One-Pot Potato Pasta
I know it seems like I always say this, but this is one of my kids’ favorite pasta dishes. The truth is, my kids really love pasta dishes. Maybe they should’ve been born in Italy—who knows 🙂 This dish can actually be prepared in many different ways. There are tons of recipes out there on various websites. The one I make most often is this version, for several reasons.
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First of all, because the entire dish can be made in a single pot, which is a big plus for me during our busy everyday life. On top of that, the result is perfect and incredibly delicious.
The History of Potato Pasta
This dish goes by many different names (like krumplis cvekedli, gránátos kocka, grenadirmars, or granadér mácsik), likely because it’s a traditional dish with a long history that’s known all over Hungary (even if under slightly different names).
Many people wonder what the word “grenade” (gránát) is doing in the name of a dish made from potatoes, pasta, onions, and paprika. The answer is—it actually does have military roots. Grenadírmars goes back to the 19th century, during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
After the Compromise of 1867, the monarchy established a three-part military force: alongside the Austrian Imperial-Royal Army and the Hungarian Royal Honvédség, a Joint Army was created as well. To feed the growing number of soldiers, they needed simple, budget-friendly meals rich in carbohydrates and energy. Potato pasta, which checked all those boxes, was a perfect solution.
The name comes from the grenadiers—or Grenadiere in German. The word Marsch means march, so Grenadiermarsch literally translates to “grenadiers’ march.”
One-Pot Potato Pasta
Equipment
- 1 Large pot
- 1 Sharp knife
Ingredients
- 1 kg Potatoes
- 500 gr pasta egg noodle
- 2 onions
- salt
- pepper
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tomato optional
- 1 bell pepper optional
- 150 gr bacon optional
Instructions
- Start by browning the chopped bacon in a large pot.
- Once it’s crispy, remove it and set it aside in a bowl to rest.
- In the remaining bacon fat, sauté the chopped onions until soft.
- When the onions are cooked, take the pot off the heat and stir in the paprika.
- Chop the tomatoes and bell pepper (if using), and add them to the onion base.
- Peel, wash, and dice the potatoes, then toss them into the pot as well.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add enough water to cover the potatoes and start cooking them.
- Once the potatoes are almost done, add a bit more water so everything is covered again, and stir in the pasta.
- After 4–5 minutes, mix in the bacon and cook until the pasta is fully done.
- Ready to serve!
Notes
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5-piece set includes:
- Chef’s Knife – 9-in. blade
- Santoku – 7-in. blade, hollow ground edge (grantons)
- Slicer – 8-in. blade
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- Storage Tray – 15 ½-in. L x 7 ½-in. W x 3-in. H