Roast Potatoes with Olive Oil (2024)

Roast Potatoes with Olive Oil (1)

By Victoria Glass

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Roast Potatoes with Olive Oil (2)

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Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, roast potatoes are a universal favourite.Olive oil imparts a wonderful flavour and excellent crunch to roast spuds, but it isn’t the obvious choice to everyone, but fear not! We’re here to guide you.

Can you roast potatoes with olive oil?

Absolutely! Olive oil enhances the exterior crispiness of roast potatoes while lending them a rich, aromatic taste.

Is there a better oil for roasting potatoes?

While many swear by duck or goose fat for the crispiest roast potatoes, olive oil is a fantastic plant-based alternative that offers a different but equally tempting flavour profile.

Different olive oils have unique flavour profiles to experiment with.Olive oils from France tend to be buttery with notes of almond and artichoke.Olive oils from Italy tend to be a deep, vibrant green with herbal and peppery undertones.

Greek olive oil is fragrant and fruity. Or you can play withinfused oils to create a shortcut to fuller flavour. Oils with high smoke points, like rapeseed or sunflower oil, are also popular choices.

MORE: Browse all olive oils

Is regular or extra virgin olive oil better for roasting?

Regular olive oil, due to its higher smoke point, is better suited for roasting at high temperatures.

Extra virgin olive oil has a lower smoke point and may impart a slightly bitter taste when exposed to high heat.

However, you can drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the potatoes once they're cooked for an added burst of flavour.

Alternatives to olive oil for roast potatoes:

  • Goose or duck fat for an indulgent, traditional roast.

  • Rapeseed oil for a neutral-tasting, crispy result.

  • Sunflower oil for a light, universally appealing taste.

  • Coconut oil for a slightly sweet and unique twist.

Roast Potatoes with Olive Oil (3)

How to roast potatoes with olive oil:

Ingredients for roast potatoes with olive oil

  • 1kg Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and cut into even chunks
  • 4 tbsp regular olive oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Method for roast potatoes with olive oil

  1. Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 200°C (400°F, Gas Mark 6).
  2. Parboil the Potatoes: In a large pot of salted water, bring the potato chunks to a rolling boil. Reduce the temperature slightly and leave to simmer for about 5-10 minutes, or until they're slightly softened, but not cooked-through. Drain thoroughly in a colander.
  3. Roughen the Edges: Once drained, return the potatoes to the pot. Place the lid on and give them a few gentle shakes. This will roughen up their surfaces, ensuring maximum crispiness when roasted.
  4. Coat in Olive Oil: Add the olive oil to the pan, replace the lid and shake again so that all the potatoes are well-coated in oil. Tip the potatoes out on to a large baking tray, along with any residual oil from the pan and spread them out to ensure they have plenty of space. Season generously with sea salt flakes, plus ground black pepper if you like.
  5. Roast: Transfer the baking tray to the preheated oven and roast the potatoes for about 45-55 minutes, turning the potatoes halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
  6. Serve: Once golden and crispy, remove from the oven and serve immediately.

© Speciality Cooking Supplies Limited 2024

Flavour variations for roast potatoes:

  • Rosemary: Sprinkle finely chopped fresh rosemary over the potatoes at the same time as the sea salt flakes before roasting.
  • Lemon Peel: Add thin strips of lemon peel to the baking tray for a citrusy twist.
  • Garlic Infusion: Scatter whole garlic cloves, tossed in oil, around the tray before cooking.
  • Spicy Kick: Toss the potatoes in a mix of smoked paprika and cayenne pepper before roasting.
  • Parmesan: 10 minutes before they're done, sprinkle grated Parmesan over the potatoes for a cheesy crunch.
  • Fresh Herbs: Combine chopped parsley, thyme, and oregano, and sprinkle over potatoes before roasting for a fresh-tasting, herbal twist.

About the author

Victoria Glass is a London based writer and recipe developer. She has written six cookbooks, includingToo Good To Wasteand has contributed to various print and online media including The Sunday Times, Great British Chefs, Delicious. Magazine, Women’s Health and The Evening Standard. She has been featured regularly on regional BBC Radio as a food and drink expert and wasFood Writer in Residence at the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre. Victoria once cooked her way through the alphabet in a year for a project calledAlphabet Soup, so she certainly knows her artichokes from her elbow.

