Wine & shallot roast potatoes recipe
Crispy potatoes have a 'boat-load of flavour'

This is the roast potato's fancier sister, who comes home for the holidays and judges the whole family, said Poppy O'Toole. It's rather posh – but delicious. There are a boat-load of flavours going on, but they all complement each other beautifully without any single element overpowering the rest. I’m also a big believer in minimal waste – and this dish is a great way to use up leftover wine.
Ingredients:
- 800g Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 1 vegetable stock cube
- 100ml neutral oil
- 200ml white wine
- 1⁄2 shallot, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 50g butter, cubed
- 2 rosemary sprigs, leaves finely chopped
- 2 thyme sprigs, leaves finely chopped
- salt and black pepper
Method:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
- Get your potatoes into a saucepan of cold water, crumble in the stock cube and season with a touch of salt. Place the pan over a high heat and bring the water to the boil. Reduce the heat and leave the potatoes on a gentle boil for 10-15 minutes, until they fall off the tip of a knife. Drain in a colander.
- Leave the potatoes in the colander, over the pan on the turned-off hob, to steam-dry with a tea towel over the top for 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat the oven to 240°C/220°C fan/475°F/Gas 9, and get the oil into a baking tray. Pop the tray in the oven to get the oil hot.
- Once the spuds have steam-dried, carefully add them to the hot oil in the baking tray. Pop the potatoes in the oven for 20 minutes, then remove the tray from the oven. Turn the heat down to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/Gas 6. Give the potatoes a turn and return them to the oven for 30 minutes, until golden and crunchy. You may need less or more time, so keep an eye out.
- During the last 15 minutes of the potato roasting time, make your reduction. Get a large, high-sided frying pan (like a sauté pan) and add the wine, shallot and garlic. Place this over a high heat and bring the liquid to a rapid boil, leaving it to boil until reduced by about half. Then, reduce the heat and, little by little, whisk in the butter and chopped herbs, until you have a velvety sauce.
- Toss the potatoes in the saucy reduction and season with salt and black pepper. Enjoy!
Taken from Poppy Cooks: The Potato Book, published by Bloomsbury at £22. To buy from The Week Bookshop for £19.99, visit theweekbookshop.co.uk.
Sign up for The Week's Food & Drink newsletter for recipes, reviews and recommendations.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why does the U.S. need China's rare earth metals?
Today's Big Question Beijing has a 'near monopoly' on tech's raw materials
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
When did divorce begin?
The Explaine Couples have always split up, but the institution has undergone major changes over the years
By David Faris
-
What are your retirement savings account options?
The explainer The two main types of accounts are 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs)
By Becca Stanek, The Week US
-
Exploring the three great gardens of Japan
The Week Recommends Beautiful gardens are 'the stuff of Japanese landscape legends'
By The Week UK
-
One-pan black chickpeas with baharat and orange recipe
The Week Recommends This one-pan dish offers bold flavours, low effort and minimum clean up
By The Week UK
-
G20: Viola Davis stars in 'ludicrous' but fun action thriller
The Week Recommends The award-winning actress plays the 'swashbuckling American president' in this newly released Prime Video film
By The Week UK
-
6 must-see homes in Boston
Feature Featuring a factory-turned-loft in South Boston and a wraparound roof deck in South End
By The Week US
-
Cartier at the V&A: a 'dazzling' show
The Week Recommends A 'once-in-a-lifetime' display of the French jeweller's 'exquisite' objects
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK
-
What is Free Speech?: a 'meticulous' look at the evolution of freedom of expression
The Week Recommends Fara Dabhoiwala provides both history and critique while 'correcting misconceptions'
By The Week UK
-
Rupert Gavin shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The theatre impresario picks works by Dan Jones, Annie Ernaux and Floella Benjamin
By The Week UK
-
What They Found: Sam Mendes's powerful debut documentary
The Week Recommends The Oscar-winning director's harrowing film features footage and first-hand accounts of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
By The Week UK