Deep Fried Yukon Gold Potatoes Food

YUKON GOLD POTATOES: JACQUES PEPIN STYLE

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a deep skillet and add salt and pepper, to taste. Cover potatoes halfway with chicken stock, about 3 cups, add the butter and cover skillet with a lid. Cook the potatoes in the stock until almost tender, about 5 to 8 minutes, depending upon the size of the potatoes. Remove the lid and allow the stock to evaporate, about another 5 minutes. Once the stock has evaporated pop each potato using a ladle or large spoon, creating a small crack in each, but do not smash. Allow the potatoes to brown on each side, another 5 minutes, and re-season with salt and pepper, if necessary or desired. Remove the browned potatoes from the skillet and place onto a serving platter, garnished with the parsley.

CRISPY POTATO SKIN SCOOPS

Steps:

• Place the potatoes on a microwave-safe plate in an even layer, then microwave on high until knife-tender, flipping each halfway through, 5 to 6 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Cut each potato in half crosswise. Use a 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon to scoop out the potato, leaving a thin border around the edge. Transfer the scooped-out potato to a medium bowl, then cover and reserve.
• Meanwhile, fill a large heavy-bottom pot or Dutch oven with 2 inches of canola oil and attach a deep-fry thermometer to the pot. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F over medium-high heat. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a couple paper towels; set aside.
• Whisk the potato starch and 1/3 cup water in a medium bowl until smooth. Dip the potato shells into the potato-starch slurry, letting any excess drip back into the bowl, then carefully lower into the hot oil. Cook, in batches, until well browned and crispy, about 4 minutes per batch. Remove from the hot oil with a slotted spoon and place cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet. Season with salt and then flip over cut-side down to drain.
• Add the butter to the reserved scoop-out potato and reheat in the microwave until warm, stirring halfway through, about 3 minutes. Use a fork or potato masher to mash the potato until almost smooth, then stir in the sour cream, Cheddar, scallions, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper until combined.
• Using the 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon, spoon the filling into the crispy potato skin scoops. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with a pinch of cayenne.

POTATO CROQUETTES DEEP FRIED

Steps:

• Peel potatoes, cut into chunks and add to a medium size saucepan.
• Cover with water and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for about 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
• Drain well, mash and let cool slightly.
• Transfer mashed potatoes to a mixing bowl and add nutmeg, Kosher salt, coarse black pepper and mix well to combine.
• Using about 2 large tablespoons of potato mixture for each croquette, roll into a 2 inch by 3/4 inch thick log and place on a tray.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes or longer to firm up the rolls.
• In a mixing bowl, add flour, salt and pepper and mix well to blend.
• In a separate bowl, add bread crumbs, panko crumbs, garlic powder and mix well.
• In another bowl, whisk eggs with milk until fluffy.
• Roll each log in the flour mixture.
• Then dip the floured logs in the egg mixture.
• Roll the logs in the bread crumb mixture.
• Dip logs again in the egg mixture then roll again in the bread mixture so that each log is double crusted.
• In a medium size frying pan, heat oil on medium-high heat to about 350°F.
• Fry croquettes in batches of 6 for about 3 minutes or until golden brown, turning several times during cooking.
• Using tongs, remove croquettes onto paper towels to drain.
• Serve with sour cream or yogurt and a sprinkling of finely chopped green onions.
• NOTE: For those who prefer a spicier taste, add some cumin and curry powder of your choice.
• If you find that freshly ground nutmeg is too strong for you, leave it out of the recipe.

THE ONE AND ONLY TRULY BELGIAN FRIES

Steps:

• Pour enough oil into a deep fryer to reach at least halfway up the sides of the pan but not more than three-quarters of the way up. Heat the oil to 325°F.
• Cut the potatoes into sticks 1/2 inch wide and 2 1/2 to 3 inches long. Dry all the pieces thoroughly in a clean dish towel. This will keep th oil from splattering. Divide the potato sticks into batches of no more than 1 cup each. Do not fry more than one batch at a time.
• When the oil has reached the desired temperature, fry the potatoes for 4 to 5 minutes per batch. They should be lightly colored but not browned. If your fryer has a basket, simply lift it out the remove the fried potatoes. Otherwise, use a long-handled skimmer to lift out the potatoes. Be sure to bring the temperature of the oil back to 325°F in between batches. At this point the fries can rest for several hours at room temperature until you are almost ready to serve them.
• Heat the oil to 325°F. Fry the potatoes in 1-cup batches until they are nicely browned and crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain on fresh paper towels or brown paper bags and place in a warmed serving bowl lined with more paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and serve. Never cover the potatoes to keep them hot as they will immediately turn soft and limp. If you are inclined to perfectionism, leave some potatoes to fry halfway through the meal so you can serve them crisp and piping hot.

