It is just a given that there will be the traditional Mashed Potatoes on the Thanksgiving table but if you've got the time, try to include these Perfect Roast Potatoes and I promise, they'll quickly become a family tradition!
They should be crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside!
Where I live they do not sell goose or duck fat so I usually precook a goose just for the drippings. Not many in my family like goose meat but I do so Happy Thanksgiving to Susan!
If you don't want to go to this trouble, bacon fat will do. (don't tell me you don't store this in your fridge? If you don't, it is time to start!!! )
You can peel the potatoes the day before and keep them submerged whole, in cold water until you're ready for them. When cooked, they will be the last thing brought to the table!
Use as many potatoes as you feel you'll need for each person; usually 1.5 decent sized potatoes per adult.
The cutting of the potatoes is a crucial step that must not be poo -pooed away:
Cut each one into 3 by cutting off each end at a slant so that you are left with a wedge or a triangle in the middle. Put them into a pot (with a fitted lid) of cold salted water. Bring to a boil and cook for 4 minutes.
Drain the potatoes and put back into the dry empty pot and sprinkle with 2 -3 tablespoons of semolina (not flour)
Put the lid on the pot and shake the potatoes and give them a good bashing around inside to bang up the edges. This will give you a better crunch later! You can leave them to rest if you like at this stage.
One hour before eating, have the oven preheated to 450 degrees. If you have only one oven, you'll need to wait until the turkey is done, then remove it to rest and crank up the oven temperature.
In a large roasting pan, I melt about 1 cup of fat and get it very very hot in the oven. And then VERY CAREFULLY, tip the potatoes out of the pot into the roasting pan. Be careful not to splash yourself.
Roast in the oven for approx 1 hour or until they are darkly golden and crispy, turning them over halfway through cooking.
Everyone's oven is different so keep an eye on them as they may only need 25 minute before turning or they depending on the size of the potatoes, they may need longer.
When everything else is on the table, tip the potatoes onto a gorgeous serving dish and bring to the table with pride!
Happy Thanksgiving :)
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