My love of french fries is vast and well–documented — preferably in a golden, crisp and glittering-with-fine-salt heap with some aioli, an artichoke or oysters and ice-cold, very dry champagne, outside at a bustling cafe in a life that seems a bit distant right now — so I hope you will take this statement with the utmost gravitas when I say that these crispy potatoes are as good as, if not better, than fries.
I first had a version of them at Barbuto restaurant (of the chocolate budino and kale salad fame) nearly eight years ago, and I’ve watched cooks making them in the open kitchen dozens of times since. Cold, boiled potatoes are crumbled directly into a fryer in irregular chunks and not taken out until they’re a deep golden brown. Once drained they’re tossed in a big metal bowl with salt, a lot of pecorino, and a few sprigs of fried rosemary. They are perfect, absolutely perfect.
I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to do two annoying things to make them at home: you’ll have to cook and fully chill the potatoes for several hours or overnight before you can finish them, and you’re going to have to deep-fry. There isn’t another way around either. That’s why it’s taken me all of these years to share the recipe because, eh, who wants to bother? I mean, not even me, not when I can could* order them at some of my favorite restaurants. The potatoes will be too loose and floury and not crumble into nice chunks unless they’re fully cold. And yes, I’ve tried to roast them instead and it’s just not the same, not even close — the smaller pieces and corners turn black before the angles of the chunks get any color on them. Plus, they always seem oily in a way that the deep-fried nuggets are not. It’s the even toasty color and perfect crisp on every craggy, erratic angle that makes these transcendent.
From here, you can Barbuto them (pecorino, rosemary), you can MeMe’s Diner them (finish them little drizzle of shallot oil, I presume leftover from crisping shallots), you could patatas bravas them (smoked paprika, aioli, and a spicy tomato sauce), or you can just salt them and not feel, however briefly, that you’re missing out on a single, blissful thing.
* Both Barbuto is currently closed and MeMe’s Diner, unfortunately, permanently closed. It’s been a heartbreaking year for restaurants. I wish I could list and support every restaurant I love, but it would be all of them. Here are a few more places you can donate, should you be able.
Previously
Six months ago: Chicken Curry
One year ago: Cannellini Aglio e Olio
Two years ago: Asparagus and Egg Salad with Walnuts and Mint
Three years ago: Almond Horn Cookies
Four years ago: Eggs-in-Purgatory, Puttanesca-Style and Spring Chicken Salad Toasts
Five years ago: Carrot Graham Layer Cake and Wild Mushroom Pate
Six years ago: Three Bean Chili
Seven years ago: Lentil and Chickpea Salad with Feta and Tahini
Eight years ago: Raspberry Coconut Macaroons
Nine years ago: Spaetzle
Ten years ago: Bakewell Tart and Romesco Potatoes
Eleven years ago: Chewy Amaretti Cookies
Twelve years ago: Shaker Lemon Pie
Thirteen years ago: Mixed Berry Pavlova
Crispy, Crumbled Potatoes
- 4 medium/large Russet potatoes
- Kosher salt
- 2 cups vegetable or peanut oil
- Finishes of your choice (see suggestions in post)
Crumble and fry your potatoes: Once potatoes are fully cool in the center (you can check by inserting a skewer or toothpick and holding it there for a few seconds; if it feels cold to the touch when you remove it, the potato is chilled inside), heat oil in a 9-inch heavy frying pan to 350 degrees F. You could use a bigger one and it will go faster, but you’ll need more oil.
Line a tray with paper towels or a torn paper bag to blot oil. Messily crumble and tear potatoes with your hands into large and small chunks, including the skin. Add 1/3 to 1/2 of the potatoes to the oil at a time. Let them fry for 8 to 10 minutes, turning pieces over as they brown underneath, until pieces are a deep golden brown all over — don’t compromise on the color. Remove with a slotted spoon, shake excess oil back into pan, and drain on towels, showering immediately with salt. Repeat with remaining potatoes. Eat immediately.
Rewarm potatoes: In a 350 degree oven on a big tray.
Just what I needed today while sheltering in place…a sort of recipe that only can usually be purchased in a restaurant (impossible!) but now at home. Yay!
