Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary

Ah, violence! Aren't there times you just want to unleash your inner beast, rev up those primal urges & just have a go at everything in sight. Well, hold it together tigress (or tiger) - we live in a civilized society after all :) Still, there are ways to let your passions flow & make a great dish out of it in the process. Take these Crispy Smashed Potatoes for instance - bash, bash, bash, add a li'l seasoning & bake to crispiness & you have a scrumptious, yummilicious dish on your hands. Oh boy! Didn't that smashing feel good. Mr. Hulk, you listening? ;) And it feels even better when you sink your teeth through the crispy outer surface and encounter the soft tenderness on the inside - it feels like a combo of seasoned french fries & mashed potatoes rolled in one delicious bite....yum, total nirvana :)

Crispy Smashed Potatoes are really quick & easy to make with basic ingredients - some potatoes, some seasonings & a hammer (um, don't take the hammer literally!). This popular dish is also really versatile in preparation - I have used the seasonings that I felt go best in this dish, but feel free to play around & experiment with your own set of seasonings. These Crispy Smashed Potatoes are so good as a side dish to your favorite steak, meatloaf or roast chicken, or serve them up as party starters with a sour cream dip.

Smashed, baked to a crisp & devoured - I almost would feel sorry for those poor potatoes if they were not so finger-lickin' delicious. Ah well, like all good things in life - they serve a higher purpose. So head off to the kitchen & let that adrenaline flow - you don't want to make the potatoes wait for their calling :)  

CRISPY  SMASHED  POTATOES  RECIPE

Ingredients:
12 small red or Yukon gold potatoes (about 1 - 1 1/2 inches in diameter)
Kosher Salt to taste
Freshly ground Black Pepper to taste
Garlic Powder to taste
Smoked Paprika to taste
1 tbsp finely chopped Rosemary (or any other Herb/s of your choice - Chives, thyme etc.) or to taste

1 tbsp Olive Oil for brushing
Olive Oil for spritzing

How to make Crispy Smashed Potatoes

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 
2. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Salt the water generously. 
3. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until potatoes are fork tender, about 20 minutes. Drain & let them cool for around 10 minutes.
4. Spritz a large baking sheet pan generously with olive oil. Arrange the boiled potatoes on the baking sheet, leaving about one and a half inches of space between the potatoes.
5. Smash potatoes with the bottom of a drinking glass (or your tool of choice) to about 1/2 inch thickness. Brush the tops of each smashed potato with olive oil.
6. Sprinkle potatoes with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika & chopped rosemary.
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the potatoes are crispy and golden brown around the edges.
8. Remove from oven & transfer to a serving platter. Serve immediately.