As Christmas approaches, families across Britain are finalising their festive shopping lists, with one humble vegetable taking centre stage in traditional roast dinners - the perfect roast potato.
The Secret Step Everyone's Missing
TikTok creator and food blogger Harrison Webb has revealed his method for creating the ultimate roast potato, which has already attracted 795,600 views and 74,200 likes on the social media platform. His approach includes one crucial step that most home cooks overlook when preparing their spuds.
Harrison emphasised that the key to achieving that desirable crispy exterior lies in thoroughly rinsing the potatoes until the water runs completely clear. This essential preparation step removes excess starch and must be completed before parboiling begins.
The Complete Recipe for Perfection
Harrison's method requires one hour and 20 minutes of total cooking time, with the potatoes roasted in stages. The process begins with peeling and cutting potatoes into evenly sized cubes with edges to maximise surface area for crisping.
After rinsing, the potatoes are simmered in cold water with crushed garlic cloves, rosemary sprigs, and generous salt until tender. Once drained and dried, they're added to preheated goose fat in a roasting tin at 180 degrees.
The roasting process involves basting the potatoes at the 30-minute and one-hour marks. Harrison specifically advised home chefs not to rush the final stage, stating that an additional 20 minutes makes the crucial difference to achieving the perfect crispy exterior.
Flavour Enhancement and Public Reaction
To elevate the potatoes further, Harrison creates a simple rosemary salt by combining salt and a tablespoon of rosemary in a pestle, grinding until it becomes a fine powder, then adding grated lemon zest.
The recipe has generated enthusiastic responses online, with one commenter noting: "If there's one thing I trust from the English its potatoes. They know their stuff." Another viewer admitted: "It is 2:56am and now I'm pestering my man because I have a craving for roast potatoes."
Some users offered their own variations, with Sonia recommending boiling potatoes in water with apple cider vinegar for extra flavour.
Harrison Webb's Roast Potato Recipe
Ingredients:
- Floury potatoes
- Goose fat
- Two garlic cloves, crushed
- Four rosemary sprigs, plus one tablespoon
- Two tablespoons salt
- Lemon zest
Method:
- Peel potatoes and cut into evenly sized cubes with edges
- Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear
- Simmer in cold water with garlic, rosemary and salt until tender
- Drain and dry potatoes
- Heat goose fat in roasting tin at 180°C
- Add potatoes to hot fat and coat thoroughly
- Roast for 30 minutes, then baste
- Roast for another 30 minutes, then baste again
- Prepare rosemary salt by grinding with lemon zest
- Roast for final 20 minutes
- Drain excess fat and sprinkle with rosemary salt
With Christmas fast approaching, this method promises to deliver the perfect roast potatoes that could become the star of your festive table.
