Best Perfect Crispy Potatoes Recipe Courtesy Melissa Darabian Recipes

PERFECT CRISPY POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the potato cubes and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Saute stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Turn the heat up to high, add the water, stir, and cover the pan with a lid. Steam the potatoes until the water evaporates, about 3 or 4 more minutes. (Every 1 to 2 minutes, open the lid long enough to stir the potatoes so they don't stick.) Lower the heat to medium, and saute another 1 to 2 minutes until all traces of water are gone. Toss in the butter and stir to coat the potatoes. Spread the potatoes out on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven until the potatoes are crisp and browned to your liking, about 15 to 25 minutes depending on how dark you want them. Transfer the potatoes to a serving bowl and serve.

PERFECT CRISPY POTATOES (RECIPE COURTESY MELISSA D'ARABIAN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the potato cubes and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Saute stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Turn the heat up to high, add the water, stir, and cover the pan with a lid. Steam the potatoes until the water evaporates, about 3 or 4 more minutes. (Every 1 to 2 minutes, open the lid long enough to stir the potatoes so they don't stick.) Lower the heat to medium, and saute another 1 to 2 minutes until all traces of water are gone. Toss in the butter and stir to coat the potatoes. Spread the potatoes out on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven until the potatoes are crisp and browned to your liking, about 15 to 25 minutes depending on how dark you want them. Transfer the potatoes to a serving bowl and serve.

MOUSSAKA

Steps:

• For the vegetables: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cook the potato slices for 5 minutes (do not cook longer) in heavily salted, boiling water. Meanwhile, slice the eggplant into 1/4-inch slices, brush with the olive oil and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoons salt and the pepper on both sides. Place on a baking sheet and cook in the oven, 6 to 7 minutes per side. Set aside the potato and eggplant slices for assembly.
• For the meat sauce: In a large saucepan, sweat the onions with some salt in the olive oil over medium heat. After 5 minutes, add the ground beef and cook until golden brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the oregano, cinnamon, nutmeg and garlic, and cook until fragrant. Turn the heat up to high, and then deglaze the pan with the red wine, allowing to bubble and reduce for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and lower the heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and set aside.
• For the bechamel: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and add the flour, whisking to make a paste. Whisk constantly for 2 minutes, allowing the mixture to bubble. Add the warm milk slowly, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Once the sauce starts to come to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cook until thickened, about 10 minutes, whisking very frequently. Add the salt, pepper and nutmeg, and set aside.
• For assembling the moussaka: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Before assembling, taste each of the 4 layers and confirm that they are properly seasoned. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with vegetable oil. Lay out the potato slices, pressing gently into the pan. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of the Parmesan. Place the eggplant on top of the potatoes. Sprinkle with another 3 tablespoons of the Parmesan. Spoon the meat sauce on top, followed by 3 more tablespoons of Parmesan. Finish with pouring over the bechamel and top with the last 3 tablespoons of Parmesan. Cover with foil (sprayed lightly with vegetable oil) and bake for 30 minutes, then uncover and continue baking for an additional 30 minutes.

MY SUPER FAST CRISPY POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven on Broil.
• Scrub potato, do not peel. Pierce a few times with fork.
• Microwave on high for 4-6 minutes until just tender. This greatly depends on your microwave and the size of the potato so you may want to check at least the first time you do this.
• Let cool enough so you can touch it and slice about 1/4-1/2 inch thick.
• Line cookie sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.
• Lay out potato slices and sprinkle liberally with the suggested spices. I find that this mix works best.
• Place under broiler for about 5 minutes or until the skin is crispy and tops are getting brown.

FISH PICCATA- EASY AND ECONOMICAL

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium high heat. While the pan is heating, blot the fish dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Dredge in the flour, shaking off any excess.
• Saute the fish in the olive oil until just cooked through, about 4 minutes, turning over halfway through. Remove the fish to a platter.
• Deglaze the pan with the white wine, whisking for about 1 minute. Add the lemon juice and capers and stir. Add the butter and stir or whisk to incorporate to bring the sauce together.
• Pour onto the fish and garnish with the chopped parsley. Enjoy!

INDIVIDUAL POTATO GRATINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Spray 8 muffin tins with vegetable spray. Layer potato slices, cheese, and onions into each muffin cup. Season with salt and pepper and top each gratin with 1 or 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Cover with foil and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, removing the foil halfway through cooking time. Invert gratins onto plate and serve.

CAFE GREEN SALAD BY MELISSA D'ARABIAN

Steps:

• Rub the inside of a large wooden bowl with the garlic clove and then either discard it or save it for another use.
• Put the mustard in the bowl and whisk in the balsamic vinegar and soy sauce (a French secret!) vigorously for about 10 seconds to get a creamy consistency.
• Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Drizzle in the olive oil as slowly as possible with 1 hand while whisking as quickly as possible with the other hand to emulsify.
• Lay the salad greens on top of the dressing and toss just before serving.

5-MINUTE INDIVIDUAL POTATO GRATINS BY MELISSA D'ARABIAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Spray 8 muffin tins with vegetable spray.
• Layer potato slices, cheese, and onions into each muffin cup.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Top each gratin with 1 or 2 tablespoons of heavy cream.
• Cover with foil.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, removing the foil halfway through cooking time. Invert gratins onto plate and serve.

CRISPY POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• In a nonstick 10-inch saute pan, heat the vegetable oil and butter over medium heat. Press grated potato into pan. Season with salt and pepper. Let cook undisturbed until crisp on bottom, 8 to 10 minutes. Gently flip onto a plate and then slide other side into pan to cook. Salt and pepper second side. Cook another 5 to 10 minutes, until potato cake is cooked through and nicely browned. Cut into wedges, sprinkle with parsley and serve.

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, cut in half, and place in a pan, then cover with cold salted water. Bring to a boil and continue cooking until the potatoes fall off the fork when pierced, about 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes. Gently press the potatoes through a sieve (or potato ricer) into a large bowl, using a rubber spatula.
• Mix in the butter, milk, sour cream, salt and pepper and stir to blend. Add a tablespoon or 2 more of warm milk, if necessary to obtain the desired consistency. Salt and pepper liberally and serve.