Looks so incredibly tasty. Thank you and stay safe and well. Can’t do without your blog! It does bring a bit of joy into my life! So thank you for all you do!
GO AWAY SPAMMER!!
Right! I am so sick of these spam Fools!
I love the s.k. recipes, but wish there was a way to flag junky comments like this & have the comment just go *POOF!* after it got multiple flags. Dreaming a little dream . . . ;-)
Lol im very confused and amused by this thread because the original comment this is threading on doesn’t appear to be spam. Something must have changed..
Do you think that an air fryer would work reasonably well instead of deep frying?
Possibly! Please report back. (I do not have one.)
I’ll try this today and see if there’s crispy potatoes on Sunday.
Oh yes, please report back! Because I was just about to ask the same question.
So, did anyone air fry these? I was just thinking the same thing. Deep frying doesn’t happen over here… Lazy sigh.
Please go away – Spammer
Is that how they do it?! I always wondered how they get craggy crispy potatoes with soft fluffy centers!
Deb, do you not ~hide~ a photo of one or both of your children in posts anymore? That was my favorite part! Clicking the italics to see the kids…
Sometimes, not always. They both showed up for a Live cooking demo last week, if you miss their faces. Also, I think we might do one tomorrow afternoon!
How will we know????
They are adorable and I’d love to see them again!
Deb!! They are yummy little dumplings. Love to see them all grown up. Your videos are the best. Make more! Thank you for all you do for us. I’ve been making all of your recipes. That surprise button gives me life, I tell ya. This week we had the white beans with rosemary oil (we are lucky to have some herbs growing) and the apple cider caramel. My husband and kids are grateful benefactors! All the best from our family to yours.
Have your tried these : https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2016/12/the-best-roast-potatoes-ever-recipe.html
Seriously crispy and delicious. No frying but definitely some planning involved
No, but FWIW, these potatoes absorbed 5T oil from frying.
This is my favorite potato recipe, I’ve made them a million times and made them last night. Before I started reading Deb’s post I assumed that was the recipe she used. But, I’m excited to try Deb’s recipe too, it seems like a similar effect with different methods.
Must the potatoes be boiled or would cold baked potatoes work?
I was wondering about cold baked potatoes, too! Let us know if you try it!
I was wondering about pressure cooking potatoes whole.
I just used cold baked potatoes and it worked really well- my family loved them! Thanks Deb!
I used baked potatoes and they were delicious.
My brain fumbled with this for a little too long trying to figure out how one might “cold bake” a potato. Like cold brewing coffee? lol.
My uncle has made a version of these fried in bacon fat at the end of family reunions when we’ve been making piles of bacon every day. They are absolutely transcendent. And now I’m stuck at home with a 10 lb bag or russets and a big bottle of vegetable oil. I usually avoid deep frying at all costs but I may need these.
Hi Deb – great recipe! Right in time for my patata bravas craving! I made the lazy girl version of this – washed and cut potatoes (keeping the peel on), wiped water away with paper towels, did a shallow fry (because I’m afraid of deep frying). I twice fried the potatoes to make them extra crispy (since I didnt let them rest overnight). Made brava sauce with 1.5 cups mayo + 1 tbsp sweet paprika (not smoked – dont like the flavor) + 1 tbsp tomato paste + 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar. Delicious :)
How would this work with sweet potatoes?
I wouldn’t do it, because they’re on the waxy side too. Save them for something else delicious. One of our favorite lunches right now is my slow-roasted sweet potatoes.
Oh no, bought a bunch of Yukon Golds in preparation to make your french fries and was going to switch to this for breakfast, but not anymore! Guess I will just have to make the french fries 🤷♀️😁
I was going to make your potato kugel to go with my braised brisket this weekend, but now I am leaning towards this…esp because I am limited to one oven. Do you think it would be an okay switch? Really hoping to put together a lovey – albeit isolated – Easter.
Hi Deb! I only have Yukon Gold on hand – are they worth a shot or should I wait until I can procure some russet potatoes?
Wait for russets. Use the yukon gold for something else — they’re my favorite for these Melting Potatoes and these Easiest French Fries.
