Albert Bartlett x Chef Stevie McLaughlin: How to Make Perfect Christmas Roast Potatoes

Albert Bartlett, the UK’s leading potato brand, is delighted to partner with Michelin Star
Chef Stevie McLaughlin to reveal his 10 top tips for preparing the perfect potatoes this
festive season.

Whether you love crispy roasties, luxurious dauphinois, silky mash or
just want the tastiest Christmas sides, Chef Stevie’s expert hacks will ensure you “bring
out your best side” for friends and family.

10 Top Tips for the Perfect Christmas Potatoes

1. Choose the Right Potato: For roasties opt for Albert Bartlett’s Original Rooster
   and for mash the Albert Bartlett Butter Gold potatoes for unbeatable texture and
   flavour.
2. Perfect Roasties: Don’t parboil your Roosters… they don’t like it! Simmer them
   gently in unsalted water. Test them once or twice with a small, pointed knife or a
   thin skewer to make sure that they are just cooked. No colander needed – use a
   slotted spoon to remove the potatoes from the water. Carefully spoon them on to
   a wire cooling rack and allow to sit until all the steam has disappeared.. then add
   them to your hot oil/goose fat.
3. Dreamy Dauphinois: For a super Lux festive feel to your Christmas Dauphinoise
   add a generous spoonful creamy mascarpone to your garlicky milk and cream.
   When you have all the sliced potato layers piled high sprinkle the top with freshly
   grated gruyere cheese and a add a tiny springle of ground allspice.
4. Ultimate Mash: for the lightest mash steam your potatoes then squeeze them
   through a potato ricer. Warm milk and plenty of butter for a smooth, rich mash.
   Top chefy tip though….. use a whisk to blend in the butter! This will make your
   mash as silky smooth as it can be.
5. Get Ahead: Prep your potatoes the day before—peel and cover in cold water to
   save valuable cooking time on Christmas Day.
6. Seasoning Matters: Make a special Christmas Day Roasties seasoning! Start
   trailing your recipe as far out from the big day as you can so you can tweak and
   perfect it well in advance. My recipe that our family loves is a blend of flaky sea
   salt, dried sage and onion powder.
7. Herb Up: For wonderfully aromatic Christmas Day Roasties add a 2 big sprigs of
   rosemary, a couple of star anis and a cinnamon stick to your potatoes for the last
   20 minutes of roasting. Then just before you take your roasties to the table finely
   grate the zest of an orange or a clementine, or both over your special festive
   Roast potatoes!
8. Crispy Skins: Don’t discard skins—use them for crispy potato skins to serve as
   snacks or canapés. Sprinkle your crispy skins with a hot smoked paprika and a
   little flurry of finely grated parmesan. For an amazing home-pimped dip add
   some hot water, to hummus then season it all with some tahini, crushed garlic
   and lemon juice – whisk this all together and sprinkle a little more paprika over
   and top with loads of crispy fried shallots.
9. Cheesy Boost: Add mature cheddar, thinly sliced spring onions and snipped
   chives to your Christmas Day mash for the ultimate cheese and onion classic
   combo for a savoury Christmas Day twist!
10. Finish Strong: Finish roasties with smoked sea salt and crispy fried bacon bits
    and a twist of freshly milled black pepper.
    

Chef Stevie McLaughlin Says:
“The right potato brings out the best side of your Christmas menu. Your potato variety
choice and which potato dishes to serve is right up there and as important as the turkey
that you choose for your table too. With Albert Bartlett’s top quality and a touch of
festive flair, you’re guaranteed delicious results every time”

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