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.
318 K 4.2/5 (57 reviews)
1 hour 40 min.
Easy
1.10 €
4 people
3 IngredientsLast modified on: February 3rd 2011
1 kg 
3 tablespoons 
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 45 min.
Cooking: 55 min.
All in all: 1 hour 40 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 RDI=8 % | 190 RDI=20 % | 50 RDI=7 % | 1,260 RDI=60 % | 5,250 RDI: 60 % |
| Per 100 g | 1 RDI=1 % | 20 RDI=2 % | 4 RDI=1 % | 120 RDI=6 % | 500 RDI: 6 % |
| Per person | 5 RDI=2 % | 50 RDI=4 % | 10 RDI=2 % | 310 RDI=20 % | 1,310 RDI: 20 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 4 people : 1.10 €
- Per person : 0.30 €
Change currency:
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: Fillets of sole Dieppoise, Pork roast with herbs, Grandma's salad, How to cook potato grenaille , Hearty potato and ham gratin, ... See them all 90
Oil
Like these other recipes: Chicken fillets with cancoillotte sauce, Eggs Arsène, No-pastry spinach and potato quiche, Comtois surprise bread, Tournedos Rossini, ... See them all 104
Salt
Like these other recipes: Spinach brik parcels, Brussels sprouts salad with smoked trout and Comté cheese, Mushroom velouté, Moussaka, Tomato meat balls, ... See them all 692
Other recipes you may also like
Pâté de campagne
Here is a personal version of the famous country pâté. It's an interesting recipe to prepare in large quantities because it keeps well and freezes easily. The secret of a good pâté is of course the ingredients, but also how it is cooked. October 3rd 20192.15 M 23.7 7 hours 55 min.
Chocolate cream
A very simple recipe with a really chocolatey taste. Cream, milk and chocolate, mixed with egg-yolks and sugar, then cooked in the oven in a bain-marie, like for crème brulée. October 13th 2010282 K4.2 3 hours 6 min.
Chicken pie
Apart from the obvious chicken, this pie's puff pastry "lid" also conceals mushrooms, bacon, hard-boiled eggs and leeks. May 10th 2023134 K4.3 2 hours 30 min.
Spinach and hard-boiled egg gratin
In this gratin, spinach and hard-boiled eggs are combined with bechamel sauce and topped with grated cheese. December 18th 2013162 K4.7 35 min.
Creamy Winter Vegetable Soup
This is a very simple recipe: lots of winter vegetables cooked in chicken stock, then blended. The soup's special finishing touch comes from cream and a spoonful of mustard. January 14th 201598 K5 1 hour 25 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2026-03-08)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a 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.