I’m confused by this because the Easiest French Fries recipe says Yukon gold? I live in Idaho, so I always have a 20lb bag of russets on hand, but have to make an effort to use something else. We are making the crumbled potatoes tonight with steaks. Can’t wait!
Different recipe, technique — different ingredient needs. To crumble the potatoes, you need a more floury one (here, Russets). To cook French fries from cold oil a single time, you want a waxier potato (Yukon golds or the equivalent).
How do you dispose of the oil? In the trash?
You can strain and reuse it. It can be frozen too for longer-term storage. Don’t pour it down the drain, of course. Once cool, you can also pour it back in the bottle it came in and seal it for easy disposal (although it’s then not to go in recycling).
Freezing the oil! That’s smart. I was coming here to ask about logistics with that oil, the main thing that stops me from deep frying. The other was the fried smell, but I found that boiling a little pot of white vinegar with a cinnamon stick or two will take the odor right out after a frying session.
Could this be the solution for “Latka house? If so, I will sing your praises!
I really needed this. Potatoes are simmering now for tomorrow’s dinner!
Another recipe to help me use the 15 pounds of potatoes(all of the same variety) I somehow ended up with! There’s still brown butter mashed and potato kugel in 5e fridge, but once I’m no longer sick of potatoes these are first on my to make list.
These look amazing!
One tip for deliciousness with crispy potatoes mix mayo with chili crunch for a dip – umami lil heat salt fat amazingness
My mom was preparing potatoes like this since I was very young and I am now very old…70ish!😊I absolutely loved them! Thanks for bringing them back.
Hey Deb, do you think about 3-4 hours of refrigeration would be enough? Thanks!
4 hours should do it. Depends on size and thickness of potatoes. I put them right on the fridge shelf (ours are racks) for max air circulation.
Ok, I’m salivating! These are going on the meal planner shopping list for when I can face going to the supermarket again. Any suggestions from you or your readers as to what I could serve with this to make dinner. I’m omnivorous, so open to all ideas. Cheers from New Zealand, karen
I’d probably do a meat (pork chops? roast chicken?) and a veg. You could do baked butternut squash, or broccoli, or a green salad.
You could also make a quick tomato salsa, fry a couple eggs, and make a stack of potatoes, then salsa, then eggs, then a crumbly cheese like feta. Mmm :)
I think these would be an amazing base for nachos toppings or chili and cheese.
Thank you Deb! These are fantastic. Didn’t hesitate to boil some potatoes when I first saw this and just finished eating some! The hubs said do again!
Would avocado oil work instead of vegetable oil? Thanks. These look amazing!
I think avocado oil has too low a smoke point (the temperature when the oil starts to burn). You can check different oils by Googling “[name of oil] smoke point.”
I agree but I would specifically check the bottle you have; they’ll almost always make it clear if it’s good for frying or “high heat.”
I, being a bad descendant of strong Irishwomen who would have never gotten themselves into this predicament, did not buy enough normal potatoes for this self-isolation situation. But I do have 5 sweet potatoes hanging out, waiting for the right recipe to come along. Do you think this would work decently with sweet potatoes? I’d probably skip the cheese and serve with aoli.
I wouldn’t make these with sweet potatoes; I’d save them to make another sweet potato recipe on this site. (This is a favorite.)
Crazy I’m giving away $100 walmart gift cards 🤑 enter to win on the site 🔥🔥 https://bit.ly/2JVfGlx
You’re spam – get off the site!
These look amazing, I seem to be missing a step in the recipe or just missed it.
When you say crumble your potatoes can you clarify?
Are you cutting after they are boiled and chilled?
Is it ok to cut them before they are boiled?
Does crumble mean just break the cold cooked potatoes apart with your hands?
Thanks for your tips.
Edward, she means to just break the cold cooked potatoes apart with your hands. No cutting. You want those “crags” and rough edges. And no, don’t cut them before you boil them. Boil them whole and chill thoroughly.
Thanks for the explanation
Crumble by hand — you want very big and very small chunks. Don’t skimp on either. You can tear them if you wish, but I find this leads to more even pieces, which is less ideal here.
Hi Deb,
I just stumbled across your blog and absolutely love it! These potatoes look deadly! Now I really want to make them at home! One thing that I miss with the quarantine going on is definitely fried things :) Keep up the good work!
