Irresistibly Crispy Fondant Potatoes: A Melt-in-Your-Mouth Delight

Fondant potatoes transform simple spuds into a gourmet treat.

These potato rounds are skillfully sliced and cooked to achieve a crispy outside with a soft, creamy inside.

The process involves browning them in butter with herbs for an irresistible taste that turns ordinary potatoes into something special.

Both seasoned chefs and cooking enthusiasts enjoy the visual charm and unique texture these potatoes offer, though they do require some patience to get just right.

High-end restaurants often use this method as proof of their kitchen’s attention to detail and skill level.

The end result is an impressive dish featuring crunchy edges paired with a smooth, buttery core that impresses diners and highlights how basic ingredients can shine when prepared thoughtfully.

Fondant Potatoes Ingredient List

Main Ingredients:

Potatoes: Starchy, cylindrical spuds with golden crispy exterior and soft interior. Russet or Yukon Gold work best for their smooth texture and ability to hold shape.

Vegetable Oil: High smoke point oil perfect for searing potatoes without burning. Neutral flavor ensures potato taste remains prominent.

Chicken Broth: Adds rich flavor and moisture during baking. Helps create tender potato interior.

Seasoning Ingredients:

Salt: Essential for enhancing potato flavor. Kosher or sea salt recommended for better texture.

Black Pepper: Provides mild heat and depth. Freshly ground pepper offers more intense flavor.

Aromatic and Fat Ingredients:

Butter: Creates rich, golden surface and adds luxurious flavor. Unsalted butter allows better seasoning control.

Thyme: Fresh herb that introduces earthy, slightly minty notes. Provides elegant fragrance and visual appeal.

How To Prepare Fondant Potatoes

Step 1: Prepare Potato Cylinders

• Trim potato ends
• Peel potatoes vertically to create uniform cylindrical shapes
• Cut each cylinder into two 2-inch pieces
• Soak potato pieces in cold water for 5 minutes
• Pat dry completely with paper towels

Step 2: Create Golden Crispy Exterior

• Heat vegetable oil in heavy oven-proof skillet until shimmering
• Place potato pieces with best-looking ends facing down
• Cook on medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes until golden brown
• Season with salt and black pepper
• Flip potatoes and brown opposite side for another 5-6 minutes

Step 3: Infuse Buttery Thyme Flavor

• Blot excess oil using paper towel and tongs
• Add butter and fresh thyme sprigs to skillet
• Brush melted butter over potato tops using thyme sprigs
• Sprinkle additional salt and pepper

Step 4: Roast to Tender Perfection

• Pour chicken broth into skillet
• Transfer skillet to preheated oven at 425°F
• Bake for 30 minutes until potatoes are tender
• If needed, add quarter cup broth and bake additional 10 minutes

Step 5: Serve and Garnish

• Transfer potatoes to serving platter
• Drizzle remaining buttery thyme sauce over potatoes
• Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs
• Allow 5 minutes cooling time before serving

Helpful Notes For Fondant Potatoes

• Prevent Starch Buildup: Soak potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch, ensuring a crispy exterior and smooth interior when cooking.
• Boost Flavor Intensity: Use fresh thyme sprigs and brush butter over potatoes to enhance their aromatic profile and create a rich, golden-brown surface.
• Select Perfect Potato Shape: Choose uniform, cylindrical potato pieces with smooth edges to achieve professional-looking fondant potatoes with consistent cooking.
• Control Cooking Temperature: Maintain medium-high heat while searing to develop a crispy golden crust without burning the potatoes' exterior.
• Customize Liquid Base: Substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth or white wine for different flavor variations and dietary preferences.

How To Store And Reheat Fondant Potatoes

• Refrigerate: Store leftover fondant potatoes in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Reheat in Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F, place potatoes on a baking sheet, and warm for 10-15 minutes until crispy edges return and center becomes hot.
• Microwave Option: For quick reheating, microwave potatoes in 30-second intervals, checking to prevent overcooking. Add a splash of chicken broth to maintain moisture.
• Avoid Freezing: Fondant potatoes lose their crispy texture when frozen, so best consumed within 3 days of original preparation.

What Goes Well With Fondant Potatoes

• Roasted Herb Chicken Pairing: Crispy roasted chicken with rosemary and garlic complements the golden-brown exterior and buttery interior of fondant potatoes, creating a harmonious main course combination.
• Bold Red Wine Match: Select a medium-bodied red wine like Pinot Noir or Beaujolais to cut through the richness of the buttery potatoes, enhancing the thyme's earthy notes and providing a sophisticated dining experience.
• Fresh Green Salad Accompaniment: Prepare a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to balance the potatoes' indulgent texture, adding a bright, zesty contrast that refreshes the palate between bites.
• Grilled Steak Duo: Serve the fondant potatoes alongside a perfectly grilled medium-rare steak, allowing the potatoes' crisp exterior and tender center to complement the meat's robust flavor profile.