UNCLE BILL'S COATED AND DEEP FRIED POTATOES

Steps:

• Scrub or peel potatoes. Slice crosswise to 1/8 inch thickness; about 12 to 14 slices. Slices should be the same thickness for deep frying.
• Place sliced potatoes in a dish and cover with cold water while preparing the dredging flour and the batter.
• In a mixing bowl, mix together 1/4 cup of flour, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper; set aside to use for dredging.
• In a separate mixing bowl, mix together 1/3 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat egg and add 1/2 cup of beer and whisk until blended.
• Pour egg/beer mixture into the flour mixture and stir until well blended and the batter is smooth.
• Meanwhile, in a medium size frying pan or saucepan, heat the oil to 350°F.
• Drain the sliced potatoes and shake off any excess water.
• Dredge the potato slices in the flour to coat all sides.
• Now dip the slices in the batter and coat well on all sides.
• Drop a few batter coated slices in the heated oil and deep fry for about 1 minute, then turn over and continue to fry for another 1 minute.
• When done, remove to paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
• Serve with ketchup, yogurt or sour cream.

"COLD-FRY" FRITES

Steps:

• Rinse the potatoes, peel them, rinse again, and cut lengthwise into 3/8-inch (10 mm) fries. (Precision is not essential here: I love the tiny, crunchy, almost-burned bits that emerge from the fryer.)
• Soak the potatoes in a bowl of cold water for about 5 minutes, changing the water when it becomes cloudy (at least twice), until the water remains clear. (Soaking releases the starch in potatoes, making them less rigid and less likely to stick together while cooking.)
• Drain the potatoes and wrap them in the kitchen towels to dry. (Removing the excess liquid will speed up the cooking time and reduce the likelihood of the potatoes splattering once the oil is hot.)
• Transfer the potatoes to the saucepan and set it over the stove. Pour the oil over the potatoes. Do not cover the pot. Set the heat to high, stirring the potatoes gently with a metal spoon to distribute and prevent sticking. (A metal spoon lets you feel if any potato bits are stuck to the bottom of the pan and scrape them up.)
• The oil should move from a peppy simmer to a boil in about 9 minutes. When the oil starts to boil, set a timer for 17 minutes. Stir the potatoes very gently every 3 to 4 minutes to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. Don't worry about overboiling-the oil should boil rapidly and evenly with no need to adjust the heat throughout the entire process.
• When the timer rings, the potatoes should have begun to take on color, turning from white to slightly golden, but will still have about 4 minutes remaining until they are fully cooked. For these last few minutes, watch them closely, stirring gently. When the fries are a deep golden brown, taste one to make sure they are truly crisp and firm on the outside with a creamy interior. They should not be the least bit soggy, so resist the urge to remove them from the oil too soon. When you are happy with the consistency, carefully transfer the rest of the fries with the wire skimmer or slotted spoon to the paper-towel-lined trays to drain. Season with salt and serve immediately on the warmed platter.
• Tips
• Use firm, fresh potatoes. Rinse and soak them well to rid them of starch. The less starch in the potatoes, the crispier the fries will be.
• To keep the oil well contained in the pot, make sure there is at least 2 inches (5 cm) of room from the top of the oil to the rim of the pot.
• We have made these fries in varied quantities with proportionate quantities of oil and pot size:1 pound (500 g) potatoes/1 1/2 quarts (1.5 l) oil/4-quart (4 l) pot 2 pounds (1 kg) potatoes/2 1/2 quarts (2.5 l) oil/5- to 7-quart (5 to 7 l) pot 3 pounds (1.5 kg) potatoes/3 quarts (3 l) oil/7-quart (7 l) pot 4 pounds (2 kg) potatoes/4 quarts (4 l) oil/8- to 9-quart (8 to 9 l) pot
• Do not use an aluminum pot; it will not hold the heat in the same manner as a heavy cast-iron or stainless steel pot, and the results may not be satisfactory.
• After frying, let the oil cool and strain it through cheesecloth into the original containers. Store in the refrigerator and reuse up to five times. Mark the bottles as to number of uses and sniff the oil before reusing; if there is any scent of rancidity, toss. Each time the oil is reused, add about 1 cup (250 ml) fresh, new oil to the mix.