Respectfully,
Devan
http://devancameron.com/blog/
Easy enough to have boiled potatoes for dinner one night and save enough back to make this yummy dish. Using up the leftovers is a great skill to have up our sleeves right now!
I often bake russets along with whatever else isin my oven and then leave them in the fridge for future uses. Is there any reason I should boil them for this recipe instead, or will baked and cooled work just as well?
I haven’t tested this method with baking them. My only concern is that they could be a bit more dry inside, and we want big chunks when it crumbles. But it might all even out in the fridge — not sure.
Finally tried them ten months later (what is time anyway?) with baked and then refrigerated potatoes. They were fantastic. So yay!
These look delicious. I was getting ready to make my mother’s American Fries for my blog but now I’ve gotta try these first. Good think I have a large bag of potatoes.
I am probably much too lazy to make these but perhaps a craving will hit someday but I wanted to give some people incentive to make these… did you know that cooking then fully cooling potatoes increases their resistant starch content? One study actually found they increase it by three times! I know Deb that this is a food/cooking site so I’ll leave it up to folks to google to find the health benefits.
Woo Hoo! I’m heading to the garage to get into my stache of potatoes! This will be a nice surprise for the family tomorrow.
I love potatoes
Oh they look delicious Deb, and I can see why since it’s not a one step recipe that’s come together in a few minutes, why it took you a while to get around to making them. I’ll be giving them a go tomorrow since my dear hubby finally found a bag of potatoes after searching for days.
I also watched your video with you and your youngsters making the noodle dish. I tell you girl, you’ve got the patience of Job on that one!
Yes.. It is sad to see so many restaurants we all love now shuttered with owners and staff suffering. As you say, it’s impossible to support them all as there’s also the homeless and those living on the poverty line or below it going without food due to lose of the meager hours they were working or other reasons such as health and mental health issues, to help support as well.
Where I live, it’s expected that over 50% of our restaurants many of them extremely popular with locals and tourists from all over the world, will not re-open.
Can’t take this seriously. Try proofreading before you post an article. I guess some are just too lazy to do so.
Was it necessary to be so nasty? People are dying around us left and right, we’re all worrying if one of our loved ones will be next, yet all you can think of to do instead of saying thanks Deb for helping us get through these stressful days with your posts, you chose to chastise her instead.
Seriously, if you found Deb’s article was not up to your standards, all you had to do was go elsewhere.
Wow! Guess the isolation is getting to someone! Sad 😞.
Sounds heavenly! Almost any kind of double-cooked potato is great, including mom’s leftover mashed potatoes fried up as potato pancakes the next morning.
It’s that starch gelation thing, right?
Anyway, never having heard of french-fried crumbled potatoes I didn’t miss never having them. Till now.
Thats comfort food. Yummy.
Made this last night. These are “restaurant” potatoes, which was a nice treat, esp under quarantine. I boiled them in the morning right after reading Deb’s email. :) They were plenty cool by the time I was ready to cook them for dinner. I kept the rest of the menu simple so that I could keep a close eye on these while they cooked. Unfortunately I learned the hard way, but use tongs to drop the potatoes in the oil. :( I think I managed to dip a fingertip in the scalding hot oil. But these were absolutely delicious potatoes.
Marvellous! First bite, my husband turned to me and said “the potatoes are good”! He doesn’t like potatoes and had no idea I was trying anything different.
Thank you.
Apologies for the newbie-ish questions, but:
1) what is your oil of preference, and have you tried any other than vegetable and peanut for the task?
2) what do you do with your ‘used’ oil? Is it one-and-done, or can you reuse / repurpose it?
Here’s what I had to say about oil:
I’ve only fried in peanut and vegetable. For doughnuts and sweet things, however, I rather like Crisco.
Leftover oil can be strained and reused. It can be frozen too for longer-term storage. Don’t pour it down the drain, of course. Once cool, you can also pour it back in the bottle it came in and seal it for easy disposal (although it’s then not to go in recycling).
Those potatoes are amazing! I thought they would be good. But, they’re even better than I imagined. I was going to use sour cream for dipping but changed my mind. No need for that! Wow!
