by Zaynab Salaam

Created on: October 01, 2010   Last Updated: October 02, 2010

Simple but delicious roast potatoes.

Roast potatoes are something that any family or single person would like to have for dinner. Especially if it is nice warm , and fluffy. Potatoes are a  meal that almost anyone in the world eats.

Well, this is my simple but delectable recipe of roast potatoes.

Of course the most essential ingredient is the potato. Everyone has their own choice of which potato to use, usually I use either golden potatoes or red potatoes, but I prefer the red potatoes over the golden potatoes. The inside always comes out soft and fluffy with the skin being soft and easily digestible. Depending on how many people I am feeding, let's say ten people, I use about five or six large potatoes, enough for another helping.

  Okay, now onto the cooking.

1. Cut potatoes anyway you prefer but always make sure they are the same size or else some won't be cooked like the rest. Bring three cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan and add the potatoes. Add a pinch or two of salt. ( You don't have to peel the skin of the potato if you don't want to.) Cover and simmer for about 7 minutes or until the thickest part of the potato is fluffy.

2. After 5-10 minutes, if the potato is soft and fluffy, drain the water. And place the potatoes back in the saucepan.

3. Gently toss potatoes in extra virgin olive oil, careful not to break them. Season  with a little salt, pepper, red pepper, fresh chopped parsley and garlic, and basil. Usually my mum puts the fresh garlic in at the beginning when the potatoes are boiling in water, but I prefer to put the garlic in after.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, place potatoes in an aluminum pan, and put it in the oven. Leave it to cook for about 10-15 minutes, until edges and skin of potato become slightly crunchy. Make sure you turn the potatoes over, so that they can be evenly browned.

5. Careful not to burn yourself, remove the aluminum pan from the oven, and once again, season the potatoes with a little more salt, if needed. Usually I wait about five minutes before serving but it could be served right away.

This is just the way I make it and my family likes it. I hope it's the same for you!

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