Description
These Lemon, Garlic & Bay Roast Potatoes are crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and bursting with aromatic flavors from fresh garlic, bay leaves, and a zesty lemon finish. Perfectly roasted to golden perfection using rapeseed or sunflower oil, this recipe brings a savory and fragrant twist to a classic favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 2kg Maris Piper potatoes
Flavorings
- 1 garlic bulb, cut in half lengthways
- 8–10 fresh bay leaves
- ½ tsp lemon zest
Other
- 100ml rapeseed or sunflower oil
- Pinch of salt (for boiling and seasoning)
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Potatoes: Peel the potatoes and halve or quarter them so all pieces are uniform in size. Place them in a large pan, cover with cold water, add a pinch of salt, and add half of the garlic bulb. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until a knife easily pierces the potatoes. Drain well, reserving the garlic, and let the potatoes steam-dry in the pan for 10 minutes to remove excess moisture.
- Preheat the Oven and Oil: Preheat your oven to 220°C (200°C fan-assisted or gas mark 7). Pour the rapeseed or sunflower oil into a large baking tray or two smaller trays, ensuring it covers the base. Heat the trays in the oven for 10 minutes until the oil is very hot.
- Roast the Potatoes: Carefully transfer the potatoes to the hot oil in the baking tray, spacing them out well to avoid steaming. Coat them thoroughly in the oil without splashing. Season with salt and pepper, add both halves of the reserved garlic (blanched and raw), and nestle the fresh bay leaves underneath the potatoes.
- Cook Until Crispy: Roast the potatoes for 40 to 45 minutes, turning them halfway through the cooking time. When turning, baste the potatoes with more hot oil to ensure they become golden and crispy all over.
- Finish and Serve: Once roasted to a crunchy golden finish, season the potatoes again with salt and pepper. Zest the lemon directly over the hot potatoes to release its essential oils. Serve immediately with the roasted garlic still in its shell for squeezing out as a delicious accompaniment.
Notes
- Using Maris Piper potatoes is recommended for their fluffy texture when roasted.
- Make sure to space the potatoes well in the tray to prevent steaming and ensure crispness.
- Blanching half of the garlic in the boiling water sweetens its flavor before roasting.
- You can substitute rapeseed or sunflower oil with other high smoke point oils like avocado oil if preferred.
- The roasted garlic can be squeezed out and spread on the potatoes or eaten as is for a milder garlic flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: roast potatoes, lemon zest, garlic, bay leaves, crispy potatoes, side dish, oven roasted, Maris Piper
