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This article was reviewed by Jennifer Levasseur. Chef Jennifer Levasseur is a Personal Chef and the Owner of The Happy Cuisiniere based in Breckenridge, Colorado. She has over 12 years of culinary experience and specializes in Mountain and Contemporary Rustic cuisine. Moreover, she can craft dishes and modify menus to accommodate dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and dairy-free diets. In addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management from the University of Houston, Chef Jennifer holds Associate’s degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts from Houston Community College.
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Small potatoes, sometimes called new potatoes, can be a tasty and convenient addition to family meals, potlucks, and dinner parties. Whether you’re using an oven or a microwave, you can quickly create a savory side dish out of small potatoes using nothing more than a little olive oil and some salt and pepper. By mixing in fresh or dried herbs, lemon juice, or garlic, you can even add a little extra flair to a culinary classic.
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg) small potatoes
- 2 tablespoons (30 mL) olive oil
- 0.5 teaspoons (2.5 mL) salt
- 0.5 teaspoons (2.5 mL) pepper
- 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) each of dried rosemary, sage, and/or oregano (optional)
- 0.5 teaspoons (2.5 mL) chili powder or ground cayenne (optional)
- 4 teaspoons (20 mL) fresh lemon juice (optional)
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) fresh mint or parsley (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic (optional)
Steps
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Wash the potatoes and cut them in half. Rinse your potatoes thoroughly with cold water. If the skins still seem dirty after rinsing, use a vegetable brush or wet dish towel to gently scrub them clean. Pat them dry with a clean towel before cutting them in half.[1] -
Mix the potatoes with olive oil in a large bowl. Fill a large mixing bowl with the clean, halved potatoes and pour in your 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of olive oil. Mix them thoroughly, making sure the potatoes are evenly coated with the oil.[2]Advertisement
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Sprinkle in the salt and pepper. Add at least 0.5 teaspoons (2.5 mL) of each, but add more if you like the taste. Stir the potatoes gently.
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Add dried rosemary, sage and/or oregano for a savory taste. These herbs go well with roasted potatoes. If you aren’t familiar with them, smell them before adding them to the bowl. Add at least 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of whichever herb you choose.
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Mix in some ground cayenne, chili powder, and/or chilis for a spicier dish. If you like your food a little hot, these spices will make great additions.
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Add garlic and/or lemon juice for extra flavor. If you’re a fan of garlic, consider adding some coarsely chopped garlic cloves to the mixture. If you want your potatoes to have a little savory tartness, add some lemon juice. Stir the potatoes well so that the flavors will be evenly dispersed.[3]
- You can use bottled lemon juice, but it will taste better if you squeeze it fresh. Just be sure to strain out the lemon seeds before adding the juice to your potatoes.
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Preheat the oven to 400 °F (204 °C). If your oven does not have a Preheat feature that alerts you when it reaches temperature, check to see if it has a thermometer inside that will indicate when it’s hot enough. Otherwise, put the potatoes in whenever they’re ready -- they may just take a little longer to roast.
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Spread the potatoes evenly in a 13 in × 9 in (33 cm × 23 cm) baking pan. Ideally, you should use a baking dish with raised sides, as it will make it easier to stir the potatoes without knocking them over the edge. However, a flat cookie sheet will work fine too -- just be careful when you stir them.
- It’s okay if your pan isn’t exactly 13 in × 9 in (33 cm × 23 cm), but make sure there’s enough room to spread your potatoes evenly on the bottom with some space between. This will keep them from getting over-steamed and soggy.[4]
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Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Put the pan in the middle of the oven rack where it can be evenly heated.
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Stir the potatoes gently in the pan. When the timer goes off, use an oven mitt or hot pad to take the pan out of the oven. Use a spatula to gently flip the potatoes so that they bake thoroughly on each side.[5] Be careful not to push them over the sides of the pan, and make sure they’re still evenly spread out.
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Bake the potatoes for another 20 minutes or until they’re soft. When the potatoes are done, you’ll be able to push a fork into one without any resistance.[6] The skins should also be slightly wrinkled and golden, and you should be able to smell them strongly.
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Let the potatoes cool for 5 minutes. Remove them from the oven, shut the oven off, and set the pan on a cooling rack. Let it sit for 5 minutes before moving them out of the pan.
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Put the potatoes in a serving dish and garnish them. You can coarsely chop some fresh parsley or mint and add it to the potatoes after they cool for some extra flavor.[7] You may also want to add a little extra olive oil if the potatoes seem dry.
Expert Q&A
Tips
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You can also bake small potatoes in the microwave. Cut and season them as you would if you were putting them in the oven, then spread them evenly in a microwave-safe dish and cover the dish loosely with a lid. Microwave them for 5 minutes, then in 2-minute increments until you can easily insert a fork into one of the potatoes. Stir them every time you check them.[8]Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.kitchentreaty.com/how-to-bake-perfect-baked-potatoes/
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/roasted-baby-potatoes-with-rosemary-recipe-1940709
- ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/lemon-roasted-potatoes
- ↑ https://www.rachelcooks.com/2015/11/09/how-to-make-crispy-roasted-potatoes/
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/garlic-roasted-potatoes-recipe-1913067
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-bake-a-potato-three-easy-methods-157073
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/garlic-roasted-potatoes-recipe-1913067
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-bake-a-potato-three-easy-methods-157073
About This Article
Before baking your small potatoes, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Next, season the potatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other herbs you like. Spread the potatoes evenly in a 13 by 9-inch baking pan and bake them for 20 minutes. Then, flip the potatoes and bake for another 20 minutes to ensure that they cook evenly on both sides. When the potatoes are done, you should be able to push a fork into them without any resistance. For more tips, including how to add spicy and tart flavors to your small potatoes, read on.
Reader Success Stories
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