Dietitian and writer Christina Manian, RDN, has shared a simple ingredient that can transform roast potatoes: hot honey. According to her, this pantry staple adds flavour, warmth and sweetness, and can also help the potatoes crisp up in the oven.
Why hot honey works on roast potatoes
Writing for Simply Recipes, Christina explained that while salt and pepper are sufficient, she enjoys dressing potatoes up. She said: "While a simple seasoning of salt and pepper is more than enough, I love dressing them up, too. Lately, my favourite one-ingredient upgrade is something that is likely in your pantry: hot honey."
Hot honey has grown in popularity in recent years and shows little sign of fading. It lends a pleasing sweetness alongside a satisfying hint of heat, and can assist in caramelising and crisping the potatoes in the oven.
Two ways to cook roast potatoes with hot honey
Christina outlined two approaches. The first involves using large diced raw potatoes. Place them on a baking tray and coat them thoroughly in a mixture of salt, pepper, olive oil and hot honey, tossing well to ensure even coverage. Roast at 425°F (approximately 220°C) for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
The alternative technique adds an extra step: parboiling the potatoes before putting them in the oven. Either method will produce excellent results.
How much hot honey to use
Christina recommends adding one to two tablespoons of hot honey once the potatoes are on the baking tray. For those who want the flavour and golden colour without the spicy kick, regular honey works equally well.
She wrote: "While hot honey brings incredible flavour, regular honey works as well. It still brings all the browning benefits of hot honey but without the heat - a great fit for those who are sensitive to spice."
To take the flavour further, Christina suggests finishing the potatoes with an additional drizzle of hot honey straight from the oven, providing an "extra punch" of taste. She said: "More often than not, I can't help but add a second drizzle of hot honey to my crispy potatoes once they come out of the oven for an extra punch of stickiness, spice, and sweetness, since some of the flavour fades in the oven."
