15-06-2025
Bizarre spud ice cream invention by the 'Potato Queen' licks the rivals - and even wins Nigella over!
Potato ice cream topped with crispy bacon may not be everyone's idea of flavour of the month.
But with summer holidays just around the corner, one Michelin trained chef is hoping her earthy take on Britain's favourite seaside treat will be a smash hit.
Up and coming kitchen star Poppy O'Toole mashes oven baked Maris Pipers with condensed milk, whipped double cream and vanilla to make the unusual treat before topping it with crispy maple bacon strips and insisting: 'It works!'
Showing a cone of creamy ice cream to her 5.5million Instagram followers, Poppy asks: 'Can you believe this ice cream is made from potatoes?'
Poppy, 31, who was a recent guest on Saturday Kitchen Live, was asked to come up with a summer recipe after becoming brand ambassador for home delivery service Ocado.
'When they asked me to create a fun new summer recipe of course I had to combine my two favourite things together – potatoes and ice cream,' she said.
Poppy, who calls herself 'The Potato Queen' because of her love for the vegetable, added: 'People might know me for my roasties, but now it's time for potato-based desserts to enter the chat. Sounds a bit wild, I know, but trust me, it works. I love showing how everyday ingredients can surprise you.'
Poppy, of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, added: 'Maris Pipers give it that velvety, creamy texture while keeping the sweetness in check, and topped with a bit of maple bacon or potato sticks and you're in summery dessert heaven.'
The unusual ice cream clearly impressed TV cook Nigella Lawson who commented 'Fabulous' followed by a potato and crown emoji.
Savoury ice creams have gained popularity in recent years with goat's cheese and honey, stilton and pear, sweetcorn and black pepper among the more unusual offerings.
An Ocado spokesman said Poppy's recipe showed unusual flavour combinations can create 'bold, surprising takes on everyday classics'. It added: 'It's fun, unexpected, easy to make and delicious.'
