Roasted Potatoes - Simple And Adaptable

Roasted potatoes. Simple, dependable, and so comforting. There's a reason these little gems are such a common side dish. Change up the spices to best accompany the flavour of your main dish and you have an easy crowd-pleaser!

These roasted potatoes are:

Simple
Crispy On The Outside
Soft On The Inside
Filling
Delightfully Inexpensive
And Full Of Home-Cooked Warmth

Most recipes for roasted potatoes call for 20-30 minutes cooking time. Although I find the potatoes to be cooked by that time, I nearly always leave mine in for 40-45 minutes to get really crispy.

The time it takes to get a nice brown crispiness can vary depending on the type of potato you're using so check them after 20 minutes, give them a flip, and leave them in longer if desired. Check them every 5 or 10 minutes and give them a stir to encourage even browning.

Best Potato For Roasting

We usually buy yellow flesh potatoes or Yukon Gold. As it happens, the general consensus seems to be that these are the best for roasting. They're:

Consistent in Size
Have Thin Skins
And Medium Starchiness

Making for a balanced potato that will yield tasty results whether being boiled, mashed, fried, or roasted.

For an in-depth analysis on the differences between potato varieties and how best to roast them, check out this Serious Eats blog!

What Spices Are Best

This is what makes these little crispy wonders so dependable. They are easily adaptable to best accompany your main dish. Just change up the spices you sprinkle on them and they will be infused with whatever flavour you choose.

• Try a basic salt and pepper
• Italian seasoned: basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme
• Curry spiced: curry powder, cumin, turmeric
• Spicy and smoky: smoked paprika or chilli powder and cayenne
• Even toss them with some sesame seeds for a great burger side

Using Fresh Herbs

Absolutely! Make these super pretty with some fresh herbs like parsley and thyme and add some freshly minced garlic.

But!

Consider adding these in the last 15 minutes or so of roasting OR cook them separately on the stove-top in a bit of oil and toss them on your finished potatoes. Roasting them from the start with your potatoes will likely result in burnt garlic and herbs.

Serving Suggestions

We most often make these as breakfast potatoes! We serve them up on the side of scrambled tofu or as a base for this loaded breakfast bowl.

Tossed with sesame seeds is our preference for serving up with burgers.

And Italian seasonings are likely our go-to for accompanying holiday meals.

Roasting Without Oil

You can certainly make these without oil.

They make take a little longer to cook and not get as crispy so I would probably boil them first for about 5 minutes until the insides are soft. Then roast them for 20-30 minutes. This should help ensure the insides are cooked and the skins get nicely browned.

Recipe Cost

For 6 cups of roasted potatoes as this recipe is written, our cost is approximately: CAD $1.55. With potatoes abundant every month of the year in Ontario, they are often on sale and priced quite affordably.

We have found that if we buy them individually, as opposed to in a 5 or 10 pound bag they will be priced higher. As there's only two of us, sometimes we'll just grab a handful from the bulk produce but, if serving these for guests, a 5 lb bag is our go-to.

• If you like these and are looking for a crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside baked potato... jump over to our Simple Baked Potato recipe.

Let us know in the comments below if you give these simple and adaptable roasted potatoes a try. And make sure to tell us how you season them!

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