Chef Charles Kim, known as Chef Fatty on TikTok, has shared a method for making roast potatoes that replaces oil or goose fat with ghee, or clarified butter.
In a recent video, the chef criticised British cooking, saying: “Why do the British always mess up a good thing? Beans on toast, mushy peas, jellied eels, and the roast potatoes. They invented it, but it never comes out right.”
Baking soda trick for extra crunch
The chef's first tip involves adding a quarter of a teaspoon of baking soda to the water when boiling the potatoes. He explained: “You see, baking soda is alkaline, which breaks down the surface of the potato.”
This method is also used by chef J Kenji López-Alt. The baking soda creates an alkaline environment that breaks down the potato's outer edges, releasing starches to form a starchy slurry that crisps up when roasted.
Ghee for the perfect coating
After boiling the potatoes for eight to 10 minutes until tender, the chef drains the starchy water and adds ghee directly to the saucepan. He recommends a couple of tablespoons to coat all the potatoes.
The potatoes are then seasoned with garlic salt and shaken to make the edges “extra craggy”.
Cooking instructions
Chef Fatty suggests air frying for 30 minutes at 450°F (approximately 230°C) or roasting in the oven on a wire rack or baking paper at the same temperature. If 30 minutes isn't long enough, he advises continuing to cook until the potatoes are crispy.
He concluded: “Now that’s a proper roast potato.”
