That is a simple, 5-ingredient recipe for completely crispy vegan smashed potatoes. New potatoes are steam cooked till tender, then smashed with the underside of a glass or jar to realize a flattened form. The smashed potatoes might be seasoned merely after which oven-baked on a sheet pan till they’ve a splendidly crisp-tender texture. Snack on the potatoes as they’re, or drizzle or dip them utilizing your favourite sauce: both means, they’re irresistable!
I don’t make a variety of viral recipes. Often, by the point I notice {that a} recipe went viral, it isn’t viral anymore.
This previous April, nevertheless, in looking for enjoyable new preparation strategies for my favourite vegetable, I made sheet pan smashed broccoli florets.
It was love at first chew.
I don’t know which went viral first: smashed potatoes or smashed broccoli. What I do know is that the crispy smashed potatoes I’m sharing as we speak are one of the vital irresistable meals I’ve made in a very long time.
It’s unimaginable to not fall in love with these potatoes’ tremendous crispy edges, firm-yet-tender interiors, and salty, barely garlicky taste.
When you’ve been searching for a brand new method to take pleasure in potatoes, a aspect dish that everybody will love, or a contemporary savory snack so as to add to your rotation, this recipe is for you.
What does it imply to make smashed potatoes?
The potatoes on this recipe, identical to the broccoli florets that made me fall in love with smashed veggies, are cooked initially by way of steaming.
Then, you utilize the flat backside aspect of one thing—a glass, a mason jar, a measuring cup—to “smash” the potatoes on a sheet pan.
This flattens them, not into skinny pancakes, however into items which are about 1/2-inch / 1.3cm thick and about 2 or 3-inches (5-7.5cm) in diameter.
After smashing, you’ll season the potatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, switch them to the oven, and bake them.
The “why” behind this cooking methodology
Why undergo all of those steps? Texture and extra texture!
I’ve made loads of cubed and oven-roasted potatoes, however even these don’t supply as a lot cool texture distinction as smashed potatoes do.
There’s one thing actually distinctive about having all of that flat floor space for browning and crisping. Plus, I like how agency the potatoes are, all whereas retaining chewy facilities.
What sort of potatoes ought to I exploit for smashed potatoes?
I feel that cream-colored new potatoes, that are additionally generally known as child potatoes, work finest for smashing.
For one factor, they’re the proper form and dimension for becoming beneath the underside of a ingesting glass.
As well as, these cream or pale gold-colored potatoes have a splendidly creamy consistency.
It’s doable to search out red-skinned new potatoes, and so they have the same form, however I feel that their low starch content material makes them too grainy and crumbly for this preparation.
Listed here are a number of different varieties that you should utilize to make the smashed potatoes:
- Small Yukon gold potatoes
- Child purple potatoes (also referred to as Dutch Blue® Potatoes)
- Pale yellow fingerling potatoes
- Further small russet potatoes
How one can make crispy vegan smashed potatoes, step-by-step
The method of creating smashed potatoes takes somewhat time, however the steps are all enjoyable and uncomplicated.
Plus, I like this recipe’s simplicity: solely 5 components!
Step 1: Steam the potatoes
A pair years in the past I found that steaming potatoes, fairly than boiling them, was the important thing to tremendous flavorful, completely fluffy mashed potatoes.
Whereas boiling can water-log potatoes and get in the best way of their means to soak up taste, steaming preserves their lightness and locks of their taste.
I don’t assume I’ve boiled a single potato since having this realization, and equally, I select to steam my child potatoes earlier than smashing them.
You are able to do this in a steamer basket, fitted to your pot at house, or you should utilize considered one of these hacks. I’ve used a fine-mesh strainer, too, and it takes somewhat longer as a result of steam escaping from beneath a pot lid, however it works.
It ought to take you about Quarter-hour to steam the potatoes; once they’re prepared, you’ll be capable to pierce them simply with a fork.
Step 2: Smash the potatoes
After the potatoes end their steaming, make it possible for they’re dry, then organize them on a sheet pan with a number of inches of house between.
Now’s the enjoyable half: use the underside of a glass or mason jar or measuring cup to smash every potato!
Step 3: Season
You should utilize olive oil or avocado oil for getting ready the potatoes. I like to begin by drizzling some oil onto the parchment or foil that you just use to smash the potatoes on. Then, brush the remainder of it over the tops of the potatoes.
Season them generously with salt and freshly floor black pepper, plus some garlic powder.
Step 4: Roast
Switch the potatoes to a 400°F / 200°C oven and roast them for 35 minutes, or till the potatoes are very crispy and golden throughout.
You might have considered trying the smashed potatoes to be much more browned and crispy, wherein case you’ll be able to go away them in for a number of additional minutes.
Step 5: Serve
Lastly, you’ll be able to serve your smashed potatoes nevertheless you want!
I discover it unimaginable to not begin snacking on the potatoes as quickly as they’ve completed cooking. Like my favourite crispy roasted chickpeas, they’re the definition of moreish.
That stated, you can make the smashed potatoes somewhat fancier wanting and extra presentable as a aspect dish by arranging them over some greens.
Since I simply made and wrote about vegan honey mustard, I’ve had a variety of it available. I’ve discovered it enjoyable to layer the smashed potatoes over a mattress of crispy arugula and dollop the honey mustard sauce on high.
A number of different vegan sauces that will work very well for dipping or drizzling onto the potatoes:
Storage & reheating
After I first made the smashed potatoes, I wasn’t certain how properly they’d maintain up in leftover kind. A lot to my shock and delight, the leftover potatoes are nice!
To be trustworthy, I’ve eaten them chilly, proper out of the fridge, with no complaints. However in the event you’d wish to re-crisp them and heat them up, you’ll be able to both:
- Warmth them in a 350°F / 175°C oven for 10-Quarter-hour (until scorching and properly crisping once more)
- Air fry them at 375°F / 190°C for five minutes
Irrespective of the way you select to benefit from the potatoes that you’ve got left—and you might need to double the batch, as a result of they’ll get eaten shortly—a saved portion will preserve for as much as 4 days in an hermetic container within the fridge.
Yields: 4 servings
- 1 1/2 lb yellow new (child) potatoes (680g)
- 2 1/2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil
- Garlic powder
- salt
- freshly floor black pepper
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Add a number of inches of water to a pot and match it with a steamer insert. Carry the water to a boil and switch the warmth to medium low. Add the potatoes to the steaming basket and steam for Quarter-hour, or till they are often simply pierced with a fork.
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Whereas the potatoes are roasting, preheat the oven to 400°F / 200°C and line a baking sheet with parchment or foil. Brush the sheet evenly with a small portion of the oil, in order that it is coated throughout.
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Place a steamed child potato onto a baking sheet. Use the underside of a glass to “smash” the potato, in order that the pores and skin breaks and it turns into flattened. The flatter it’s, the extra crispy it should turn into; I like mine to be about 1/2-inch / 1.3cm thick. Repeat with the remaining potatoes.
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Brush all the smashed potato tops with the remaining oil. Season them with garlic powder, salt, and freshly floor black pepper.
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Switch the potatoes to the oven and roast for 35 minutes, or till the potatoes are golden throughout and properly crispy. Get pleasure from them as they’re, or serve them along with your favourite dipping sauce.
Potatoes are so humble and hearty and lovable. Simply once I assume I’ve tried all the cooking strategies, I discover a new one which I like.
Effectively behind the viral curve, and no worse off for it.
Get pleasure from!
xo
