How to Roast Crispy Potatoes - with an Onion & Sour Cream Dip

When it comes to potato dishes, my favorite is mashed potatoes, and my second favourite is baked potatoes.

To make the best baked potatoes, you certainly need some tricks. Simply putting them in the oven will only result in hard and dry potatoes. Follow these three key points, and I guarantee your baked potatoes will go from a C- to an A+!

1）Boil Before Baking

Many people put potatoes directly into the oven, but this results in very dry potatoes without that soft, fluffy interior. This is because potatoes need over an hour to cook through and crisp up when put directly in the oven. Think about it: potatoes aren't very moist to begin with, so how can they not dry out after more than an hour in the oven?

Therefore, before baking, put the potatoes in boiling water for about 10 minutes. This not only speeds up the cooking process but, most importantly, allows the potatoes to absorb enough moisture. This way, the baked potatoes will be crispy on the outside, while the inside remains soft and fluffy due to sufficient moisture, resulting in a full-flavored potato.

The secret to achieving a crispy exterior and soft interior is to boil the potatoes in boiling water for 10 minutes before baking, allowing them to absorb enough moisture.

2）Shake the potatoes for Extra Crispiness

After boiling the potatoes, don't rush to put them in the oven right away. By adding one extra step, you can greatly enhance the crispiness of your baked potatoes - shake them about a dozen times! After draining the water, whether you keep the potatoes in a colander or transfer them to a deep pot, vigorously shake the container with the potatoes about 10-15 times. After completing this ritual, you'll notice that the surface of the potatoes seems to have developed a rough texture. This exposed starch layer helps the potatoes become crispier during baking!

3）Pay attention to Baking Time

The last point might seem like common sense, but it's worth mentioning. Since oven temperatures can vary between households, you shouldn't blindly follow the cooking time stated in recipes. While baking, observe how the potato surface browns. In my oven, it takes 50 minutes for the potatoes to turn golden brown. Readers can use this as a reference and adjust accordingly. During baking, if you notice uneven browning, you can open the oven and flip the potatoes. The goal is to achieve a golden brown color on most of the potato surface.

With perfectly baked potatoes, adding a dipping sauce is the icing on the cake. This incredibly rich onion sour cream sauce combines the sweetness of onions with the aroma of garlic powder. When paired with baked potatoes, it's absolutely delicious!

Ingredients (serve 2-4)

---

Basic Ingredients

Potatoes	700g
Salt	1 pinch
Olive Oil	to taste

Onion & Sour Cream Dip

Onion	½ bulb
Sour Cream	150g
Mayonnaise	1 tbsp
Dijon Mustard	1 tsp
Parsley (Chopped)	2 sprigs
Paprika	1 tsp
Garlic Powder	1 tsp
Salt	½ tsp

Steps

---

1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into small chunks.

2. Take a baking tray, add an appropriate amount of olive oil, then place the tray in the oven. Set the oven temperature to 200°C for preheating.

3. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the potatoes, and cook for 10 minutes after the water returns to a boil.

4.　After cooking the potatoes, drain them and then vigorously shake them about 10-15 times in a colander or deep pot, or until the surface looks slightly roughened.

5. Remove the baking tray from the oven. Place the shaken potatoes on it, evenly coating them with the oil in the tray. Then put the tray back in the oven and bake at 200°C for 40-50 minutes.

6. While the potatoes are baking, prepare the onion sour cream sauce: Finely chop the onions. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a frying pan, add the onions, and sauté for 10 minutes until caramelized. Remove from heat and set aside.

7. Mix together the caramelized onions, sour cream, mayonnaise, mustard, chopped parsley, paprika, garlic powder, and salt until well combined.

8. Once the potatoes are done baking, remove them from the oven. Serve with the onion sour cream sauce and enjoy!