Lemon Garlic Potatoes Recipe

These Greek Roasted Lemon Garlic Potatoes are a delicious and easy way to serve potatoes. They’re full of flavor, crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.

If you are looking for a fantastic side dish, you have to try these potatoes. Their simplicity is wonderful, but don’t let that fool you. The flavors are top-notch.

Mediterranean cuisine is something I’m focusing a lot more on these days. It’s heart-healthy and goes a long way to helping you live longer and healthier overall. These Greek-style potatoes are one of many Mediterranean dishes you will find here. If you’ve been thinking about trying a Mediterranean diet, I can’t encourage you enough to give it a try. The food is phenomenal! It’s fresh, vibrant, and definitely impossible to get bored with.

The Allure Of Roasted Potatoes

Roasted potatoes are universally loved the world over. They make a fantastic side dish for just about anything, and the flavors are always comforting and homey. With crisp outsides and soft, tender insides, they’re a magical combination that few can turn down.

Tips for Perfect Roasted Potatoes Every Time

1. Spread the potatoes out in a single layer on your baking sheet. Overcrowding the potatoes can lead to steaming instead of roasting, hindering the browning process.
2. Halfway through cooking, flip or stir the potatoes to get even browning on all sides.
3. If the potatoes haven’t achieved the desired color towards the end of the cooking time, you can increase the oven temperature slightly and continue roasting for a few more minutes, keeping a close eye on them to avoid burning them.
4. For an extra crispy texture, you can finish the potatoes under the broiler for a few minutes, but be attentive to prevent burning. This isn’t something you can walk away from. Watch them closely.

What Dishes Go Well With Lemon Garlic Potatoes?

Grilled or Roasted Meat

• Lamb: Roasted Greek potatoes are a classic side dish for lamb dishes, such as Greek-style roasted lamb chops or lamb souvlaki.
• Chicken: Grilled or roasted chicken, whether it’s seasoned with Mediterranean herbs or a lemon-garlic marinade, goes wonderfully with Greek potatoes.
• Pork: Roasted pork tenderloin or pork chops seasoned with Greek-inspired spices like oregano, garlic, and lemon zest can be a fantastic pairing.

Mediterranean-style Fish

• Grilled or baked fish seasoned with herbs like dill, parsley, or oregano complements the flavors of Greek potatoes. Consider dishes like grilled salmon with a lemon-herb marinade or baked cod with Mediterranean spices.

Greek Salads and Vegetables

• A fresh Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, olives, and feta cheese is a classic accompaniment to roasted Greek potatoes. It adds a refreshing contrast to the warm and savory potatoes.
• Steamed or roasted vegetables such as roasted bell peppers, zucchini, or eggplant seasoned with Mediterranean herbs can complement the potatoes.

Tzatziki or Greek Yogurt Sauce

• Serve roasted Greek potatoes with a side of tzatziki sauce or a simple Greek yogurt-based sauce with garlic, cucumber, and dill. The coolness of the sauce contrasts nicely with the warmth of the potatoes.

Moussaka or Pastitsio

• Traditional Greek dishes like moussaka (a layered casserole with eggplant, minced meat, and béchamel sauce) or pastitsio (a baked pasta dish with meat sauce and creamy béchamel) can be served with roasted Greek potatoes.

Do I Have To Buy Mini Potatoes?

No. It’s a personal preference. I feel like mini potatoes are easier to work with, but you can certainly use any potato you prefer. That said…

What Are The Best Potatoes For Roasting?

• Yukon gold
• Fingerling
• Baby potatoes

You can use Russet potatoes if you want, but they don’t roast as well as other types of potatoes.

How Do I Cut Potatoes For This Lemon Garlic Potatoes Recipe

No matter which potatoes you use, you’ll want to make sure you cut them in a uniform size so they all cook evenly and at the same time. You want to cut your potatoes into chunks, but the size of the chunks is up to you. The size is less important than making sure they are all cut to about the same size. That said, I wouldn’t make the chunks too large, or they will take forever to cook.

Smaller cuts require more cutting time and less cooking time.

Larger cuts require less cutting time but more cooking time.

Should You Soak Cut Potatoes Before Baking?

Here again, the choice is yours. Soaking the potatoes removes excess starch, which helps them roast better. You can actually roast them longer to get a crispy crust because the starch won’t be there to burn.

If you choose to soak your potatoes, do so in cold water for 1 hour before roasting. Pat them dry with a clean towel or paper towel, then toss them with the oil and spices.

Should I Boil My Potatoes Before Roasting?

