Upper Crust Potatoes Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Add the potatoes to a large saucepan and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Add the baking soda and 1 tablespoon salt to the water. Cover, place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Uncover and continue to boil until the potatoes give easily when pierced with the tip of a knife, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and set the strainer over the top of the pan for a few minutes so the outsides of the potatoes can dry.
• Dump the potatoes onto a baking sheet. Drizzle with the oil and toss with the garlic, thyme and rosemary until the potatoes are completely coated in the oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Using a small juice glass or glass bowl, smash each potato firmly but gently. (You want to just crack the skins and flatten slightly while keeping the potatoes mostly intact.)
• Roast until the bottoms of the potatoes are deep golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and flip the potatoes using a spatula. Roast until the potatoes are golden brown and crispy on both sides, an additional 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a platter with a metal spatula. Serve while hot.

Steps:

• Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and place on the center rack of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (see Cook's Note).
• For the Parmesan potatoes: Toss the potatoes, thyme sprigs, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a large bowl until combined. Carefully remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Lay the potatoes cut-side-down in an even layer. Bake until tender and golden brown, about 35 minutes.
• For the smoked paprika aioli: Meanwhile, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon, paprika, garlic, a pinch of salt and a couple grinds of black pepper in a small bowl until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and push the potatoes to one side of the pan (try to give yourself as much empty surface area as possible). Lightly spray the foil with more cooking spray, then sprinkle the Parmesan in an even layer over the empty space on the baking sheet, making sure to go all the way to the edges to create a roughly 14-by-12-inch rectangle. Place the potatoes on top of the Parmesan layer, cut-side down, so that all the potatoes are sitting on the cheese.
• Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake until all the Parmesan is golden brown and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes more. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes, then use a spatula to lift the crispy, cheesy potatoes off the pan (some potatoes will come off individually while others will come off in pairs). Serve with the smoked paprika aioli on the side.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Heavily oil a 9-inch metal pie pan. Squeeze out excess liquid from grated potatoes and place in large bowl. Mix in salt And egg until well combined. Press potatoes into pie pan and up the sides. If mixture is too sticky, dip fingers in flour. Bake crust for 30 minutes or until it begins to turn golden brown, brushing occasionally with oil.
• In a medium skillet melt butter over medium heat and cook onion until tender. Stir in the mushrooms and cook until golden brown.
• Spread grated cheese over bottom of potato crust. Spread out the onion and mushroom mixture over the cheese. In a medium bowl, whisk or beat together with a fork the eggs and the cream. Season mixture with salt and pepper and pour over vegetables and cheese.
• Reduce oven heat to 375 degrees F and bake for 40 minutes or until firm. Allow quiche to cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to center position and heat to 425 degrees, or 400 degrees if using convection. (Convection is recommended, if available.) Combine potato chunks, 2 quarts water, baking soda and salt in a large saucepan.
• Cut a 10-by-10-inch square out of cheesecloth and place bay leaves, peppercorns, garlic cloves and herb sprigs in the center. Gather up the corners of the cloth into a pouch, and tie off with butcher's twine. Add bundle to the pot with potatoes, and set over high heat. Bring to a boil, and cook until you can poke a knife into a larger chunk of potato without any resistance, about 10 minutes after the water comes to a boil.
• Drain potatoes in a colander and discard aromatic bundle. Line a 13-by-18-inch rimmed aluminum baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Transfer potatoes to a large bowl. Add melted butter and Parmesan. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Toss and fold with a rubber spatula until Parmesan, butter and starch form a slurry over the surface of the potatoes, about 30 seconds. Transfer potatoes to the prepared baking sheet and spread out so they are mostly separated from one another. (At this point, they can be allowed to cool, then transferred to a sealed container and stored in the refrigerator until ready to roast.)
• Transfer baking sheet to oven and roast potatoes until pale golden brown and sizzling on the bottom, about 20 minutes. Flip potatoes using a thin metal spatula and continue roasting until crisp and blond-gold on most sides, about 15 to 20 minutes longer. (Check frequently toward the end, and don't allow the potatoes to cook beyond a deep gold, or they will turn bitter.)
• Remove potatoes from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes on the pan before transferring to a serving platter.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Oil the bottom of a shallow 2-quart baking dish. Peel & very thinly slice the potatoes. Place them in a mixing bowl & add 3/4 cup of the cream. Toss to mix. Set aside. Melt the butter in a skillet & add the shallots & garlic. Saute over low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, do not brown. Add bay leaves & rosemary to the skillet. Whisk in the cream cheese, milk & remaining 3/4 cup cream. Simmer, whisking constantly, until smooth, 2 to 3 mins. Then add the paprika & salt & pepper. Discard the bay leaves & pour the mixture over the potatoes; toss gently. Arrange the potato mixture in a baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Sprinkle it first with the parmesan, & then with the panko. Bake until the potatoes are tender & the top is golden brown & bubbly, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Sprinkle with parsley & serve immediately.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Oil the bottom of a shallow 2 quart baking dish. Peel and very thinly slice the potatoes. Place them in a mixing bowl and add 3/4 cup of the heavy cream. Toss to mix. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a skillet, and add the shallots or onions and garlic. Saute over low heat for 3 - 4 minutes; DO NOT brown.
• Add the bay leaves and rosemary to the skillet. Whisk in the cream cheese, milk, and remaining 3/4 cup cream. Simmer, whisking constantly, until smooth, 2 - 3 minutes. Then add the paprika and salt and pepper. Discard the bay leaves and pour the mixture over the potatoes; toss gently. Arrange the potato mixture in the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Sprinkle it first with the Parmesan cheese, and then with the Ritz crackers or bread crumbs. Bake until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden brown and bubbly, 1 - 1 1/4 hours. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve immediately.