Description

Safe to say that these crispy smashed potatoes are one of my favorite ways to eat potatoes. They’re buttery, crispy, crunchy, and packed with garlic and lemon.

Ingredients

Scale

2 lbs baby gold potatoes
¼ cup olive oil or a generous drizzle
5 garlic cloves, finely minced
2 lemons worth of zest
1 tsp kosher salt, use more as needed
1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Flaky salt and minced parsley for garnish

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Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add a generous amount of kosher salt. Add the potatoes into the pot and cook until soft, about 25-30 minutes. Medium-sized potatoes will take 10-15 minutes longer. Just make sure the potatoes are fork-tender before draining!
While the potatoes are cooking, preheat the oven to 450°F and move the oven rack to the top of the oven.
Once the potatoes are done, drain in a colander and let dry for 5-10 minutes. This will help excess water steam off and ensure the potatoes get ultra-crispy in the oven.
Dump the potatoes onto a large rimmed baking sheet and toss with the olive oil, garlic, and lemon zest. Using the bottom of a small glass or mason jar, press down on the potatoes to smash them into flat patties. The thinner the potato, the crisper. The thicker the potato, the more fluffy the insides. Season with the kosher salt and black pepper.
Bake until the tops of the potatoes are beginning to brown and crisp, about 25 minutes.
Garnish with flaky salt and minced parsley. Serve immediately!

Notes

I’ve used a variety of potatoes, and this recipe works great with all types. High-starch potatoes (ie. Russet potatoes) will be fluffier on these insights, whereas waxy potatoes (ie. red potatoes) are more creamy on the inside. Additionally, you can use small or medium-sized potatoes. Smaller potatoes will come out crispier, whereas larger potatoes will have the same crispies but more fluffy insides. My favorite potato variety to use for this recipe is baby gold Yukon potatoes; they’re small and turn out super crispy. Plus the flavor and texture of this variety are phenomenal!