I made these for Easter and they were a big hit, with garlic and paprika aioli so so good 😋
These made our Easter brunch! We’ve been struggles make crispy potatoes at home in the oven and now these! The flavor and crisp is amazing, I’m sure we’ll be making them again asap :)
Deb, where do you get your blue (and white) dish towels?? I love all the different designs you have in all these recipe pictures on the site, but didn’t see anything in the gift guide.
I get 95% of my dishcloths from Fog Linen (this one is actually charcoal gray but my kitchen light is blueish in the afternoon). I love the designs and quality. Not sponsored, obviously, but I just realized I’ve been shopping there since 2011.
Thanks very much!
Absolutely awesome! We now have a new favorite. So much less stressful than making fries
These were a boffo smash hit!
Dang those opening lines go right to the heart… would love some fries and a drink on a patio.
These were so good they were practically gone before they were all made. As I scooped them out and they cooled they were eaten. My daughter now wants this a part of her birthday dinner!
These are SO good … Next time though, I will have to keep in mind that for me, cooking them in my Staub coquette over high heat, they took quite a bit longer to crisp up than I expected.
Wow. I mean, WOW! Who knew that this would be the recipe I would finally comment on. This, and Deb’s Melting Potatoes, is all I will ever need. Okay, maybe a mashed potato on occasion. I made a truffle aioli with a forgotten tablespoon of truffle oil that I found will cleaning out my pantry (don’t hate me). Beyond divine! Know that the browning effect will happen during the last 5 minutes of frying…be patient and you will be rewarded. Thank you for a blissful meal, Deb!
I love the way you explained some difficult recipes in a very easy way…
You are my inspiration for blogging thank you so much…..
It’s been ages since I’ve commented on here but oh my!!!! These are truly the best potatoes ever. Just trying to decide if it’s excessive to make them every other day during lock down.
I made these last night as part of a tapas night. Paired them with Trader Joe’s dolmas, their gigante beans (which I warmed in the oven), and one of their frozen apps (vegetable pouches + homemade sauce). While this recipe didn’t allow tapas night to be easy like I’d planned, that’s largely because I never fry anything, and I had to make due with yellow potatoes and sweet potatoes. Still yummy. Dipped them in the red sauce that coated the gigante beans. Figured this combination might help someone who’s out of ideas, doesn’t usually have canned goods, or just wants an excuse for wine drinking. Hope everybody’s staying healthy.
OMG! made this for dinner tonight
you must really give it a try
these made some bangin’ salchipapas tonight!
These were SO GOOD. My husband likes them more than fries. I served them with Julia Turshen’s patatas bravas sauce (1/4 cup of mayo, 1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp cayenne, 2tsp red wine vinegar) and they were gone in a hot second.
These were amazing, easy to make, and just like my favorite diner potatoes! Thanks so much!
How do you crumble a cold (hardened) potato that has been refrigerated? Thanks.
I just made these. You have to be a little rough, but they hold up. I stuck my thumb right into the middle of the potato and pulled it into two pieces, then just kept breaking each piece into smaller pieces the same way.
It’s easy! If you need, use your nail to break the skin. You can also break it into chunks with your two hands, but make sure they’re not all even. You really want a mix of quite large and small chunks.
I made these last night with the last few aging Russets I had in the pantry. So fluffy and delicious! I used peanut oil and made them in the Fry Daddy – even though it runs hotter than 350, they turned out great. I only adjusted the time by 30 seconds or so.
Best potatoes I’ve ever had. Totally redeemed my most terrible day. Love every recipe you post, but this one was perfection.
Making this for a quarantined Friday night treat. Delicious! Don’t have any ice cold very dry champagne (oh how I wish we did!) but we are having Tom Collins so it’s all going to work out. Fried potatoes and refreshing lemon gin drink. If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.
Thank you so much for the comfort food recipes. It helps.
These are wonderful! I boiled the potatoes in the evening and had them for lunch the next day. They are absolutely foolproof (as long as you are careful when frying, as with anything). I used sunflower seed oil and it worked perfectly! They were perfectly crispy all over but fluffy inside. Thank you Deb for the recipe, and greetings from Chile!
Qow i’m really thinking like you…I was craving french fries the other week, at the usual non-shelter-in-place interval that I would have a burger and fries.
