Potato Chips With Fleur De Sel De Guérande Food

GARLIC POTATO CHIPS

Steps:

• Heat 2 teaspoons minced garlic in a pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil until golden, 2 minutes. Let cool, then strain the oil. Slice 2 unpeeled russet potatoes into thin rounds with a mandoline; rinse with cold water and pat dry. Toss the potatoes with the garlic oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Working in batches, spread the potatoes on 2 baking sheets coated with cooking spray and bake at 400 degrees F until golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool until crisp.

POTATO CHIPS WITH FLEUR DE SEL DE GUéRANDE

Steps:

• Slice the potatoes into paper-thin slices using a mandoline or a very sharp knife. As soon as the potatoes are sliced, put them in a bowl of ice water.
• Heat the oil to 325°F in an electric deep-fryer or a heavy deep saucepan. If using a saucepan, you will need a deep-fat fry thermometer to make sure that the oil stays at a constant temperature.
• Lift the potatoes from the water and arrange them in a single layer on a clean dish towel. Wrap the towel around the potatoes and wring out as much water from the potatoes as you can without crushing the slices. If the potatoes are still damp after the towel will absorb no more, transfer to another towel and wring again.
• Fry the potatoes in two batches; your goal is to make sure all the potato surfaces are in contact with the hot oil, so crowding is a no-no. Stir the slices as needed to keep them separate and fry until tender enough to become floppy, but not brown, about 4 minutes. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and put on a wire rack set on a sheet pan to catch the drips. Let cool.
• Once all the potatoes are fried and cooled, heat the oil to 375°F. Fry the once-fried potatoes in three batches until browned and crisp, 30 to 45 seconds per batch. Transfer onto a double layer of paper towels to drain. Immediately sprinkle the chips with the salt and serve warm. I like shaking the chips with salt in a paper bag to coat them better and to remove additional oil.
• Universal as the love of chips may be, not everyone agrees on what makes the perfect cut for a chip. Different chips can be turned to different purposes. Crinkle-cut chips prove best (or at least less frustrating) for dipping in clam dip. Thicker chips might do the job with steak tartare or Niçoise salad. Thinner chips may be best for light snacking with a sip of Highland single-malt whisky before or after dinner.