Jamie Oliver Make Ahead Roast Potatoes Food

PERFECT ROAST POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190ºC/375ºF/gas 5.
• Peel the potatoes, cutting any larger ones so they're all an even-size - twice the size of a squash ball is about right.
• Wash the potatoes in cold water to get rid of any extra starch then tip into a large pot, cover with cold salted water and parboil for 7 minutes, then drain in a colander and leave to steam dry for 3 minutes.
• Give the colander a bit of a shake to help chuff up the potatoes - this will help to make them super-crisp later on.
• At this point, you need to decide which flavour combo to go with. Tip the potatoes into a large tray in one layer, and add the fat - olive oil, butter or goose fat - then season really well with sea salt and black pepper.
• Toss the potatoes in the fat (you could get the potatoes up to this stage the day before, simply cover them with clingfilm or tin foil and pop in the fridge or in a cool place until needed), then roast for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden and three quarters cooked.
• Now's the time for my trick. Gently squash each potato with a potato masher to increase the surface area - the more of your potato that's in contact with the pan, the crispier it will be.
• Add 1 good lug of oil to a small bowl and pick and/or tear in the herbs. If opting for flavour combo 2, peel in a good few strips of clementine zest with a speed-peeler - you won't eat these but they'll add amazing flavour. Break up the garlic bulb, adding the unpeeled cloves to the bowl, along with a splash of red wine vinegar, then scrunch and mix it up a bit.
• Add your chosen flavour combo to the potatoes and give the pan a good shake, then pop back in the hot oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until gnarly, crispy, bubbly and delicious.
• Transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper to drain off some of the excess fat, then tuck in!

FREEZE-AHEAD ROASTIES

Steps:

• Leave small and medium potatoes whole, but halve large potatoes. Tip the potatoes into a large pan of cold salted water and bring to the boil. Boil for 6 mins exactly, then drain in a colander and leave to steam-dry for a few mins. Toss in the colander to rough up the sides.
• Transfer to a large bowl. Shake over the flour, some salt and a little pepper, and toss well to combine. Spoon over 100g of the fat and toss to coat evenly. Lay the potatoes on a tray lined with baking parchment and freeze. Once frozen, the potatoes can be transferred to a freezer bag for easy storage. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pour remaining fat and the oil into a baking tray and put in the oven. When the fat is sizzling, carefully add the potatoes, then roast for 25 mins. Remove tray, then increase oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Turn over the potatoes and return to the oven for a further 40 mins until golden and crisp.