Instead I made the much easier pan-fried potato slices which was very nostalgic since the last time I regularly requested them from my mom was 6th or 7th grade. A baked potato is also glorious.
OMG! These are amazeballs! Literally messy crispy delicious potato “balls” of heaven! We had a much needed social distancing approved “picnic” on my son’s driveway (for my sister’s birthday) with his homemade replica In-N-Out Burgers (from The Burger Show). Using a friend’s deep fryer and splurging on $10 worth of Peanut Oil. Even the fussy grandkids said they were the best “french fries” ever. Thanks, Deb, for the recipe and photo enhanced instructions! (Having my son’s high tech infrared point and shoot thermometer made keeping oil up to temp a dream!) Credit given on instragram at my Redtortoise account.
I made these last night and they were delicious. My oven is out of commission for the next few days (sob), and I needed a crispy potato. They were as delicious as promised. I used one Russet potato and some miscellaneous potatoes that I thought were Yukon golds but they came out equally crunchy! The thick skin on the Russets is especially tasty, however. I sprinkled them with rosemary, lots of salt, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
It is ridiculous how incredible these are. MAKE THEM NOW!
I had some salsa verde from Salt Fat Acid Heat (shallots, parsley, oil, and vinegar) in the fridge (lucky me) to go with them (and braised lamb shoulder and a Barolo). After finishing dinner, I put a few more potatoes on to have in the fridge. Life is stressful, and the weather is supposed to be terrible this week. I will need some more.
I could live on potatoes and these look amazing! Pototes and veggie tonight and potatoe and eggs in the morning, yum. Working from home during the stay-at-home order gives my a couple extra hours a day to try new recipes and this one jumped to first place!
This is truly one of my favorite dishes. My wife and I tried this out about a year ago and have been loving it ever since.
Thanks!
I loved making this almost as much as eating it! My dilemma is: my sweet SO tried to help by boiling the potatoes the day before and boiled a five pound bag of potatoes instead of five potatoes. Can I keep some whole boiled potatoes edible for a week or two? Should I freeze them or will they survive for a week in the fridge. Much as I like potatoes, I have other plans for the rest of the week, and can use these only one more time till next week.
I love you with all my heart. ❤️ I finally found someone who loves potatoes as much as I do. I have been smitten 😊 with your oven fries for some time now. I can’t wait to try these. Thinking it will be tonight, even though we had potatoes with breakfast this morning. Many thanks and peace. ✌🏻
Although I was first to comment, we only now made these for tonight’s dinner. We used our Roto-Fryer to deep fry the potatoes, and I am not sure how many will be left for dinner…we just had to try one to see how it was…oh, maybe another! So, so good. Even though there are only the two of us, I am very glad that we used the same amount of potatoes in your recipe (for 4 servings) because we will enjoy them, hopefully for two dinners. These crispy, crunchy potatoes are a real treat!
Thank you for the recipe!
I shouldn’t have made these. It’s dangerous to know how delicious they are, damnit.
I made these today and added some lemon to chopped rosemary and salt. They were a bit hit!
Am I the only person who had to fry these for like, 22 minutes or more? I’m aware that I’m cooking on a hot plate, not a gas stove, but I used my candy thermometer to confirm that the oil was 350 before I dropped the taters in, and they just took ages to even consider browning.
That’s about how long mine are taking. I’m using an electric range, so that may be the issue
Maybe this would work with canned potatoes…(technically they are just pre-boiled potatotes)
I’m a pretty confident cook, but this was my first time deep frying by myself. Absolutely delicious and really easy- I only stirred them a few times. I don’t have a thermometer and they took about 12 minutes. I made a lazy aioli (mayo, smashed a garlic clove w/salt, added a squeeze of lime and some pepper) and it was perfect.
I made these along with Jonathan Waxman’s roast chicken with salsa verde via NYT Cooking, and if I closed my eyes, I could have sworn I was at Barbuto. Now if I could only eat it al fresco, it would truly be the real deal… perhaps I’ll sit on my fire escape next time!
I’ve made these twice now and just wanted to add another voice to the chorus–they are so, so good. If you’re thinking of making them, do it! It’s like getting to have thick-cut fries and homemade chips at the same time. If only every fried potato was like this… Thanks, Deb!
