Bay-Smoked Potatoes Recipe 🥔
Overview:
These creamy, fragrant baked potatoes will perfume your entire house when served. Simple and wonderful, this recipe from Rozanne Gold, a favorite cookbook author, is perfect for anyone craving a savory and healthy dish.
- Preparation Time: 5 minutes
- Cooking Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Servings: Variable
Ingredients:
- 2 russet potatoes
- 14 bay leaves
- 2-5 bay leaves (for smoking)
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
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Preheat Oven:
- Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). This temperature ensures that your potatoes bake evenly and develop a deliciously crispy skin.
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Prepare Potatoes:
- Begin by thoroughly washing the russet potatoes. Once cleaned, pat them dry using a kitchen towel or paper towel. This step helps in achieving that desired crispy texture on the potato skin.
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Coat Potatoes:
- In a large bowl, toss the dried potatoes with 1 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil until they are evenly coated. This coating not only adds flavor but also helps the potatoes crisp up nicely in the oven.
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Prepare Casserole:
- Take a heavy, shallow casserole dish with a cover. Arrange 14 bay leaves at the bottom of the casserole dish. These bay leaves will infuse a delightful aroma into the potatoes as they cook.
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Season:
- Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of coarse salt over the bay leaves in the casserole dish. This seasoning adds a savory flavor to the potatoes and enhances their taste.
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Arrange Potatoes:
- Place the coated potatoes on top of the bay leaves in the casserole dish. Ensure they are arranged in a single layer for even cooking.
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Season Again:
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of coarse salt over the potatoes. This additional seasoning ensures that every bite is perfectly seasoned and delicious.
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Cover and Bake:
- Cover the casserole dish tightly with its lid. If your casserole dish doesn’t have a lid, you can use aluminum foil to cover it securely. This step traps the heat inside, allowing the potatoes to cook evenly and retain their moisture.
- Place the covered casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour. During this time, the potatoes will become tender and infused with the aroma of the bay leaves.
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Smoke Infusion (Optional):
- For an extra layer of flavor, you can add 2 to 5 additional bay leaves directly onto the oven rack. As the oven heats up, these bay leaves will release their aromatic smoke, infusing the potatoes with a delightful smoky flavor.
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Final Touch:
- Once the potatoes are fully baked, remove them from the oven. Carefully cut each potato in half lengthwise.
- Drizzle the cut sides of the potatoes with the remaining 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil. This adds a final touch of richness and flavor to the dish.
- Season the potatoes with salt and pepper according to your taste preferences.
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Serve Hot:
- Arrange the bay-smoked potatoes on a serving platter and serve them hot. These potatoes are perfect as a side dish or as a satisfying main course.
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Enjoy:
- Sit back, relax, and savor the creamy, fragrant goodness of these bay-smoked potatoes. With their crispy skin and tender insides, they’re sure to be a hit at any meal!
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 235.1
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 3502mg
- Carbohydrates: 39.8g
- Fiber: 5g
- Sugar: 1.8g
- Protein: 4.6g
Keywords:
Vegetable, Low Protein, Low Cholesterol, Healthy, Savory, Oven, Beginner Cook, < 4 Hours, Easy
Notes:
- Feel free to adjust the seasoning according to your taste preferences. You can add herbs or spices of your choice to customize the flavor profile of these bay-smoked potatoes.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply reheat them in the oven or microwave before serving.
- Experiment with different types of potatoes for varied textures and flavors. Yukon Gold or red potatoes would also work well in this recipe.
