CRUSTY BAKED (POTATO) SPUDS

Crusty baked (potato) spuds image

Provided by Ramona's Cuisine -

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 7

16 small salad potatoes or 12 medium ones (skin on)
2 tbps olive oil or melted coconut oil, or butter
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp italian herbs (mixed)
1/2 tsp sesame seeds
1 tsp sea salt crystals
pepper (freshly crushed) or cayenne pepper, to taste

Steps:

1. Preheat the oven at 190 C, 475 F, Gas Mark 5.
2. Place a pot with 1l water on medium to high heat. Add the salt and allow to boil.
3. Meanwhile wash the potatoes thoroughly and place in the pot when water is almost at boiling point.
4. Boil them for 5 min from boiling point.
5. While the potatoes are boiling, prepare an oven tray by laying a sheet of parchment paper and drizzling some olive oil.
6. When the potatoes have been boiling for 5 min, remove the pot from heat, pour out the water or remove the potatoes from water. Whatever you prefer and find easier.
7. Gently and carefully handle the spuds while they are still hot and this is the secret for a great taste and fab crispness. They should go in the oven while still pretty warm from boiling.
8. Place each potato on a chopping board and slightly squash with a potato masher. Apply pressure little by little until the potato flattens slightly.
9. Remove with a spatula and place nicely in the tray.
10. Drizzle a small amount of oil on each potato, sprinkle some coarse sea salt, a tiny pinch of dried herbs (my mix contains some sesame seeds too which is lovely ;-)), some black or cayenne pepper and place them in the oven.
11. Bake for 30 min and mid-time you can take the tray out of the oven, drizzle the spuds with a touch more oil, then place it back in.
12. Take the tray with the little crusties out of the oven as soon as they look beautifully golden brown.
13. Serve immediately and fully ENJOY those little splendours.