HOW TO TURN KETTLE CHIPS INTO 3 BITE-SIZED APPETIZERS + RECIPES

It should be no surprise by now that we love creating new recipes in the BFFF test kitchen! This brand new creation is so easy and delicious- you seriously won’t believe it. With the holidays quickly approaching, you will be so thankful to have these simple recipes on hand. By crunching up chips, you can serve a variety of bite-sized appetizers 3 different ways! Yes, it’s true! With an airy, crunch, and light take on traditional latkes, your holiday appetizers will be taken to a whole new level. We mixed together crushed Kettle chips and shredded cheese then pan fried the mixture to create crunchy little wafers that serve as the perfect vessel for a variety of delicious toppings.

Last year, we created a Chic Friendsgiving Soiree with Kettle Brand Potato Chips that was featured onRedBook, and it was an absolute success. With these new and creative recipe ideas, we are hoping to top that this year! Our Brand Director, Hilari, had the amazing chance to visit Kettle Brand‘s headquarters in Oregon last month. Here’s what she has to say about her trip below:

“Where to begin?! I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Kettle Brand Flavor Experience two weeks ago at the Kettle Brand headquarters in Portland and Salem. It was a crazy busy, jam packed, educational (and sunny!) 24 hours on the west coast. I learned so much about the heart and soul behind the Kettle Brand, the care and thought put into flavor creation, and the impact the company has on the surrounding community. From sourcing local whenever possible to the beautiful community garden and more, Kettle Brand is a company that makes really delicious chips and also does good for others!

The flavor experience kicked off with a delicious five-course meal at Park Cafe in downtown Portland. Each course was inspired by Kettle Brand chip flavors or had actual chips in the course. My favorite dish was the passed appetizer – curry chickpea fries with squash ketchup. YUM! I loved meeting the other bloggers in attendance, talking chip flavors, and learning about ways to incorporate chips into gourmet meals. We had an early start the next day, which started with a tour of New Seasons Market, a beautiful grocer full of gorgeous produce offering a mixture of locally grown and organic products. The Kettle Brand team explained how they routinely visit grocery stores and markets to get inspired and think outside of the box about new, innovative flavors.

On the way from Portland to the headquarters in Salem, we munched on Kettle Brand chips and enjoyed the fall scenery. Upon arrival at Kettle Brand headquarters, we had a tour of the newly designed, state-of-the-art facility and community garden, had lunch outside in the natural preservation area, and toured the manufacturing plant. Did you know it takes a potato only 20 minutes to turn into a chip? We tested new chip varieties (get excited!) and were able to really understand all Kettle Brand stands for and has to offer consumers. I left inspired and motivated to get more creative with food and flavors, and to look for inspiration in everyday life. Thank you, Kettle Brand, for a fabulous experience!”

Pomegranate honey and rosemary- Pomegranate seeds brought a bright fresh sweet pop while the honey added additional sweetness. 

Lox pickled beet and chive- Lox brought a savory smoky flavor while the pickled beet added sweetness and acidity.

Radish and wasabi roe- Sliced radish brought a fresh crunch and the wasabi roe added unami and sharpness. 

KETTLE POTATO CHIP LATKES RECIPE 3 WAYS

Makes: 25

Kettle Chip Latkes:

8.5oz bag of Sea Salt Kettle Chips (any variety will do, feel free to experiment with different flavors)

2 1/2 cups shredded cheese (Monterrey jack, or cheddar)

Toppings:

Pomegranate latkes- sour cream, pomegranate seeds, honey, rosemary

Wasabi roe latkes- sour cream, sliced radish, wasabi roe (found at Asian markets), sea salt

Lox latkes- sour cream, lox, pickled beet, chives

1. Warm large frying pan on medium heat.
2. In a large ziplock bag crush one 8.5oz bag of Kettle chips with shredded cheese until uniformly combined, you can use your fist or rolling pin for this (dont make the mixture too fine, you still want to have little peices of the chips intact).
3. With your fingers sprinkle little mounds of mixture onto hot frying pan, flatten them out a bit and try to create little circles.
4. Make sure to place them at least 1 inch apart so they don’t touch.
5. Fry for a few minutes until the bottoms are golden brown, flip and fry the other side for an additional minute.
6. Place on paper towel and let cool for 5 minutes until they are stiff and crispy.
7. Top each with sour cream and various toppings, serve.
8. Get creative and use your own toppings if your feeling adventurous.
9. Recipe Development Note: If you want to create a neutral base for your toppings, regular sea salt chips work great! Feel free to experiment with a variety of Kettle chip flavors to create the perfect blend for you and your guests. We topped our potato chip latkes with sour cream and then various additional toppings.