The cooking expert shared a video on his TikTok account revealing his five-step method for making the most delicious roast potatoes – and it’s not what you’d expect
Roasties with the perfect crispy exterior and fluffy inside can be a challenge to master in just an oven.
But for those without an air fryer, one TikTok culinary whizz has shared their unbeatable technique for achieving the ultimate roast potatoes. In his latest clip, Ara (@sheffara) shares: “This is exactly how to make the best roast potatoes you’ve ever had using tricks that I’ve picked up from chefs and other creators. And we all know the greatest of all time is the Maris Piper.”
Ara insists on chopping the potatoes uniformly – not too chunky nor too tiny, reports the Express. The social media sensation began by peeling his choice of Maris Piper potatoes and then dicing them into quarters (roughly 2.5cm pieces). He suggests tossing them into a pot of boiling water but emphasizes that the water shouldn’t be bland, advising to season it well.
Ara advises: “Season your water. Not just with salt – feel free to add any kind of stock you like.” After incorporating a single jar of liquid stock into the boiling water, he cooked the potatoes until tender, then drained them. According to Ara, the next step is critical: after draining, the potatoes should be “fluffed” in the colander before being returned to the hot pan for ten minutes.
He recommends covering the pan with a lid or towel to let the potatoes steam dry. The TikTok sensation has revealed a “sprinkle” of semolina flour is the secret to achieving “extra crispy” potatoes. But when it comes to the ultimate cooking hack, the “magic ingredient” isn’t just any old fat it’s all about using goose or duck fat, and not just sloshing it over your spuds willy-nilly.
Ara shared his top tip: “Make sure you preheat your fat in the oven and add some flavour. I am adding the oil from a roasted garlic confit that I made.” He advises letting the fat melt slightly in a baking dish before introducing the potatoes, then roasting them for 40 minutes to an hour.
According to the TikTok expert: “After an hour in the oven and a sprinkle of rosemary salt, you’re gonna have the best potatoes you’ve ever had in your life.”