- 3 small to medium baking potatoes, halved lengthwise (longer, thinner potatoes work well)
- 2½ tablespoons olive oil
- ⅓ cup (30g) grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt and a few turns of the pepper mill
- Fresh chives or parsley, optional
Parmesan Crusted Potatoes
Yield: 6 servings
This recipe makes a delightful appetizer when using new potatoes. I cook the smaller varieties for about 30 minutes or until a knife can be inserted into the potatoes very easily. While three regular potatoes is the perfect number to fill a 9x9 or 7x11 baking dish, this recipe may be adapted easily, depending on the number of servings desired.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400℉.
- Coat the bottom of a 9×9 or 7×11 baking dish with the olive oil – the potatoes should fit in the dish with as little extra room as possible. (Helpful hint: Using a glass baking dish will allow you to accurately gauge how brown the potatoes are on the bottom.) Evenly distribute the grated Parmesan over the olive oil, and then sprinkle with the salt and pepper. (See notes.)
- Place the potato halves, cut side down, on top of the cheese mixture and bake for 45-50 minutes or until the potatoes are very tender when pierced with the tip of a knife. Check a few minutes early, as all ovens vary. (Helpful hints: If using a dark coated pan, the Parmesan will brown quicker than with a light colored or glass dish. Precise baking time will also vary depending on the thickness of potatoes.)
- Cool for 5 minutes before serving. Use a metal spatula to transfer to a serving platter or dinner plate, garnishing with snipped chives or parsley, if desired.
Notes
Want to make a bigger batch? If you wish to make enough to fit in a 9×13 pan, you will not need to fully double the olive oil. You want to just cover the bottom of the pan in a thin layer of oil, and then add enough Parmesan cheese to lightly cover the oil. After you have followed the recipe once or twice, you will be able to “eyeball” it.
Can I vary the type of potato? I tend to use small baking potatoes, although Yukon gold potatoes work well too. (Baking potatoes are starchier and fluffier compared to the creamier, denser gold potatoes.) Yukons are usually smaller and rounder, so you will need more to fill the pan and may need to reduce the cooking time.
Appetizer size: I sometimes make this recipe with bite-size new potatoes for use as an appetizer or salad topper. In that case, bake for approximately 30 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when a sharp knife poked through the skin meets no resistance.