These Oven Baked Crispy Smashed Potatoes recipe with herbs is truly every Potato Lover's delight! With a total of 9 ingredients used, this delicious entrée, appetizer or starter is perfect for entertaining, game nights or family weekends / get-togethers.
Baby Potato or small potato is the star ingredient for this recipe. The potatoes are cooked until tender, smashed with a potato masher or fork, coated with spices and baked until the edges are crispy and the center is tender and soft. Sounds delicious, right?
If you are potato fans and have never heard or tried this recipe, grab a bag of potatoes and get started. Chances are the rest of the ingredients are almost always available in your pantry. If not, a simple seasoning of salt and pepper works just fine!
Smashed potatoes are by far, one of the tastiest ways to consume baby potatoes. Perfect vegetarian appetizer to serve with a bowl of aioli or a dip of your choice. Plain tomato ketchup works fine too.
The detailed recipe includes step-wise instructions to make smashed potatoes in Oven + Air Fryer.
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Ingredients
Potatoes - 750 grams (26.4 oz.) baby/small potatoes, enough for 4 servings.
I highly recommend baby potatoes as they are easy to work with. However, you can use medium size potatoes as well. Just cook and cut them into quarters (depending on size) and smash for bite size portions.
The skin of baby potatoes are quite thin unlike the mature ones which gives it a crispy texture, upon baking.
You can also use red potatoes or fingerling potatoes.
Herbs + Olive Oil - I have used a mix of dry herbs and olive oil to smear on the cooked and smashed baby potatoes. Since we love a bit of heat, I have used some Kashmiri Red Chili Powder. Substitute with cayenne or smoked paprika.
You can use any seasoning of your choice. In fact, just a sprinkle of salt and pepper is good enough on days you don't feel like doing a lot!
Instructions to make Crispy Smashed Potatoes in Oven
Step 1 - Prepping The Potatoes (How to Clean, Cook Baby Potatoes)
Soak the Potatoes for 15-20 minutes and gently scrub the mud particles or dirt. This step is important as we will not be peeling the potatoes.
After the potatoes are rinsed and clean, cook them on stove top / pressure cooker.
Stove top cooking is time consuming. I either prefer pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Instant Pot Baby Potatoes are perfect and gets done quickly especially if you have to cater to a crowd.
To check if potatoes are cooked, insert a knife or a fork. If it easily penetrates that means the potatoes are done. If the center is hard or uncooked, it needs extra cooking time.
Drain the water, wait until the potatoes cool down.
Once the potatoes have slightly cooled down, use a potato masher or fork to smash them (Refer pic below).
Once the potatoes are smashed, grease a baking tray with oil. Don't use parchment paper for this recipe.
Potatoes will bake to perfection when they are directly exposed to the baking tray. The skin will turn out to be crispy.
While you are preparing the seasoning mix for the potatoes, pre-heat the oven at 200 Degrees Celsius for 10 minutes.
Place / arrange the smashed potatoes on the greased baking tray.
I could arrange 50 smashed potatoes in one baking tray (size / dimension given in the recipe card below). If you plan to double the recipe, use 2 baking trays. Prevent overlapping of potatoes.
In a bowl, add olive oil, herbs, chili powder and salt to taste.
Mix well and apply generously over the potatoes.
Place the baking tray inside the hot oven, bring down the temperature to 180 Degrees Celsius and bake it for 30 minutes.
Smashed Potatoes in Air Fryer
I would recommend air frying for a small batch or a group of 4 people. If you plan to cook this for a family get-together, use the oven so that you can get it done in one go!
Depending on the size of potatoes, you can place maximum 6 - 8 pieces of smashed potatoes inside the air fryer basket. Note - Rough estimate considering my Philips Air Fryer basket capacity.
The new oven style air fryers are similar to an oven and can easily air fry a large batch.
Preheat and spray oil in the air fryer basket to prevent the potatoes from sticking. Apply the spice and oil mixture, air fry at 180 degree Celsius for 15 mins / until crispy, golden.
At regular intervals, open and check the air fryer basket. You don't have to turn the potatoes halfway or anything as air fryer circulates hot air which evenly cooks / crisps.
Variations
You can experiment with a variety of spices, seasoning to make things interesting.
I like serving smashed potatoes as a side with Moong Dal and Basmati Rice. If you like Indian Flavors, substitute olive oil with vegetable oil or sesame oil, add Garam Masala Powder or Curry Powder with some turmeric and cumin. Mix and coat the smashed potatoes.
You can use a combination of Garlic Powder, Onion Powder and Italian Seasoning Mix.
Store bought All Purpose Seasoning, Taco Seasoning works fine. If you love Middle Eastern flavors, try Zaatar Spice or Sumac.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many delicious ways to serve Smashed Potatoes. Take a look at few options listed below that would help you in planning your menu.
Entrée or Appetizer with Dips - Muhammara (Red Bell Pepper and Walnut Dip), Labneh with zaatar and Tzatziki are perfect choices.
For busy folks, any store bought dips can be used to serve these. You could drizzle the smashed potatoes with Vegan Basil Pesto or Chimichurri as well.
