Get ready to fall in love with potatoes all over again! These Crispy Beef Tallow Smashed Potatoes are incredibly flavorful, featuring a delightful crunchy exterior and a fluffy interior. The simple seasonings and rich beef tallow come together for a side dish that’s truly irresistible.
Imagine a plate piled high with these golden-brown, perfectly crisp potatoes, generously sprinkled with fresh chives.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: Savory, garlicky, herbaceous, with a rich undertone from the beef tallow.
- Texture: Super crispy on the outside, tender and fluffy on the inside.
- Total Active Time: Approximately 30 minutes
- Cook Time: Approximately 25-30 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
What You’ll Need
To create these amazing potatoes, you’ll need your star potatoes, the rich and flavorful beef tallow, and a simple blend of garlic powder, onion powder, dried rosemary, coarse sea salt, and black pepper. A finishing touch of fresh chives brings a lovely freshness.
Ingredient Notes
- Potatoes – About 2 lbs of baby yellow or red potatoes work beautifully. Their small size and waxy texture make them ideal for boiling and then achieving that perfect smash and crisp.
- Beef Tallow – This is the secret to that incredible crispy exterior. It adds a rich, savory depth of flavor that butter or other oils just can’t replicate. Make sure it’s melted before you use it.
- Dried Rosemary – Crushing the dried rosemary between your fingers before adding it helps to release its fragrant oils, boosting the flavor.
Add-ins and Substitutions
While these potatoes are divine as is, you can certainly play around with them. For a little kick, a pinch of cayenne pepper can be added to the seasoning mix. If you don’t have beef tallow, duck fat can offer a similar rich flavor, though the texture might vary slightly.
How to Make Crispy Beef Tallow Smashed Potatoes
This method is all about coaxing the perfect texture out of simple ingredients. It starts with a gentle boil, followed by a satisfying smash, and finishes with a glorious bake to crispiness.
- Boil the Potatoes: Start by gently boiling your baby potatoes in salted water. You’re looking for them to be tender all the way through when pierced with a fork. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on their size.
- Drain and Prepare for Smashing: Once tender, carefully drain all the water from the pot. Let the potatoes sit in the colander for a few minutes to allow excess steam to escape, which helps them get crispier later.
- Arrange and Smash: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking. Arrange the drained potatoes on the prepared baking sheet. Using the bottom of a glass or a potato masher, gently but firmly flatten each potato until it’s about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Be careful not to break them completely apart.
- Season and Coat: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted beef tallow, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed dried rosemary, coarse sea salt, and black pepper. Drizzle this glorious mixture evenly over the smashed potatoes, making sure they are well coated.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are beautifully golden brown and wonderfully crispy.
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Garnish and Serve: Remove the potatoes from the oven. Sprinkle generously with chopped fresh chives. Serve immediately and enjoy the delicious crunch!
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Pro Tip: Make sure your potatoes are well-drained after boiling. Excess moisture is the enemy of crispiness! A few minutes in the colander can make all the difference.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Overcrowd: Give your smashed potatoes some breathing room on the baking sheet. Overcrowding will steam them rather than crisp them.
- Gentle Smash: The key is to flatten, not obliterate. You want a sturdy base with plenty of surface area for crisping.
- Watch for Crispiness: Oven temperatures can vary, so keep an eye on your potatoes during the last 10 minutes of baking. You’re looking for those lovely crispy, golden edges.
- Seasoning is Key: Taste your seasoning mixture before coating the potatoes. Adjust salt and pepper to your preference for that perfect savory bite.
FAQs
- Can I use regular potatoes instead of baby potatoes? While baby potatoes are ideal, you can use larger potatoes cut into similarly sized chunks after boiling. Just ensure they are tender before smashing.
- What if I don’t have beef tallow? Duck fat is a good alternative for richness. For a lighter option, a good quality olive oil or avocado oil can be used, though the flavor profile will be different.
- How do I ensure they get extra crispy? Make sure the potatoes are completely dry after boiling and that your oven is fully preheated. Don’t skimp on the beef tallow, as it’s essential for that deep crisp.
Serving Suggestions
These Crispy Beef Tallow Smashed Potatoes are a versatile side that pairs beautifully with a wide variety of main courses. They are wonderful alongside grilled steak, roasted chicken, or pan-seared salmon. They also make a fantastic accompaniment to hearty stews or a simple green salad for a lighter meal.
Make This Recipe in Advance
While these potatoes are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven for ultimate crispiness, you can prepare some components ahead of time. The potatoes can be boiled and drained a few hours in advance. Store them in the refrigerator, and then smash, season, and bake them just before serving. This will likely add a few extra minutes to the baking time to ensure they crisp up nicely.
Crispy Beef Tallow Smashed Potatoes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Crispy Beef Tallow Smashed Potatoes are golden brown, fluffy on the inside, and irresistibly flavorful.
Ingredients
2 lbs baby yellow or red potatoes
3 tbsp melted beef tallow
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
1 tsp coarse sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Chopped fresh chives for garnish
Instructions
Gently boil small potatoes until they are tender when pierced with a fork.
After draining, carefully flatten each potato on a baking sheet before coating them with beef tallow and seasonings for a delightful crisp.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 20g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Protein: 5g
