Often we prepare our potatoes with swiftness. One [step] and done. Baked or fried or boiled. Salt, pepper, butter or mustard or sour cream. Quick and ready to eat.
Consider a different, slower, more complex, but oh-so-good path. These potatoes are cooked twice: once in a simple boil and then roasted with oil you have flavored with herbs. Optionally, add some bacon and cheese. Maybe that’s mandatory, not optional.
The result? You will have a renewed respect for the not-so-humble potato. Pair with a good [and now expensive steak] and you have a meal worth its price.
The smashing part here is one to enlist family members in for help. Want to introduce your kids to the fine art of cooking? Give them a potato, a towel to cover the potato, and pan to flatten the potato. All those TV shows and video games they watch with violence in abundance? Give your kids some real world experience.
Herbed Crushed Potatoes
Yield: 4-5 servings of 2 potatoes each
Ingredients:
For the oil:
- 2 cups olive oil
- 1 head garlic
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 4 sprigs thyme
For the potatoes:
- 2 pounds red potatoes, scrubbed [medium to small size]
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ pound of thick cut bacon, cooked and crumbled [optional but a really good idea]
- 3 tablespoons grated parmesan [also optional but brilliantly wonderful]
- Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
- Parsely or chives for garnish
Preparation:
Preheat oven 450°F.
To make the flavored oil, separate the garlic cloves from the head clean and gently bruise. Place garlic in olive oil with rosemary and thyme and bring to a simmer.
Remove from the heat and let sit for 20 minutes.
For the potatoes, cook in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, 15 minutes.
Drain the potatoes, pat dry, place potato on dish towel and partially flatten (be careful to not completely crush) with hand or the back of a small pot. Place crushed potato on cookie sheet and brush liberally with flavored olive oil on both sides, season with salt and pepper.
Place in 450°F oven for 15 minutes and then turn potato over and bake for another 15 minutes, until lightly brown and crisp. Remove from oven.
Sprinkle with bacon, parmesan and parsley serve.
Source: Adapted from American Test Kitchen Television
Photo Information Canon T2i, EFS 60 mm Macro Lens, F/4.5 for 1/50th second at ISO‑800