Description
Crispy golden Parmesan Smashed Potatoes create a symphony of textures with their perfectly crunchy exterior and creamy interior. Cheese lovers will savor each bite of this irresistible side dish that elevates simple potatoes into a culinary masterpiece you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) baby red potatoes, halved
- ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Butter and Seasoning:
- 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Garnish:
- 1 teaspoon fresh chives, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with generously salted water and bring to a rolling boil.
- Gently lower whole potatoes into the bubbling water, allowing them to simmer until they yield effortlessly when pierced with a utensil, approximately 15 minutes.
- Carefully extract potatoes using a perforated utensil, transferring them to a wide, shallow vessel while preserving roughly half a cup of the starchy liquid.
- Introduce rich, melted butter to the tender potatoes, creating a luxurious base.
- Shower the potatoes with finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, distributing the cheese evenly across the surface.
- Incorporate freshly ground black pepper and salt, ensuring balanced seasoning.
- Employ a robust fork to methodically crush and break down the potatoes, creating a rustic, uneven texture.
- Gradually introduce the reserved cooking liquid, stirring and incorporating until achieving a creamy, yet slightly chunky consistency.
- Taste the mixture, adjusting seasoning with additional salt or pepper as needed.
- Garnish with delicately chopped fresh chives, providing a subtle herbaceous brightness.
- Serve immediately while the potatoes remain piping hot and gloriously textured.
Notes
- Opt for small, waxy potatoes like baby reds or fingerlings for the best texture and even cooking.
- Ensure potatoes are completely dry after boiling to achieve a crispy exterior when smashing.
- Add extra flavor by infusing the boiling water with garlic cloves or herbs like rosemary during cooking.
- For a lighter version, substitute half the butter with olive oil or use a reduced-fat Parmesan cheese alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 260 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg