Nothing is better than tucking into a roast dinner with roast potatoes cooked to perfection, and there is a simple way to make them even tastier.
The key to getting roast potatoes crispy and golden is to coat them in oil as it helps the outer crust quickly seal and brown while cooking to give roast potatoes their delicious texture.
Joanne Gallagher, a cook and co-founder of Inspired Taste, has shared it is important to use the right oil that will not burn or smoke when roasting at a high temperature.
She said: “Since we roast our potatoes at a pretty high temperature, I like using a high-heat oil. Avocado oil is my favourite for this recipe.”
Avocado has one of the highest smoke points of all cooking oils, which means that roast potatoes will crisp up beautifully without burning.
This oil also has a mild yet buttery taste that will complement roast potatoes without ruining their natural flavour.
However, if you do not want to use avocado oil then simply use an oil or animal fat which has a high smoke point and your potatoes will come out of the oven crispier and better.
Vegetable oil, sunflower oil and light olive oil also have high smoke points but you can also use duck fat, goose fat or beef tallow for more traditional roast potatoes.
How to make crispier roast potatoes
You will need:
- 600g of potatoes (Yukon Gold tend to be the best for making roast potatoes)
- 20ml of avocado oil (or another oil or animal fat of your choice)
- Half a teaspoon of smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper
- Herbs such as chopped chives or parsley (optional)
Recipe:
To begin, preheat the oven to 220C, then line a baking sheet with baking paper.
Cut the potatoes so they are all the same size, which should roughly be two or three-centimetre chunks.
Place the potatoes in a bowl along with the oil, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Toss the potatoes until they are fully coated.
Add the potatoes to the prepared baking sheet and place them in the oven. Cook the potatoes for 25 to 35 minutes.
Check on them 20 minutes into cooking and use a flat spatula to turn them over.
Once the roast potatoes are ready, scatter some fresh herbs on top to give them a flavour boost. Your potatoes will be golden and crispy and have the perfect crunch.