As Side with Salad during summers - Greek Salad, Chickpea Salad and Pineapple Cucumber Salad Persian Shirazi Salad
Serve with SOUP - Our top choices are Tomato Soup and Vegan Mushroom Soup, Minestrone and Taco Soup.
Side with Indian Meals - Can be served as a quick side with Indian curries like Chana Masala or Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry), Chana Saag (Spinach Chickpea Curry) or Brown Lentil Curry. Pair it with Rice, Quinoa or roti, paratha, naan.
Leftovers / Storage
Let's assume if by some miracle you have leftover smashed potatoes, store these in an airtight container.
In the refrigerator, it stays fresh for 3-4 days.
Can be re-heated in a microwave. However, I prefer air frying it as it results in crispy texture.
More Potato Recipes
Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes with Zaatar Spice
Instant Pot Aloo Matar (Potato Peas Curry)
Aloo Gobi (Cauliflower Potato Stir Fry)
Other Vegetarian Appetizer Recipes
Air Fryer Falafel - Middle Eastern Snack or mezze recipe with Chickpeas.
Quinoa Sweet Potato Patties - Baked Appetizer recipe that doubles up as sandwich filling, wraps and burgers.
Broccoli Tater Tots - Kid Friendly appetizer
Veg Cutlet - Gluten Free, Vegan Snack Recipe made in Air Fryer
Cauliflower Tikka in Air Fryer
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Smashed Potatoes Recipe with Herbs
Equipment
- Oven
- Baking Tray (13" X 11"with 0.5" height)
Ingredients
- 750 grams Baby Potatoes 50 baby potatoes (Read Notes below)
- 3 ½ tablespoon Olive Oil Read Notes Below
- ½ teaspoon Thyme
- ½ teaspoon Rosemary
- ½ teaspoon Kashmiri Red chilli powder
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper Powder
- 1 tablespoon Spring Onion Greens finely chopped for garnish
- 2 teaspoon Garlic Chives finely chopped for garnish
- Sea Salt to taste
1 cup is 250 ml, 1 tbsp is 15 ml and 1 tsp is 5 ml measurement
Instructions
Prepping the Potatoes
- Soak the baby potatoes for 15-20 minutes and gently scrub the mud particles or dirt. This step is important as the peel / skin stays on.
- After the potatoes are rinsed and clean, cook them on stove top (takes 20 - 30 mins approximately) OR Pressure Cook Potatoes (2-3 whistles). Season with salt while cooking potatoes.
- To check if potatoes are cooked, insert a knife or a fork. If it easily penetrates, potatoes have cooked. If not, cook until done.
- Drain the water completely, wait until the potatoes cool down.
Making Smashed Potatoes
- Pre-heat the oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes.
- Grease the baking tray with ½ tablespoon olive oil.
- Using a potato masher or fork, smash the cooked potatoes. Note - Apply pressure gently, just enough to smash not "mash". Arrange the mashed potatoes on the greased baking tray carefully.
- In a bowl, add olive oil, herbs, red chili powder / paprika, pepper and salt to taste. Mix well. Note - Some quantity of salt is used while cooking potatoes and some sprinkled on top before baking, so add accordingly.
- Generously slather / coat the potatoes with olive oil and herb mixture.
- Sprinkle some sea salt on top (optional) and place the baking tray inside the pre-heated oven. Bake the potatoes at 180 degree Celsius for 30 minutes (or until they have crisped around the edges)
- Once the potatoes are out of the oven, garnish with chopped garlic chives and spring onion greens. Serve with dip of your choice.
Notes
- 750 grams (26.4 oz.) or 50 baby/small potatoes, enough for 5 people (10 pieces x 5). I highly recommend baby potatoes as they are easy to work with. However, you can use medium size potatoes as well. Just cook and cut them into quarters (depending on size) and smash for bite size portions. The skin of baby potatoes are quite thin unlike the mature ones which gives it a crispy texture, upon baking. You can also use red potatoes or fingerling potatoes.
- Substitute Kashmiri red chili powder with paprika. Kashmiri Red chili adds color not heat.
- Replace Olive Oil with butter. Just melt, measure and proceed with the recipe. If using salted butter, adjust the quantity of sea salt in the recipe.
- I have used 3 & 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil for this recipe. Half tablespoon is used just to grease the baking tray so that the potatoes don't stick and the edges crisp up while baking
- Depending on the size of air fryer basket and potatoes, you can place maximum 6 - 8 pieces of smashed potatoes. Note - Rough estimate considering my Philips Air Fryer basket capacity.
- Preheat and spray oil in the air fryer basket to prevent the potatoes from sticking. Apply the spice and oil mixture, air fry at 180 degree Celsius for 15 mins / until crispy, golden.
- At regular intervals, open and check the air fryer basket. You don't have to turn the potatoes halfway or anything as air fryer circulates hot air which evenly cooks / crisps.
- Cooking Time as mentioned above includes 30 minutes of baking + 20 minutes of pressure cooking the potatoes.
- The recipe can be easily doubled or halved according to your preference and availability of ingredients.
- The recipe is Gluten Free and Vegan.
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We will be back again with yet another exciting recipe .. Until then, stay healthy and happy!
Vidya Narayan