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Roast Potatoes with Olive Oil (2024)

FAQs

Can I use olive oil instead of vegetable oil for roast potatoes? ›

Extra virgin olive oil has a lower smoke point and may impart a slightly bitter taste when exposed to high heat. However, you can drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the potatoes once they're cooked for an added burst of flavour.

Is olive oil good for cooking potatoes? ›

Nothing more than good olive oil and crunchy sea salt turn super-simple potatoes into an irresistible holiday side dish.

What oil does Jamie Oliver use for roast potatoes? ›

You want to use an oil with a mild flavour for your roasties. We prefer olive oil, but you can opt for vegetable, canola or grapeseed oils instead.

How does Gordon Ramsay make perfect roast potatoes? ›

In a video online, Gordon explained: “For crispy roast potatoes, you can depend on them, my tip is to parboil them, leave them to steam dry, then sprinkle them with semolina or flour, and then give them a good roughing up.”

Why not roast with olive oil? ›

For a lot of people, the concern is one of health, specifically that olive oil, with its relatively low smoke point of 325 to 375°F (165 to 190°C), degrades more than other oils when exposed to high heat.

What oil is best for roasted potatoes? ›

Neutral, low-cost oil such as vegetable oil, canola oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, corn oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, etc., work well for roasting. These oils have a high smoke point, allowing the potatoes to get very hot to achieve maximum crispiness.

Why don't my roast potatoes go crispy? ›

Then make sure oven is preheated and get fat nice and hot before you add the potatoes. The best for crispy potatoes is goose or duck fat or even lard but I as a little healthier have success also with a simple vegetable oil. You always should preheat the oven and get that fat nice and hot.

Can you put too much oil in roast potatoes? ›

Roasted potatoes can become soggy if the water content in the potato isn't fully cooked. Different potatoes have different water content percentages. Also, be mindful of the oil. Potatoes can react like sponges; too much oil can make your potatoes appear to be soggy.

Why use olive oil for roasting? ›

For vegetables, chicken, and just about everything else, olive oil and ghee are our first choices for roasting at temperatures over 400°F. Not only do they help food cook up with the crispiness you crave, but each one also imparts its own unique flavor that you just don't get from neutral oils like grapeseed or canola.

Is it necessary to boil potatoes before roasting? ›

Do I have to boil potatoes before roasting? Not necessary but this can help get the perfect consistency and crispiness. Make sure you boil them but leave them a bit al dente and they will crisp up perfectly in the oven.

Why do you soak potatoes in water before roasting? ›

Soaking your sliced potatoes in the ice water before roasting them in the oven can draw out extra starch, allowing the spuds to cook up extra crunchy on the outside. As you slice up your potatoes into bite-sized cuts, simply toss each piece into the cold bowl. Then, allow them to rest and chill.

How do restaurants prepare roast potatoes? ›

  1. Many restaurants pre-cook their potatoes partially. This could be by baking, microwaving, or even boiling them until they're almost done.
  2. When you order, they finish them off in a hot oven to get a crispy skin and ensure they're piping hot throughout.
Jan 6, 2022

What happens if you use olive oil instead of vegetable oil? ›

If substituting olive oil for vegetable oil (or another cooking oil) in your baking recipe, you can use a 1:1 ratio. Because of olive oil's distinct flavor, it might affect the flavor of the baked product.

Is vegetable oil or olive oil better for roasting? ›

Medium-heat cooking: For roasting, both olive oil and vegetable oil will work, though the former will add more flavor. "For baking, most recipes use vegetable oil, so it doesn't [add] flavor," says Chavez.

Can you use olive oil instead of vegetable oil to fry potatoes? ›

You can make crispy french fries at home with olive oil. Read on to learn the secret to crispy fries and why olive oil is great for frying! Researchers in Spain made a remarkable discovery. Vegetables, such as potatoes, have more nutrients when fried in extra virgin olive oil then when boiled.

Is it OK to roast vegetables with olive oil? ›

But, if you take just about any variety of firm vegetables, cut them up, toss them in some seasoning and excellent olive oil, then roast them in a high-heated oven, they will turn irresistibly tasty.

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