Fondant Potatoes – Crispy Outside, Buttery Inside
If you’re looking for an elegant potato side dish that tastes like something from a fine restaurant, these Fondant Potatoes are a wonderful choice. With beautifully golden tops, tender centers, and rich buttery flavor, this classic French-inspired preparation transforms ordinary potatoes into something special.
Unlike mashed potatoes or traditional roasted potatoes, fondant potatoes are typically cut into thick cylinders, browned in a hot skillet, and gently cooked with butter and flavorful liquid until perfectly tender. The result is a delicious combination of textures: a beautifully caramelized exterior and a soft, almost creamy interior.
Fondant Potatoes are especially appealing because they look impressive without requiring elaborate ingredients. The key is careful preparation and patience. Cutting the potatoes into evenly sized pieces helps them cook consistently, while browning the flat surfaces develops the golden crust that makes this dish so recognizable.
For the best results, choose potatoes that hold their shape during cooking and follow the recipe’s instructions for trimming, seasoning, and browning. Allow the potatoes to develop a good crust before turning them, and avoid moving them around the skillet unnecessarily. Once browned, follow the recipe’s instructions for adding liquid and finishing the potatoes until they are tender throughout.
A sturdy oven-safe cast iron skillet is a useful kitchen tool for preparing fondant potatoes. Cast iron retains heat well, helping create an evenly browned surface, and can move from the stovetop to the oven when the recipe calls for it.
Serve these Fondant Potatoes alongside roasted chicken, grilled steak, pork chops, or another favorite main course. Their golden appearance and buttery flavor make them especially suitable for holiday dinners, date nights, and special occasions.
Whether you’re preparing an elegant meal for guests or simply want to elevate an everyday dinner, Fondant Potatoes offer a delicious way to turn a familiar ingredient into a memorable side dish.
Related Recipes: Side Dish Recipes, Lyonnaise Potatoes and Mustard-Roasted Potatoes
Not what you are looking for? Try these other great potato recipes. Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes or Garlic Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes.
Print
Fondant Potatoes
- Total Time: 1:00
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2–3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 3 garlic cloves peeled and crushed
- 2 cup vegetable broth
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes, cut off the ends use them in soup!, and cut them into about 1 ½-inch thick pieces. Pat the pieces with paper towel to remove some of the starch. For extra crispiness, soak the potatoes in water for 20 minutes, drain then pat dry.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F.
- In a large, oven-safe skillet, heat up the oil over medium-high heat. Place the potatoes into the skillet and fry for about 5-7 minutes, until the potatoes turn golden brown. Sprinkle them with some salt and pepper as they fry.
- Flip the potatoes over, sprinkle with salt and pepper again, and, as they cook, use a paper towel held with tongs and try to remove some of the oil from the skillet.
- Add the butter, rosemary sprigs, and garlic and fry the potatoes for about 3-4 minutes; then add the vegetable broth.Transfer the skillet to the hot oven.
- Bake for about 30-35 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked through. Pierce one of the potatoes with a toothpick or a knife to check if they are cooked.
- Garnish the potatoes with fresh rosemary sprigs, drizzle on some of the remaining liquid from the pan, or even make a gravy.* Enjoy!
Notes
HOW TO MAKE GRAVY – If you would like to make gravy to pour over these potatoes, remove the potatoes from the skillet and place the skillet on the stove top over medium heat. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of flour into it. Quickly stir with a wire whisk so that the flour gets incorporated into the drippings. Cook for a few minutes and slowly add in about ½ cup of the any type of broth. Allow the gravy to simmer and thicken until it reaches the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper, if needed.
- Prep Time: :10
- Cook Time: :50
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: French