What are dreams made of? Mine do involve, crispy potatoes, garlicky and cheesy goodness.. voila here we have my dream. If you are used to roasting potatoes, you should level up and try the smashing which is both easier and a lot tastier technique! It makes the potatoes unbelievably crispy while still leaving the center buttery and tender.. yummm. This recipe is all about the technique of smashing, so once you master this feel free to swap out the garlic/cheese for other herbs or spices to switch it up.. potatoes work with almost everything!
Preheat oven to 425°F/220C. In a large pot, cover potatoes with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring water to a boil and simmer until potatoes are tender which normally takes about 15 minutes. Drain the water and let sit until cool enough to handle.
On a large baking sheet, toss the potatoes with melted butter, garlic, and thyme. Now its time for the fun part, smashing; Using bottom of a small glass or a jar, press down on potatoes to smash them flat.
Season with salt and pepper to taste, then sprinkle with a good amount of Parmesan.
Bake until potatoes are beginning to crisp and the Parmesan on top is golden, about 25 minutes. Enjoy!
Here are some popular variations of smashed potatoes: