Pan-fried potatoes
What could be simpler than fried potatoes? No need of a recipe for that! Quite right, but it's also very easy to end up making fried mash instead. Here are the main pitfalls to avoid.
281K 54 4.2
Last modified on: February 3rd 2011
Keywords for this recipe:For 4 people, you will need:
1 kg 
3 tablespoons 
How long does it take?
Time required for this recipe:
| Preparation | Cooking | Start to finish |
|---|---|---|
| 42 min. | 55 min. | 1 hour 37 min. |
At what time:
- When will I finish if I start the recipe at ... ?
When should I start for the recipe to be ready at ... ? - Work this out...
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 20 min.
Peel and wash 1 kg potatoes.
Cut into medium sized pieces if you have big potatoes, the ideal size is about that of your thumb.
If you cut potatoes, wash again. This is very important because cutting potatoes releases starch, and that starch will make them stick when cooking.
After washing, dry in a cloth. This is another important point, because wet potatoes can make the hot oil spit dangerously.
Cut into medium sized pieces if you have big potatoes, the ideal size is about that of your thumb.
If you cut potatoes, wash again. This is very important because cutting potatoes releases starch, and that starch will make them stick when cooking.
After washing, dry in a cloth. This is another important point, because wet potatoes can make the hot oil spit dangerously.
Stage 2 - 2 min.
Pour 3 tablespoons oil into a non-stick pan on medium heat, and add potatoes. Stir well to coat each potato with oil.
Stage 3 - 40 min.
Turn down heat, cover, do not salt and do not touch for at least 40 minutes.
You must resist all temptation to salt because it makes them stick, and to stir them because it is useless and eventually produces famous fried mash.
You must resist all temptation to salt because it makes them stick, and to stir them because it is useless and eventually produces famous fried mash.
Stage 4 - 5 min.
After this time, uncover, salt, and...
Stage 5 - 15 min.
... stir gently so that fried sides of potatoes are on top.
Leave to cook a further 15 minutes, still covered.
Leave to cook a further 15 minutes, still covered.
Stage 6 - 15 min.
Repeat this until potatoes are fried as you like them.
Stage 7
Be careful because once fried, potatoes can't be kept waiting, covered or not they will go soft.
You should serve them without delay.
You should serve them without delay.
Remarks
Brief summary of the method: wash and dry potatoes, coat with a little oil, cook slowly without salt and without stirring for 40 minutes, only then should you salt and stir to cook on all sides.
You will get excellent results with rattes (small firm waxy potatoes), they are already just the right size.
My uncle Pierre, a great chef, when he was chef of his own restaurant, used this dish to test new young cooks.
You will get excellent results with rattes (small firm waxy potatoes), they are already just the right size.
My uncle Pierre, a great chef, when he was chef of his own restaurant, used this dish to test new young cooks.
Keeping
Several days in the fridge, in a closed jar.
Source
My uncle Pierre Barbary, the best self-taught chef I have ever known!.
Nutritional information
| Whole recipe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Energetic value | Proteins | Carbohydrates | Fats |
| 1,255 Kcal or 5,254 Kj | 20 gr | 190 gr | 46 gr |
| 63 % | 8 % | 18 % | 7 % |
| Per 100 g | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Energetic value | Proteins | Carbohydrates | Fats |
| 120 Kcal or 502 Kj | 2 gr | 18 gr | 4 gr |
| 6 % | 1 % | 2 % | 1 % |
| Per person | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Energetic value | Proteins | Carbohydrates | Fats |
| 314 Kcal or 1,315 Kj | 5 gr | 48 gr | 12 gr |
| 16 % | 2 % | 4 % | 2 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 4 people : 1.09 €
- Per person : 0.27 €
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
 | Potatoes: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Morteau sausage, Melting Epoisses on toast , Gratin Comtois, Mini Mont d'Or fondue with "spuds in blankets", How to cook potato grenaille , ... All |
 | Oil: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: How to cook potato grenaille , Chicken with spinach in a cream sauce , Crispy cheese parcels, Gratin du Nord, How to prevent butter burning during cooking, ... All |
 | Salt: You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Chicken with spinach in a cream sauce , Nicholas's fish, Chilli potato wedges, Spinach and chick peas "à la milanaise", Potato galette, ... All |
Other recipes you may also like
Chestnut cake
This delightful cake is doubly chestnutty: it contains chestnut flour, and sweet chestnut purée.313K5 1 hour 13 min. May 8th 2020
Fruit crumble
A fruit pudding: very easy to do and delicious: just a layer of fruit with a golden crunchy topping.340K4.0 1 hour 11 min. February 21th 2011
Epiphany galette
Here is the recipe for the very classic but delicious "galette des rois" (Epiphany galette) in puff or flaky pastry (pâte feuilletée) with almond cream or frangipane . You will also see some professional tips to easily handle the dough, and obtain a nice and regular galette.267K 24.5 3 hours 8 min. January 6th 2021
Pear tart with almond cream
This is a very quick and easy tart to make, as everything (or almost) can be done in advance. A piece of sweetcrust pastry, some almond cream and pears? You have "everything you need".347K4.3 1 hour 14 min. March 17th 2011
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2023-10-01)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post your comment or question
Follow this recipe (as 5 people already do)
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.