it as a bowl.

  4. Prepare the toppings by chopping the red cabbage, tomatoes, and pickles, and draining the corn.

    Prep them ahead, everything else happens while the potatoes are still hot.

  5. Load each potato with corn, olives, fresh vegetables, and a drizzle of mayonnaise.

    Arrange the toppings by color, it makes for a festive plate.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick starchy potatoes, they mash more easily and give a creamier result than waxy ones.
  • Season the mashed flesh generously with salt, the butter and cheese tend to mellow the flavor.
  • Let the butter sit out beforehand so it melts faster into the hot flesh without leaving lumps.

The variations

  • Swap the shredded cheese for melting cheese like cheddar for an even gooier texture.
  • Kumpir is already vegetarian, for a lighter version cut the butter in half and add a drizzle of olive oil instead.
  • For a quicker version with kids, bake and mash the potatoes the day before, then reheat them for 10 minutes in the oven before loading on toppings.

What to serve it with

  • A simple green salad
  • Mint tea
  • Extra fresh vegetables on the side

Storage

Baked and mashed potatoes keep for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container, without the fresh toppings. Reheat them in the oven or microwave before adding the corn, olives, and fresh vegetables at the last moment.

Questions about this dish

Can you bake the potatoes without foil?

Yes, you can bake them directly on the oven rack, the skin will be crispier but the flesh slightly less tender. Wrapping them in foil steams the inside and keeps the flesh very soft.

Can you make kumpir ahead of time?

You can bake and mash the potatoes a few hours ahead, then reheat them in the oven before loading on toppings. Prep the fresh vegetables separately and add them only right before serving so they stay crisp.

Can you replace the black olives?

Yes, green olives work just as well, or you can mix both for more color. Some versions also add capers for a sharper bite.

Do kids actually like kumpir?

Yes, it's a dish where everyone builds their own potato, which makes it feel like a game as much as a meal. Kids can simply skip the toppings they don't like.

How long does it take to make a loaded kumpir baked potato?

Count 1 h 15 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a loaded kumpir baked potato?

About 600 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a loaded kumpir baked potato cost?

About €1.90 per serving, or €7.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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