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Panfried Smashed Potatoes

Photo of new crispy potatoes smashed and covered with parmesan.
photo by Romulo Yanes

These are everything potatoes should be: crisp-skinned yet pillowy, sprinkled with a generous amount of salty parmesan. They require no laborious peeling and are much easier to prepare than french fries.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    45 min

  • Yield

    Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

8

medium red potatoes (about 2 inches long; 1 3/4 pounds)

1

/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1

/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Generously cover potatoes with cold water in a 3-to 4-quart pot and add 1 tablespoon salt. Boil until almost tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain potatoes. Transfer to a baking sheet and lightly crush to about 3/4 inch thick with a potato masher, keeping potatoes intact as much as possible.

    Step 2

    Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Transfer potatoes with a spatula to skillet, then lower heat to medium-low and cook, turning once, until golden brown, about 20 minutes total. Serve sprinkled with cheese. Season generously with pepper.