Saturday, June 18, 2011

Crispy Roasted Potatoes

Adapted from Martha Stewart
When I took these out of the oven, they looked brown and dry. I wasn't sure I wanted to even try them. But when I put them on the plate, they looked scrumptious. They are nice and crispy on the top, but soft, creamy and delectable on the bottom. Yum!
I admit I love potatoes. And I'm a big fan of crispy potatoes. With these, you get all the joy and crispiness of potato chips without the oil, frying, and salt. I tell you these really hit the spot.

3 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons olive oil
Coarse salt
4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled
1/2 onion, peeled

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine butter and oil. With a sharp knife or mandolin, slice potatoes crosswise very thinly. Use a 9-inch round baking dish (a deep dish pie pan would work). I used my oval casserole dish. You want your potatoes to fit fairly snugly in your dish, so they will stand vertically. You don’t want the slices to lie down in the dish.
Pour a tablespoon or so of the butter/oil mixture in the bottom and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the oil mixture with a few pinches of coarse salt. Arrange your potato slices vertically in the dish.
Thinly slice onion with your mandolin or a very sharp knife and slide onion slivers between potato wedges, distributing them as evenly as possible. You don't have to be too careful placing the onion. Just slide the slices down between the potato slices randomly. Drizzle remaining oil/butter mixture evenly over the tops of the potatoes. Generously season your dish with salt. Bake 1 1/4 hours, or until potatoes are cooked through with a crisped top. If casserole seems to brown too fast, cover it with foil to slow it down. Add any garnishes, if desired, and serve immediately.

I've made these a few times and will definitely make again. It is easy to make only one or two servings. (That's what I do.) Just cut back on the amount of each ingredient. Yummo!!
I really wanted to label this as a dessert, but decided that might not fit for everybody. But it would make a great snack.