Best Right Every Time Roasties Recipes

CRISPY ROAST POTATOES RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220C/425F.
• Peel the potatoes and chop into chunky pieces a little bigger than a ping pong ball (approx 2 inches/5cm across).
• Place in a pan and cover with cold water. Place on the hob on a high heat and bring to the boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 8-9 minutes - until softened at the edges.* Tip 1
• Meanwhile, place the lard or (goose fat if using) in a large roasting tin and place in the oven to for 10 minutes until shimmering hot.
• Drain the potatoes in a colander *Tip 2, and give them a good shake to really roughen up the edges. Don't worry if a few break apart and they look overly fluffy. The more fluffy they are, the better they'll absorb the fat and the crispier they'll be.
• Carefully place the potatoes - using tongs - in the baking tin with the hot fat. Turn them over once to coat in the fat and then place in the oven.
• Cook for 30-35 minutes, turning once or twice in the last 15 minutes of cooking, until golden brown and crispy.
• Remove from the roasting tin and serve topped with a sprinkling of Maldon salt and some fresh thyme leaves.

REALLY EASY ROASTIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a large roasting tin in the oven. Cut any larger potatoes in half. Cover the potatoes in cold salted water, bring up to the boil and cook for 2 mins. Drain and steam-dry in a colander for 5 mins, then shake to ruffle up the outsides.
• Remove the roasting tin - be really careful as the oil will be hot. Tip in the potatoes and garlic (if using), and use a spoon to turn them so they are all coated in the oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper, and roast for 1 hr 45 mins, turning every 30 mins or so, until really crisp and golden.

PERFECT ROAST POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Peel the potatoes and cut in half; if very large, cut into quarters, or leave whole if they are small. Tip into a saucepan, cover with cold water, then bring to the boil. Set the timer and boil for exactly 2 mins. Drain the potatoes well, then toss in the colander to fluff up their surfaces, sprinkling over the flour as you go.
• Place a large, sturdy roasting tray over a fairly high heat, then tip in the fat and oil. When sizzling, lower in the potatoes carefully, then gently brown in the hot fat for about 5 mins so all the sides are covered with oil.
• Roast undisturbed for 20 mins, then remove from the oven and gently turn them over with a fish slice. Place the tray on the hob to heat the oil, then return to the oven and cook for another 20 mins. Turn again, putting the tray back on the hob to heat the oil. Give them a final 20 mins in the oven, by which time you should have perfect roast potatoes.

NEXT-LEVEL ROASTIES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and leave whole, or halve or quarter them if large - you want pieces that are roughly the size of a clementine. Tip them into a large pan of cold, salted water, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 7-8 mins until just cooked through - test with the tip of a knife. Drain the potatoes and leave to cool. Can be boiled up to two days ahead and kept chilled.
• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Pour 5 tbsp oil into a deep roasting tin to cover the base. Put the tin in the oven for 5 mins to heat up, then carefully add the potatoes and use a spatula to turn and coat in the hot oil. Put back in the oven and roast for 40 mins undisturbed.
• Remove the tin from the oven and turn the potatoes in the oil again, drizzling with more oil if the pan is dry. Return to the oven for 20 mins. Once the turkey is out and resting, remove the potatoes from the oven and turn the heat up to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Use a spatula or potato masher to slightly crush and flatten each potato, drizzle with a bit more oil, if needed, and roast for a final 20-30 mins until deep golden and crunchy on the outside and fluffy inside. Pile into a serving dish, sprinkle with a little sea salt and thyme, if you like, and serve.

REFRIED ROASTIES

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat, add the pickled onions and fry for 3-4 mins until they get nicely caramelised. Add the cayenne and thyme leaves, then tip the roasties into the pan along with another 1 tbsp oil. Use the back of a wooden spoon to squash each one slightly. Leave alone for 3-4 mins to fry and get extra crisp on one side, then give them a good toss.
• Add the remaining oil, toss and fry again for extra crispiness. Don't worry if they fall apart a little, the scuffed bits will get extra crisp. Season to taste and serve warm with your Christmas leftovers.

ULTIMATE ROAST POTATOES

Steps:

• Put a roasting tin in the oven (one big enough to take the potatoes in a single layer) and heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6.
• Peel 1kg potatoes and cut each into 4 even-sized pieces if they are medium size, 2-3 if smaller (5cm pieces).
• Drop the potatoes into a large pan and pour in enough water to barely cover them.
• Add salt, then wait for the water to boil. As soon as the water reaches a full rolling boil, lower the heat, put your timer on and simmer the potatoes uncovered, reasonably vigorously, for 2 mins.
• Meanwhile, put 100g duck or goose fat or 100ml olive oil into the hot roasting tin and heat it in the oven for a few mins, so it's really hot.
• Drain the potatoes in a colander then shake the colander back and forth a few times to fluff up the outsides.
• Sprinkle with 2 tsp flour and give another shake or two so they are evenly and thinly coated.
• Carefully put the potatoes into the hot fat - they will sizzle as they go in - then turn and roll them around so they are coated all over.
• Spread them in a single layer making sure they have plenty of room.
• Roast the potatoes for 15 mins, then take them out of the oven and turn them over.
• Roast for another 15 mins and turn them over again. Put them back in the oven for another 10-20 mins, or however long it takes to get them really golden and crisp. The colouring will be uneven, which is what you want.
• Scatter with Maldon salt and serve straight away.