Cuban Crushed Potatoes
These potatoes are so easy to make, a really great addition to any meal. They are perfect for an appetizer as well.
These potatoes are so easy to make, a really great addition to any meal. They are perfect for an appetizer as well.
- Carbohydrate 39.6163275 g
- Cholesterol 7.76225 mg
- Fat 6.24700875 g
- Fiber 5.52212510085106 g
- Protein 6.75669375 g
- Saturated Fat 2.16488225 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (229g)
- Sodium 79.50975 mg
- Sugar 34.0942023991489 g
- Trans Fat 0.275373125 g
- Calories 235 calories
Step-by-step
- Wash potatoes well and place in salted water.
- Bring to boil and cook till fork tender (15-20 minutes).
- Mix oil with crushed garlic clove....and any herbs you like. Set aside.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment. Place the potatoes on the parchment. Using a potato crusher, crush the potatoes carefully. You may also use a paper towel and press the potatoes with your palm. Just be gentle.
- Sprinkle some salt and pepper. Drizzle the garlic oil herb mixtrure over the potatoes. Add some Parmesan/Pepper Jack cheese and chives.
- Broil for 7-10 minutes or until nice and crispy.
- Sprinkle with additional chives. Sometimes, I bake the potatoes with the Parmesan cheese for 10-15 minutes, add the Pepper Jack cheese at the last moment, and then broil until golden brown.
Unlike smooth, whipped mash that relies on heavy dairy incorporation for richness, smashed preparations depend entirely on maximizing surface area and direct dry heat. Success with this style of potato hinges on the initial boiling stage: tubers must reach absolute fork-tenderness throughout, requiring 15 to 20 minutes in salted water, so that the cell walls collapse cleanly under physical pressure without shattering into irregular shards. Pressing down too firmly on undercooked flesh creates dangerous breaks, while overcooking turns the starch into paste before it hits the baking sheet. Infusing the olive oil with crushed garlic beforehand allows the raw sulfur compounds in the Allium to mellow slightly in the lipid medium before application, preventing bitter spots under the broiler. Parchment paper lining the baking sheet is mandatory for releasing the melted cheese as it browns during the 7 to 10 minute broil. Staggering the addition of hard cheeses like parmesan versus melting cheeses like pepper jack ensures the lower-fat variety forms a lacy frico crust without burning the dairy fats. Home cooks requiring dietary modifications can easily substitute nutritional yeast for the dairy components or use neutral grapeseed oil instead of olive oil without losing the crucial crunch. Retaining structural integrity while building exterior crispness demands precise moisture control at every single phase.
