These amazing smashed potatoes go by many other names. Australians call them hot crash potatoes and some people call them crushed potatoes. Whatever you call them, you'll want to make them soon. They make a great appetizer or side dish.
2poundspotatoes, very small, 1 1/2" to 2" diameter
2teaspoonssalt, for boiling
1tablespoonolive oil
1 1/2teaspoonsgarlic powder, or to your taste
1teaspoonsalt, or to your taste
1/4teaspoonblack pepper, freshly cracked, or to your taste
1/4cupParmesan cheese, grated
2tablespoonsparsley, fresh, finely chopped, for garnishing (optional)
Dipping Sauce
1 1/2cups yogurt, or Greek yogurt
1/2lemon, zested
1/2 lemon, juiced
1clovegarlic, minced
2tablespoonsparsley, fresh, finely chopped
1tablespoonchives, fresh, finely chopped
1tablespoondill, or cilantro, fresh, finely chopped
1pinchsalt
1pinchblack pepper
Instructions
Bring about 8 cups of water to a boil and add the 2 teaspoons of salt. Add the potatoes and boil gently until they are tender and are pierced easily with a fork.
Preheat the oven to 450ºF.
While the potatoes are boiling, make the dipping sauce. To make the sauce, simply combine all of the ingredients together in a bowl and set it aside until you need it, to give the flavors a chance to meld together.
Drain the potatoes really well. Transfer the well drained potatoes to a baking sheet, making sure they are evenly spaced on the pan.
To smash the potatoes: Use a potato masher or the flat bottom of a drinking glass. Gently press down on the individual potatoes until they break open (see image below). Press down until they are about 1/2" thick. Make sure you press fairly gently on the potato masher to make sure you just break the potatoes open. You don't want them flat and totally broken apart.
Drizzle the top of the potatoes with the olive oil then sprinkle them with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bake in 450ºF oven for 15 minutes. Take the baking pan out of the oven, flip all of the potatoes over and drizzle the second side with the olive oil. Return the pan to the hot oven and bake for another 12 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are crisp on the outside and the edges are a golden brown.
Leaving them on the pan, sprinkle the potatoes with the Parmesan cheese and put them back into the oven for another 2 to 3 minutes at the same temperature. The Parmesan cheese will melt a bit.
Garnish with the chopped parsley if desired and serve while they are nice and hot. Serve the potatoes with the dipping sauce on the side.