This is much the same as soaking them. It removes starch and softens the inside so that all you have to do is roast the outside. Again, it’s up to you. I did not boil or soak my potatoes before making this.

How Do You Not Burn Garlic When Roasting Potatoes?

Fresh, minced garlic will burn if it’s in the oven for as long as these Lemon Garlic Potatoes need to roast in the oven.. To prevent this, you can roast the potatoes halfway, remove them to toss with the garlic, and then return them to the oven. It’s an extra step, but if you really want to enjoy all that garlic, I highly recommend it.

Recipe Tips For Lemon Garlic Potatoes

1. Choose the Right Potatoes: For better texture and flavor, use waxy potatoes like baby potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes. They hold their shape well and have a creamier texture after roasting.
2. Cut Evenly: Try to cut the potatoes into uniform sizes. This ensures even cooking; smaller pieces might cook faster and become crispy, while larger ones might remain undercooked.
3. Preheat the Oven: Make sure your oven is fully preheated to the specified temperature before placing the potatoes inside. A hot oven helps to achieve that crispy exterior.
4. Use Good-Quality Olive Oil: Quality olive oil contributes significantly to the dish’s flavor. It needs to evenly coat the potatoes for better taste and texture.
5. Even Coating: Mix the potatoes thoroughly with the seasoning mixture, ensuring each piece is well coated. This step is crucial for even flavor distribution.
6. Single Layer: Spread the potatoes out in a single layer on the baking sheet. Overcrowding can lead to steaming instead of roasting, resulting in less crispy potatoes.
7. Check and Flip: Gently flip the potatoes with a spatula about halfway through the cooking time. This helps achieve even browning on all sides.
8. Adjust Cooking Time: Oven temperatures and potato sizes can vary. Keep an eye on the potatoes toward the end of the cooking time. If they need more time to achieve the desired crispiness and golden brown color, let them cook a bit longer.
9. Test for Doneness: Pierce a potato piece with a fork to check for tenderness. They should be fork-tender inside while being crispy outside when done.
10. Season to Taste: Taste the potatoes once cooked and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can add more salt, pepper, or a squeeze of lemon juice for a brighter flavor.

What’s In Lemon Garlic Potatoes?

Baby potatoes – Or any potatoes you prefer, cut into about 1-inch thick pieces.

Fresh garlic – Many people opt to add more garlic than a recipe calls for. But I encourage you to stick to the amount listed in the recipe so you don’t overwhelm the flavor of the potatoes.

Fresh lemon juice – One lemon should be plenty unless it’s not very juicy. You’ll also want a little extra to squeeze on after the potatoes have been roasted as a “garnish” to freshen up the flavor.

Extra-virgin olive oil – Use the best quality oil you can afford.

Dried oregano

Dried thyme

Dried, ground rosemary

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Optional Garnishes For Lemon Garlic Potatoes

• Chopped fresh parsley
• Crumbled feta cheese

How To Make Perfect Roasted Greek Lemon Garlic Potatoes

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C), and gather all your ingredients.

In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients.

Arrange the seasoned potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and roast the potatoes for about 40-45 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Flip the potatoes halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.

Once done, remove the roasted potatoes from the oven. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Transfer the potatoes to a serving dish, and add garnish if you want it just before serving.

How Long Do Leftover Potatoes Last?

These potatoes will keep in the fridge for about 4 days if packed well in an airtight container.

How To Freeze Roasted Potatoes

You can freeze roasted potatoes if you are careful with how you do it. Here are the things you have to watch for:

1. Cooling Down: Allow the roasted potatoes to cool completely at room temperature before freezing. It’s essential to prevent condensation, which can lead to sogginess.
2. Packaging: Transfer the cooled roasted potatoes into airtight freezer-safe containers or resealable freezer bags. Make sure you remove as much air as possible before sealing to prevent freezer burn.
3. Labeling: Label the containers or bags with the freezing date to keep track of how long they’ve been in the freezer.
4. Freezing: Place the containers or bags of roasted potatoes in the freezer. Try to lay them flat to maximize freezer space and prevent them from sticking together.
5. Best Practices: For the best quality, use frozen roasted potatoes within 2 to 3 months. They’re safe to eat beyond this period, but the texture and taste might degrade over time.

Reheating Lemon Garlic Potatoes

From frozen: When you’re ready to use the frozen roasted potatoes, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator first.

From cold: Reheat them in an oven or toaster oven to help restore their crispiness. Avoid using the microwave, as it can make the potatoes soggy.

More Healthy Potato Recipes

• Accordion Potatoes
• Country Potatoes
• Bombay Potatoes

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