These are officially the most dangerous method of preparing potatoes I have ever attempted. Not because they’re difficult to make, but because ever since I made them once, I continued making them 5 more times in the same month until I refused to buy more potatoes. First I made them for my husband and me for Sunday lunch with spatchcock grilled chicken, then for a family meal the next week, then brought them for a potluck, then again for dinner with friends. Once you start, you cannot stop! Away temptress!
So excited!!! A local cafe serves these potatoes with fresh rosemary for breakfast. I love them. Have tried to figure out the steps for 13 years. YEAH!!! now I know. Yes I knew they were deep fried. Now I know the before step. So excited!!!
Have you tried this in an air fryer?
I am curious about that also.
Here in Oz we cannot get russet potatoes- but I find the recipe works okay with other sorts of potatoes. I find I can get the crispness I desire using a shallow tray, sprayed on olive oil and a hot oven for about an hour – turning once.
It works better than my air fryer. That machine is too large to leave out in the kitchen and too heavy to pull in and out of the cupboard; and I still need to make more than one batch to get enough…so the oven with sprayed oil works better for me.
Thank you for your great ideas and recipes!
These are fantastic and your instructions are perfect. I made 2 potatoes worth, and I may eat them all myself. Crispy like a potato chip, hearty like a perfect Belgian frite. Thank you, Deb, Happy New Year!!
This sounds so very good today. Thank you
You are serious that sometimes they are served in ice cold champagne? 😏
Made these tonight and they were perfect. Started my oil at 375 per other recipes and turned up heat immediately upon adding potatoes to keep high. Did 2 batches in a dutch oven. Gone in minutes!
holy moly these were perfect!! pretty easy to make too. the crispy bits….
Deep frying makes them a bazillion calories, per bite, so don’t think so. Anyway they could be made in an air fryer???
Sounds like you just want a different recipe.
This looks insane! How about Duck fat?
Would duck fat work in this recipe to fry the potato crumbles? I love duck fat potatoes but always want them a tad more crispy.
I made these for the second time last night – my mom’s comment was ‘I don’t want potatoes any other way – ever.’ Although this takes a little planning so cannot be a decision at 3:45pm for that day (which sometimes happens) these are so satisfying, in a way that you often only get from a very good eating establishment. Definitely good on their own, I have had them with hollandaise over the top and with milk gravy on the side – and they stay crisp and are perfect crunchy flavor delivery nuggets. Next experiment will be as a tappas with garlic aioli – thanks for this method! If you’re ever in the Adirondacks let me know – we have to learn to cook because our choices for good eats are limited (although they definitely exist).
These crispy potatoes were absolutely divine! I’m usually a bit lazy and either roast or fry, but boiling them first and letting them cool made them way more delicious – thanks for the fabulous recipe!
Salt should be added after the water boils, so it doesn’t mar the bottom of your pot.
Can’t remember where I learned that..
Ok making these to accompany my Crabcakes for Christmas dinner! Perfect! Thanks Deb!
Make these. Don’t hesitate. I mean it.
Made exactly as written with Idahos that only chilled a couple of hours. Just like Barbuto – crisp on outside and creamy on inside. Thankfully I had read the comments and just happened to have chilled a few additional ones for the next day. Husband and I agreed we can only make these 1x/ month but I am already negotiating a waiver for a friends gathering.
Any chance this recipe would work in an air fryer? Rec’d one for Christmas, looking for reasons to use it (instead of regifting!). JanC
Fabulous recipe – thank you Deb! I baked, rather than boiled the potatoes as I read someone else had done. Split them open and tore into pieces of varying sizes. Divine!
I can’t eat potato skin…would these still have great crunch if I peeled the potatoes?
Yes
Hi
Any way to make this in the oven so I don’t have to fry?
Deb, we love, love, love this recipe but why boil when you can bake, then fry?!
I was wondering the same thing~ less pots easier and I like to bake vs boil.
Could you use leftover baked potatoes?
I’m not sure if they’d be crumbly/dense enough. You’ll have to try it to let me know!
Absolutely brilliant. Made for NYE and served with plenty of dips. SO GOOD!