Right Every Time Roasties Food

PERFECT ROAST POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Peel the potatoes and cut in half; if very large, cut into quarters, or leave whole if they are small. Tip into a saucepan, cover with cold water, then bring to the boil. Set the timer and boil for exactly 2 mins. Drain the potatoes well, then toss in the colander to fluff up their surfaces, sprinkling over the flour as you go.
• Place a large, sturdy roasting tray over a fairly high heat, then tip in the fat and oil. When sizzling, lower in the potatoes carefully, then gently brown in the hot fat for about 5 mins so all the sides are covered with oil.
• Roast undisturbed for 20 mins, then remove from the oven and gently turn them over with a fish slice. Place the tray on the hob to heat the oil, then return to the oven and cook for another 20 mins. Turn again, putting the tray back on the hob to heat the oil. Give them a final 20 mins in the oven, by which time you should have perfect roast potatoes.

REALLY EASY ROASTIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a large roasting tin in the oven. Cut any larger potatoes in half. Cover the potatoes in cold salted water, bring up to the boil and cook for 2 mins. Drain and steam-dry in a colander for 5 mins, then shake to ruffle up the outsides.
• Remove the roasting tin - be really careful as the oil will be hot. Tip in the potatoes and garlic (if using), and use a spoon to turn them so they are all coated in the oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper, and roast for 1 hr 45 mins, turning every 30 mins or so, until really crisp and golden.

NEXT-LEVEL ROASTIES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and leave whole, or halve or quarter them if large - you want pieces that are roughly the size of a clementine. Tip them into a large pan of cold, salted water, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 7-8 mins until just cooked through - test with the tip of a knife. Drain the potatoes and leave to cool. Can be boiled up to two days ahead and kept chilled.
• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Pour 5 tbsp oil into a deep roasting tin to cover the base. Put the tin in the oven for 5 mins to heat up, then carefully add the potatoes and use a spatula to turn and coat in the hot oil. Put back in the oven and roast for 40 mins undisturbed.
• Remove the tin from the oven and turn the potatoes in the oil again, drizzling with more oil if the pan is dry. Return to the oven for 20 mins. Once the turkey is out and resting, remove the potatoes from the oven and turn the heat up to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Use a spatula or potato masher to slightly crush and flatten each potato, drizzle with a bit more oil, if needed, and roast for a final 20-30 mins until deep golden and crunchy on the outside and fluffy inside. Pile into a serving dish, sprinkle with a little sea salt and thyme, if you like, and serve.