TV chef James Martin has revealed his “best” roast potatoes that can be made in just six simple steps. The presenter’s recipe even has just three ingredients, making it the perfect addition to your Sunday dinner.
And, with Christmas on the horizon you could even try out James’ recipe for the big day. The celebrity chef has said his trick is “foolproof” in getting crispy potatoes “every time”. James says his potatoes will take less than 30 minutes to prepare and can be cooked in 30 minutes to an hour.
His recipe is for six to eight people, but you can adjust it where necessary. James sets out his three ingredients as 10 large King Edward potatoes, 50g of lard, dripping or vegetable oil and two pinches of salt.
You need to peel and cut your potatoes into large chunks. The first step is to preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. While it is warming up, it’s the perfect time to crack on with boiling the potatoes.
James says you should simmer them in a large pan of boiling water. According to the chef, this should take 4-5 minutes or until the potatoes begin to soften on the outside.
Step three is to drain the potatoes thoroughly in a colander before briefly shaking them. You can do this in the colander or a pan as it helps to roughen up the edges of your potatoes.
In his recipe shared with the BBC, the fourth step is to melt the lard, dripping or vegetable oil in a deep flameproof roasting tray on a high heat. Then, you need to fry the potatoes on each side until they begin to brown.
His fifth step is to sprinkle the two pinches of salt over the potatoes and roast them in the oven for 30 minutes or until they start to colour.
James’ sixth and final step is to turn the potatoes and return to the oven for another 20 to 30 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crisp.
An extra tip for his recipe is to add even more flavour to the potatoes by adding in a few whole garlic cloves. You can also add in sprigs of thyme or rosemary to the roasting tin before they go into the oven.
