A smashed potatoes recipe featuring baby gold potatoes (or red potatoes) smashed and smeared with a garlic-Parmesan butter, then roasted to crispy perfection.
WILL WORK FOR ROASTED SMASHED POTATOES
As a mom who likes to eat, I am constantly on the hunt for fun side dish ideas to keep things fresh and fun for the family…well, and also for myself. Cause really, if we’re the ones investing the time to cook it, don’t ya think we deserve a little reward at the end? For me, the best rewards come in the form of carbs, gift cards are nice too, I guess, but carbs are much easier to obtain around this place. These days, I’m currently accepting payment for dinnertime efforts in the form of Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Smashed Potatoes.
I had a vague idea as to how a smashed potatoes recipe worked, and after a little research, I was more than confident that any one of us moms could slam out a batch of roasted smashed potatoes regardless of our kitchen skillset. So, if this is a side dish that has ever bothered to intimidate you, rest assured. You got this.
HOW A SMASHED POTATOES RECIPE WORKS
THE SIZE OF THE POTATO
Smashed potatoes begin with small potatoes. Have you ever noticed the letters on bags of potatoes? This indicates the size of the potatoes; “A” being about 2 1/2″ in diameter and “C” being less than 1 1/2″ in diameter. For this smashed potatoes recipe, we’ll actually be using a potato called Baby Dutch Yellow Potatoes, these are about 3/4″ in diameter and you can find them along with the other potatoes at your grocery store. However, if you can’t find them size “C” red potatoes would also be completely sufficient.
You just don’t want to go too large in size, as the circumference of each potato will almost double after smashing, not to mention to the smaller potatoes tend to round out nicely when smashed. Actually, I guess I did mention it, huh? Moving on.
THE TYPE OF POTATO USED FOR ROASTED SMASHED POTATOES
One of most alluring things about smashed potatoes is their creamy center. Potatoes with exceedingly creamy interiors are within both the gold/yellow potato family and the red potato family.
HOW TO START YOUR SMASHED POTATOES RECIPE
Listen, I was seriously irritated about this step, but you can’t make smashed potatoes without boiling them first. The good thing is, boiling water and potatoes is pretty stink’n easy. The waiting is the hardest part.
BOIL THE POTATOES
You’ll boil your potatoes for about 20 minutes, just until fork tender, and drain them from the water. Now, it’s time to release some aggressions…almost.
MAKE THE GARLIC-PARMESAN SPREAD
This is not your average smashed potatoes recipe. This is a garlic-Parmesan roasted smashed potato recipe. The garlic-Parmesan comes in the form of a quick and easy garlic butter. To make the garlic butter, similar to a homemade garlic bread spread, you’ll begin with a combination of oil and butter. Butter for flavor, oil to keep them from burning. Then, in goes the freshly minced garlic, the fresh parsley (optional, but definitely a nice touch), grated Parmesan cheese, a little salt and a hit of black pepper. Now, I don’t want to alarm you or anything, but my friend, you’ve just made a compound butter…and it was super easy.
SMASH SOME POTATOES
Wait, wait, wait. Hold up. Sorry guys. Promise we’re gonna get there, but just one more thing first. Let’s go ahead and drizzle those potatoes with a touch of oil, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper and give ’em a little toss before we smash them. This way, we’ve got a protective oil coating, not only helping the potatoes to keep from burning, but adding a nice crispy touch the bottom side, and all-around flavor. Literally. On to the smashing…
Y’all ready to smash some potatoes, or what? I’ll bet you are. Place your potatoes on a work surface or a rimmed sheet pan lined with aluminum foil, and ready your smasher. You could use a rolling pin, a fork, the bottom of a cup (not glass), or my favorite, the meat tenderizer. The tenderizer makes all these wonderful dimples and crevices in the potatoes and allows that garlic-Parmesan spread to seep on in.
SMASH ONLY WITH SEMI-AGGRESSION
When it comes to smashing the potatoes, try not to take out too much aggression. You want to just barely tap them to flatten them out. No need to send spuds flying all over the kitchen…unless it’s just been that kind of day. To keep the potatoes nice and circular, I encompass them in a little “OK” gesture with my fingers and tap with the tenderizer until just right.
After the potatoes are transformed into smashed potatoes, it’s time to give ’em a good smear with that delectable garlic-Parmesan spread, and it’s on to roasting.
ROAST THE SMASHED POTATOES
Notice I didn’t say bake the smashed potatoes? No, I said roast. For two reasons, the first being we are going to be sure to leave space between each potato. This will allow heat/air to circulate not only over the potatoes but around them as well. In Layman’s terms, we are seriously increasing the crispy factor here, folks. Secondly, we are cooking these bad boys at 400°. Remember that protective oil spiel I was given earlier? This is precisely where that comes in.
LITTLE BITES OF GLUTEN-FREE HEAVEN
After first bite, it was clear to me why this whole smashed potato recipe fad took off, and has only kept on flying since. This potato side dish is like little bites of garlic bread heaven, only creamier and without the gluten…not that I have anything against gluten. So even though there’s that annoying “boil before you smash” aspect to the recipe, there is most definitely a reward at the end of the tunnel, and one that is absolutely worth your time. Please, enjoy.
A smashed potato recipe featuring baby gold potatoes (or red potatoes) smashed and smeared with a garlic-Parmesan butter, then roasted to crispy perfection.
- 3 pounds Yukon Gold Baby Potatoes or size "C" Red Potatoes, rinsed
- 3 1/2 tabespoon canola oil separated
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt separated
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper separated
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic minced
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Preheat the oven to 400° and have ready two rimmed sheet pans lined with nonstick aluminum foil. Set aside until ready to use.
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Add the rinsed potatoes to a large pot and fill 2/3's of the way full with water. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Boil for about 20 minutes or until fork tender.
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Drain the potatoes in a colander in the sink, and rinse with cool running water until no longer steaming.
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Pat the potatoes dry with a clean dish towel and transfer to a sheet pan. Drizzle the potatoes with 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, and a 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Toss to combine, then, transfer half of the potatoes to the second sheet pan.
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Apply gentle pressure to each potato to smash down. See notes if needed.
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Combine butter, 2 tablespoons canola oil, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Alternatively (for a smoother spread) add the ingredients into a miniature food processor and process until well combined.
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Spread a scant 1/2 teaspoon worth of garlic-Parmesan spread across the surface of each potato, and bake for 25-30 minutes (or until crisp and golden brown), swapping out the placement of the sheet pans about halfway through the cooking process.
NOTES FOR SMASHING POTATOES:
Use either a meat tenderizer, a fork, or the flat bottom of cup (not glass) to smash the potatoes. To keep the potatoes in a round shape, make the "OK" gesture with your fingers and tap carefully with the tenderizer until just right.
More information on the size of potatoes can be found at the NNPGA website.
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