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.
291K 4.2/5 based on 57 reviews
Last modified on: February 3rd 2011
Keywords for this recipe:For 4 people, you will need:
1 kg 
3 tablespoons 
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 42 min.
Cooking: 55 min.
All in all: 1 hour 37 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
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
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 20 8 % | 190 20 % | 50 7 % | 1,260 60 % | 5,250 60 % |
| Per 100 g | 1 1 % | 20 2 % | 4 1 % | 120 6 % | 500 6 % |
| Per person | 5 2 % | 50 4 % | 10 2 % | 310 20 % | 1,310 20 % |
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
Like these other recipes: Warm Leek and Potato Salad, Minestrone, Big knife-cut chips (French fries) , Ramekins of duchess potatoes, Baked potoatoes with herb butter or cream , ... See them all 77
Oil
Like these other recipes: Duo of slow-cooked pork, Taos hotpot, Tournedos Rossini, Julia salad, Salad lyonnaise, ... See them all 86
Salt
Like these other recipes: Multicoloured cucumber-tomato salad, Potimarron and Parmesan tart, Asparagus "en petit pois", Winter cauliflower tabbouleh, Cassoulet, ... See them all 623
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