Gordon Ramsay has shared his top tips for cooking the perfect roast potatoes, and it turns out there are three extra ingredients you’ll need to make sure they’re extra crispy
Roast potatoes are a crucial part of the Christmas dinner, but there’s always a debate about the best way to cook them. Luckily, TV chef Gordon Ramsay has revealed his “secret” to perfecting this popular dish, using just three additional ingredients.
The multi-Michelin starred chef advises that anyone aiming to prepare the “perfect” roast potatoes should have fresh thyme, bay leaves and garlic on hand.
In an interview with The Times, Ramsay shared: “The secret to the perfect roast potato, simmer your potatoes in water with bay leaves, fresh thyme and garlic. Then, once they are parboiled, drain off the water, crank up the gas and put them back on the heat for 30 seconds, shaking the pan.
“Then leave them to steam, the longer the better. The edges will become fluffy and they will absorb more of the flavours of the herbs and garlic.Then roast in hot oil.”
While many rely on goose fat for their ideal roastie, Ramsay, 58, suggests that vegetable oil can do the job just as well.
“People get obsessed by goose fat but to be honest, vegetable oil is just fine, but don’t use too much. You want the potatoes to roast, not to deep fry,” he said.
The father-of-six told The Times that he plans to host 25 people on Christmas Day, including his wife Tana, their two youngest sons, Oscar 5, and Jesse, 1, at their home in southwest London.
Gordon Ramsay’s household is set for a bustling Yuletide as his adult children, Meg, Jack, Holly and Tilly, plan on returning home for the holidays after flying the nest amidst widespread renovations.
On their plans, Gordon gleefully revealed, “Lo and behold I found out last week that they’ve all put their apartments up for rent and they’re going to be moving back in. It’s going to be crazy.”
The celebrity chef paints a picture of Christmas tradition with a late morning feast, saying, “We like to stretch the day out and enjoy as much daylight as possible because it goes quickly.”
He also outlines the family strategy for a merry Christmas: “The rule for a happy Christmas is delegate, delegate, delegate. Everybody will muck in. Meg and Tilly love their vegetables so they’re brilliant on veg prep. Holly takes care of decorations and Jack’s obsessed with cooking meat. He does it brilliantly.”
