Description
Crispy parmesan smashed potatoes deliver a delightful crunch with golden edges and melted cheese. Perfectly seasoned and baked to perfection, these potatoes offer a simple yet irresistible side dish you’ll crave at every meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) baby red potatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Seasonings:
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Fats:
- 6 tablespoons (90 milliliters) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 teaspoon fresh chives, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Carefully lower whole potatoes into the boiling water and cook for approximately 15-17 minutes until they can be easily pierced with a fork.
- Drain potatoes using a slotted spoon, transferring them to a wide, flat serving dish while preserving roughly 1/2 cup of the hot cooking liquid.
- Immediately introduce butter to the warm potatoes, allowing it to melt and coat each potato.
- Gently press and crush potatoes using a fork or potato masher, creating a rustic, uneven texture.
- Gradually incorporate Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, stirring to distribute evenly throughout the potatoes.
- Slowly add reserved cooking water to achieve a creamy, slightly loose consistency, mixing carefully to prevent over-mashing.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, tasting and adjusting to personal preference.
- Garnish with finely chopped fresh chives for a burst of color and additional flavor.
- Serve hot, directly from the dish, ensuring the potatoes remain warm and inviting.
Notes
- Boil potatoes with skin on to retain nutrients and create a rustic texture that adds depth to the dish.
- Use starchy potatoes like Yukon Gold or Russet for the best creamy, fluffy result when smashing.
- Reserve cooking water as a secret weapon to control moisture and enhance the potato’s natural flavor without diluting the Parmesan’s richness.
- Experiment with alternative cheese options like pecorino or aged cheddar for different flavor profiles while maintaining the recipe’s core technique.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 295 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 343 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 43 mg