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crispy smashed potatoes with ginger-tahini dressing and scallions and herbs.
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Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Ginger-Tahini Dressing

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Servings: 8 to 10 (as a side)
Calories: 291kcal
Author: Nisha Vora

Ingredients

Potatoes

  • 3 pounds (1.4 kg) baby or mini golden/yellow potatoes*
  • 4 tablespoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt** or 2 tablespoons sea salt, plus more to season
  • 4 to 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil***

Ginger-Tahini Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 ½ tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • ¼ cup (56g) tahini
  • 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
  • 1- inch piece ginger, grated
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed with a press or finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons ice water

Toppings

  • 2 scallions (top 1 inch trimmed), sliced thinly on a bias
  • 1 serrano pepper, sliced thinly on a bias (use jalapeño for less heat)
  • ¼ cup (4g) fresh mint leaves or Thai basil leaves, torn
  • ½ cup (6g) cilantro leaves and tender stems, chopped
  • ¼ cup (28g) roasted peanuts, chopped****

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450ºF/232ºC.
  • Parboil the potatoes. Add the potatoes to a large saucepan. Cover with cold water and season with the kosher salt or sea salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a decent simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, dependent on size, until just fork tender but not too soft. Drain the potatoes in a colander and pat dry if there’s any water clinging to them.
  • Smash the potatoes. Transfer potatoes to two rimmed baking sheets. Use the bottom of a glass, measuring cup, or mug to firmly smush down on the potatoes (but not too firmly, you don’t want them to fall apart into a bunch of pieces).
  • Roast the potatoes. Drizzle some of the olive oil on top of the potatoes and coat the top side; gently flip, add more oil, and coat the other side of the potatoes. If the potatoes feel dry, add a bit more oil
    Note: you can also pour the oil into a small bowl and use a pastry brush to coat the oil onto the potatoes. This technique allows you to use a bit less oil and also ensures a more even coating of oil, but is a bit more time consuming.
    Season the potatoes with some kosher salt or sea salt. Roast in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, switching the pans’ location in the oven halfway through (but do not flip the potatoes), or until the potatoes are crispy and browned.
  • Meanwhile, make the Ginger-Tahini Sauce. In a food processor, combine the lime juice, sesame oil, tahini, tamari, maple syrup, ginger, and garlic until well combined and relatively smooth. Add the ice water and blend again until the sauce is thick but pourable. Season with a pinch of salt as needed.
  • Pile the warm potatoes on a serving platter. Drizzle some sauce on top. Scatter the scallions, sliced serrano pepper, mint or Thai basil leaves, chopped cilantro, and peanuts on top of the potatoes. Serve remaining sauce on the side for dipping.

Notes

* See the "Tips for the perfect crispy smashed potatoes" section for common names for this potato type. If not available, substitute with baby red potatoes.  
** If using Morton's kosher salt, use 2 tablespoons. 
*** If using a pastry brush, you can probably use the lower end of the oil amount.
**** Can substitute with roasted cashews, roasted almonds, or omit entirely if allergic.