English Roasted Potatoes Recipes

PERFECT TRADITIONALLY ENGLISH ROAST POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel and quarter potatoes.
• Place in a saucepan with water and a pinch of the salt.
• Bring to a boil and simmer them for 5-6 mins to slightly soften.
• Meanwhile preheat your oven to 400°F.
• When the potatoes have simmered drain them thoroughly in a colander shaking to roughen edges.
• Let sit for a few mins to dry.
• Pour just enough vegetable oil into a roasting pan (large enough to allow space around the potatoes) to cover bottom and heat in oven for a few minutes.
• Gently place potatoes into the hot oil and coat them with it evenly.
• Sprinkle the salt and pepper over the potatoes.
• Every so often baste the potatoes in the oil to prevent drying (try not to move potatoes).
• Turn potatoes once or twice (no more) halfway through (after 20 mins or so) to ensure even cooking.
• Cook for 30-60 mins until gold and crispy (observe closely once near end).

PROPER BRITISH ROAST POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 220°C (430°F).
• Place lard or oil in roasting tin and put in middle rack of oven.
• Boil Kettle.
• Peel potatoes.
• Chop into quarters (approx 4 cm cubes).
• Par Boil potatoes for 10 minutes with salt.
• Drain potatoes in a colander.
• Shake potatoes until edges are furry (approx 15 seconds).
• Remove roasting tin from oven.
• Carefully place potatoes into hot fat of roasting tin; WARNING, This step is requires caution as fat is at 220°C.
• Place roasting tin, with potatoes back in the oven and cook for 35-45 minutes depending on the size of your potato pieces.
• After 20 minutes turn the potatoes so browning occurs on a different side.
• Potatoes should be crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle.

ENGLISH ROAST POTATOES

Steps:

• First place a shallow solid-based roasting tray (16x12in, 40x30cm)with the fat in it on the highest shelf of the oven and preheat to gas mark 7, 425°F, 220°C. Thinly peel the potatoes using a potato peeler, then cut them into fairly even-sized pieces, leaving the small ones whole. Then place them in a saucepan, pour over boiling water from a kettle, just to cover, then add salt and simmer for about 10 minutes. After that lift one out with a skewer and see if the outer edge is fluffy. You can test this by running the point of the skewer along the surface - if it stays smooth, give it a few more minutes. Then drain off the water, reserving some for the gravy. Place the lid back on the saucepan, and, holding the lid on firmly with your hand protected by a cloth or oven glove, shake the saucepan vigorously up and down. This shaking roughens up the cooked edges of the potato and makes them floury and fluffy - this is the secret of the crunchy edges. Now, still using the oven glove to protect your hands, remove the hot roasting tray containing its sizzling fat and transfer to the direct heat (medium) on the hob. Then use a long-handled spoon and quickly lower the potatoes into the hot fat. When they are all in, tilt the tray and baste each one so it's completely coated with fat. Now place them back on the highest shelf of the oven and leave them unattended for 40-50 minutes or until they are golden brown. There's no need to turn them over at half-time - they will brown evenly by themselves. Sprinkle them with a little crushed salt before serving straight away; they lose their crunch if you keep them waiting. If they're ready before you are, turn the oven off and leave them inside.