Ways To Tweak Fondant Potatoes

• Herb-Infused Potatoes: Replace thyme with rosemary or sage for a different aromatic profile, creating a more robust and earthy flavor.
• Vegan Fondant Potatoes: Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth and use olive oil instead of butter to make the recipe plant-based and dairy-free.
• Spicy Garlic Version: Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes during the searing process for a kick of heat and extra savory complexity.
• Low-Carb Alternative: Substitute potatoes with turnips or rutabaga, maintaining the same cooking technique while reducing carbohydrate content for those following ketogenic diets.

Questions About Fondant Potatoes

• What are fondant potatoes?

Fondant potatoes are a classic French technique of preparing potatoes by creating a cylinder shape, searing them in oil, and then slowly roasting them in butter and broth until they develop a crispy golden exterior and a creamy, soft interior.

• Why do I need to soak the potatoes in cold water?

Soaking potatoes in cold water helps remove excess starch, which prevents them from becoming gummy and ensures a better crispy texture when cooking.

• Can I use a different type of potato?

Starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold work best for fondant potatoes because they create a creamy interior and can hold their shape during high-heat cooking.

• Do I need any special equipment to make fondant potatoes?

An oven-proof skillet is essential for this recipe. A sharp knife for shaping the potatoes and tongs for handling them will also make the process easier and more precise.

Why Fondant Potatoes Are Worth Making

• Quick Restaurant-Style Technique: Transform ordinary potatoes into elegant, golden cylinders with professional cooking methods that impress guests without requiring advanced culinary skills.
• Minimal Ingredient Magic: Create a luxurious side dish using just a few pantry staples like potatoes, butter, thyme, and chicken broth, making this recipe incredibly accessible and budget-friendly.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for weekend dinners, holiday gatherings, or sophisticated dinner parties, these potatoes complement virtually any main course from roasted meats to vegetarian entrees with their rich, buttery flavor and crispy exterior.
• Simple Precision Cooking: Achieve restaurant-quality results through easy step-by-step techniques that guarantee golden-brown edges and tender, creamy interiors, ensuring consistent success even for home cooks with limited experience.

Easy Crispy Fondant Potatoes Recipe

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4.5 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Golden Fondant Potatoes showcase classic French culinary elegance with crisp, buttery exteriors and silky smooth centers. Potato lovers will savor these delicate, herb-infused spuds that elevate simple ingredients into a luxurious side dish you cannot resist.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 russet potatoes (large)
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) high-heat vegetable oil (such as grapeseed oil)
• 3 tablespoons (45 grams) butter

Herbs and Seasonings:

• 4 sprigs fresh thyme (plus more for garnish)
• Salt (to taste)
• Ground black pepper (to taste)

Liquid:

• ½ cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth (more as needed)

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Instructions

1. Prepare your culinary workspace by warming the oven to a robust 425°F (220°C), ensuring a perfect roasting environment.
2. Transform russet potatoes into elegant cylindrical shapes by meticulously trimming the ends and carefully peeling the sides to create uniform two-inch segments.
3. Cleanse the potato cylinders by submerging them in cold water, allowing starch to dissolve, then thoroughly pat them dry with clean kitchen towels.
4. Heat a heavy cast-iron skillet with vegetable oil until it radiates an intense shimmer, strategically positioning potato pieces with their most attractive sides facing downward.
5. Sear the potatoes over medium-high temperature, developing a golden-brown exterior that promises exceptional texture, seasoning generously with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
6. Methodically rotate the potatoes, allowing an equally stunning caramelization on the alternate side, then delicately blot excess oil using kitchen paper.
7. Introduce fragrant butter and aromatic thyme sprigs, gently basting the potatoes to infuse rich, herbaceous notes throughout their surface.
8. Cascade chicken broth into the skillet, transforming the pan into a flavor-building vessel, then slide into the preheated oven for a 30-minute roasting journey.
9. Verify tenderness by piercing with a sharp knife; if needed, replenish with additional broth and continue roasting until perfectly creamy inside.
10. Present the fondant potatoes on an elegant platter, drizzling the concentrated thyme-infused butter sauce, and garnish with fresh thyme sprigs for a final flourish of culinary artistry.

Notes

• Opt for starchy potatoes like Russet or Maris Piper for the crispiest, most golden exterior and creamy interior.
• Ensure potatoes are completely dry before searing to achieve maximum browning and prevent oil splattering.
• Use a heavy cast-iron skillet for even heat distribution and perfect caramelization of potato surfaces.
• Choose unsalted butter to control the salt level and prevent over-seasoning during

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: British

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 280
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 400mg
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 36g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 20mg