Roast potatoes are a Sunday staple, and one chef has a recipe which he says praises a “rich and decadent” flavour combined with the perfect roast potato texture. Chef Ronny Joseph Lvovski shared the recipe on his TikTok page and on his blog www.cookprimalgourmet.com. He explained that the potatoes give the illusion of “if a French fry and a mashed potato were to have a love child”.
Ronny explained the potatoes are “impossibly crunchy on the outside [but] soft and fluffy on the inside”. The key, he says, is to add two simple ingredients which can boost the flavour and texture of the potatoes.
The chef explained: “I roast the potatoes in duck fat which gives them a rich and decadent taste, but you can substitute any neutral flavoured oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil beef tallow or ghee.
“For an extra pop of flavour, I sometimes combine some roasted garlic with chopped fresh rosemary and toss it with the potatoes just before they’re finished cooking.”
Then, for that crunchy exterior, according to Ronny, the solution is baking soda.
“As for the baking soda, it’s not mandatory but adding a small amount to the water creates a more alkaline environment that helps break down the potatoes, resulting in more crispy bits as they roast,” he said.
When the baking soda is added at this stage, it breaks down a starch in potatoes called pectin and draws it to the surface. This is the key to creating a crispy surface and helps the potatoes to become a gorgeous shade of golden brown.
Joseph isn’t the only chef who recommends using baking soda when cooking roast potatoes.
Elsewhere on TikTok, chef Oli Brandon also recommended using baking soda to create a satisfying crunch.
In his video, the chef said the crunch is: “The sound of the best roast potatoes you’ve ever had.”
He revealed to his viewers that the key ingredient to potatoes that are perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside is baking soda. You simply need to add a teaspoon of baking soda while cooking.
