Description
Crispy and golden on the outside, tender on the inside, these easy roast potatoes are a perfect side dish for any meal. Made with baby potatoes, olive oil, garlic, and fresh herbs, this simple recipe brings out the best flavors with minimal effort and a classic roasting technique.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 1 kg / 2 lb baby potatoes (or other small potatoes), halved
Seasoning
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp cooking or kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 5 garlic cloves with skin on, smashed
- 5 thyme sprigs (or 3 rosemary sprigs; dried herbs can be substituted)
- Finely chopped parsley or fresh thyme (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C / 400°F (180°C fan) to ensure it’s hot enough for roasting the potatoes to a crispy golden finish.
- Smashed garlic preparation: Place the side of a knife blade on an unpeeled garlic clove and hit firmly with the palm of your hand so that the clove bursts open slightly but remains mostly intact. This releases flavor while keeping the garlic whole.
- Toss potatoes with seasoning: On a roasting tray, place the halved potatoes close together. Drizzle the olive oil over them, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly. Add the thyme sprigs and smashed garlic cloves, mixing them through the potatoes, then spread everything out in a single layer on the tray.
- Roast potatoes: Place the tray in the oven and roast for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, toss the potatoes to ensure even cooking and browning. Continue roasting for another 25 to 35 minutes or until the potatoes are beautifully golden and crispy on the outside.
- Serve: Once out of the oven, sprinkle the potatoes with freshly chopped parsley or thyme if desired, and serve immediately as a delicious side dish.
Notes
- Note 1: Baby potatoes or other small potatoes are ideal for roasting because they cook evenly and develop a great texture.
- Note 2: Keeping the garlic cloves unpeeled but smashed ensures a mellow garlic flavor without overpowering the potatoes.
- Note 3: Thyme and rosemary fresh sprigs work best, but dried herbs can also be substituted if fresh aren’t available.
- Note 4: If potatoes stick to the tray, give them a gentle scrape with a spatula when tossing to avoid tearing. For extra crispiness, ensure the potatoes are spread out in a single layer without overcrowding.
