That is a straightforward, 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 will 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 manner, they’re irresistable!
I don’t make loads 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 do not know which went viral first: smashed potatoes or smashed broccoli. What I do know is that the crispy smashed potatoes I’m sharing at the moment are probably the most 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.
Should you’ve been in search of a brand new option to take pleasure in potatoes, a aspect dish that everybody will love, or a recent 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 via steaming.
Then, you employ 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 take advantage of for smashed potatoes?
I feel that cream-colored new potatoes, that are additionally typically referred to as child potatoes, work greatest for smashing.
For one factor, they’re the proper form and dimension for becoming underneath the underside of a consuming glass.
As well as, these cream or pale gold-colored potatoes have a splendidly creamy consistency.
It’s attainable to search out red-skinned new potatoes, they usually have an identical form, however I feel that their low starch content material makes them too grainy and crumbly for this preparation.
Listed below are just a few different varieties that you should utilize to make the smashed potatoes:
- Small Yukon gold potatoes
- Child purple potatoes (also called Dutch Blue® Potatoes)
- Pale yellow fingerling potatoes
- Additional small russet potatoes
Easy methods to make crispy vegan smashed potatoes, step-by-step
The method of creating smashed potatoes takes just a little time, however the steps are all enjoyable and uncomplicated.
Plus, I like this recipe’s simplicity: solely 5 elements!
Step 1: Steam the potatoes
A pair years in the past I found that steaming potatoes, somewhat than boiling them, was the important thing to tremendous flavorful, completely fluffy mashed potatoes.
Whereas boiling can water-log potatoes and get in the way in which of their capability 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 residence, or you should utilize certainly one of these hacks. I’ve used a fine-mesh strainer, too, and it takes just a little longer on account of steam escaping from underneath 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 of pierce them simply with a fork.
Step 2: Smash the potatoes
After the potatoes end their steaming, ensure that they’re dry, then prepare them on a sheet pan with just a few inches of area 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 start out by drizzling some oil onto the parchment or foil that you simply 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.
It’s your decision the smashed potatoes to be much more browned and crispy, during which case you may depart them in for just a few further minutes.
Step 5: Serve
Lastly, you may 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 possibly can make the smashed potatoes just a little 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 loads of it readily available. I’ve discovered it enjoyable to layer the smashed potatoes over a mattress of crispy arugula and dollop the honey mustard sauce on prime.
A couple of different vegan sauces that may work very well for dipping or drizzling onto the potatoes:
Storage & reheating
After I first made the smashed potatoes, I wasn’t positive how properly they’d maintain up in leftover kind. A lot to my shock and delight, the leftover potatoes are nice!
To be sincere, I’ve eaten them chilly, proper out of the fridge, with no complaints. However for those who’d wish to re-crisp them and heat them up, you may both:
- Warmth them in a 350°F / 175°C oven for 10-Quarter-hour (until sizzling 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 it’s possible you’ll wish to double the batch, as a result of they’ll get eaten shortly—a saved portion will hold 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 just a few inches of water to a pot and match it with a steamer insert. Convey 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 calmly 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’ll change 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. Take pleasure in them as they’re, or serve them together with your favourite dipping sauce.
Potatoes are so humble and hearty and lovable. Simply after I assume I’ve tried all the cooking strategies, I discover a new one which I like.
Properly behind the viral curve, and no worse off for it.
Take pleasure in!
xo
