Rating
5 / 2 votes
Comments 2 Comments
Adapted From Ana Patuleia Ortins
Photographer Hiltrud Schulz
Contents
- Portuguese Smashed Potato FAQs
- Portuguese Smashed Potatoes ~ Batatas à Murro Recipe
- Recipe Testers’ Reviews
This traditional Portuguese smashed potato dish, batatas à murro, is simply roasted potatoes that are given a bit of a smash at the end of the cooking time. This helps to cover them with lots of craggy edges that get extra crisp and tasty. Drizzled with fresh garlic, salt, and white wine vinegar, they become an utterly elegant and enchanting side dish. Although, they’re so superb that we think they’re easily an entrée, too.–Jenny Latreille
Portuguese Smashed Potato FAQs
What sized potatoes are best for smashed potatoes?
If crispy, craggy potatoes are what you’re looking for, then you’ll want to use a potato that’s no bigger than a golf ball. While large potatoes are great for some things, you’ll find that smaller-sized spuds will crisp up better, and they’ll cook faster too.
What size dish should I use for Portuguese smashed potatoes?
While you’re prepping this recipe, be sure to use a baking dish with enough room to spread out all your potatoes. If placed too close together, they’ll just steam and you won’t get the prized crispy outside. Use 2 half-baking sheets instead, if you need to.
What can I do if I don’t want to use raw garlic in my Portuguese smashed potatoes?
If you’re sensitive to raw garlic, in a small skillet, lightly cook the garlic in 1 tablespoon of olive oil or butter and use this to drizzle before serving, or add 1/2 teaspoon butter to the potato opening with the garlic and return to the oven for 5 minutes before drizzling with vinegar.
Can I top my potatoes with anything else?
Of course. Give this version of Portuguese punched potatoes that are smothered in melted cheese and caramelized onions a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Portuguese Smashed Potatoes ~ Batatas à Murro
5 / 2 votes
This popular but simple potato dish can be made on short notice. Waxy potatoes like Red Bliss, Idaho bakers, or new potatoes all work well in this recipe. If raw garlic is too much for you, give it a quick sizzle in a skillet to tame it.
David Leite
Save
CourseSides
CuisinePortuguese
Servings4 servings
Calories156 kcal
Prep Time15 minutes minutes
Cook Time1 hour hour
Total Time1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 8 small or 4 medium (16 to 21 oz) waxy potatoes, such as Yukon Gold, Baby Dutch Yellow, baby red, or fingerling, skins intact, scrubbed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
- 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt, or to taste
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- Wine vinegar, to drizzle (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
Place potatoes in a medium bowl and pierce them all over with a fork. Drizzle the olive oil over the potatoes, add the salt and gently toss until potatoes are well coated.
In a shallow baking dish, arrange the potatoes in a single layer without crowding them, and bake until tender, about 1 hour.
Using a pestle or the bottom of a glass tumbler, punch down each potato hard enough to break it open. Scatter the chopped garlic in the opening of each potato. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar, if desired. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 servingCalories: 156 kcalCarbohydrates: 21 gProtein: 3 gFat: 7 gSaturated Fat: 1 gMonounsaturated Fat: 5 gSodium: 1768 mgFiber: 2 gSugar: 2 g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @leitesculinaria or tag #leitesculinaria!
Recipe © 2021 Ana Patuleia Ortins. Photo © 2021 Hiltrud Schulz. All rights reserved.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
La Rhonda E.
These Portuguese smashed potatoes were one of the easiest potato sides. They’re packed full of flavor and have endless possibilities for flavor combinations.
I followed the recipe and only added about 3/4 tablespoon salt and it turned out well.To limit the salt, I swirled my oiled potatoes in a bowl as I sprinkled enough salt to coat them lightly.
The potatoes were steaming hot out of the oven, and I was hesitant about the punch down step.I used a piece of foil covered by an oven mitt to punch down each potato, then dropped the minced garlic across each potato width.I was thinking that much fresh garlic would be a downer, but it turned out to be a nice balance between the salt, oil, garlic, and potato starch.
I quickly doubled this recipe with no alterations in cook time and served two potatoes as a side with my take on chilaquiles.It was a great meal, and easy to put together!
Supratha Thinakaran
This dish is not only easy and quick to put together, it’s extremely delicious and appetizing. It works well with most varieties of potatoes and only requires a handful of ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.
Irene Seales
This method is simple, flexible to work with different potatoes, and even fun. I am familiar with other smashed potato recipes but was intrigued with this one since I have become so fond of the method of cooking potatoes on a rack, with oil and a light coating of salt (a winner for any baked potato).
I made it with medium-sized, waxy red potatoes, and then again, a side-by-side comparison with medium Yukon Gold, still delicious (though I will say we gave the Yukon Gold a higher mark for fluffy tenderness and flavour).
I served with roasted cabbage and oven-roasted kielbasa sausage and shallots.
Kristie D.
My family and I were really excited to try these Portuguese smashed potatoes because we’ve only ever had baked potatoes at local buffet restaurants and it’s been several years since our last visit. While the potatoes baked, we couldn’t help but occasionally stop to look through the oven door as we waited for them to become tender enough to eat. Without a doubt, this made us hungrier but it was difficult to resist the temptation of watching the sizzling action that was happening in the baking dish as the timer counted down.
The recipe tasted just as suggested–salty and garlicky–and although the end product was well worth the amount of work required, left tasters expecting a bit more. These punched potatoes would have been even more stellar with the addition of melted butter drizzled on top or accompanied by a creamy dip to balance the slightly overwhelming flavor of garlic and the starchiness of the potatoes. I’d definitely make this recipe again with minor adjustments to further improve seasoning and flavor.
Show More Testers's Reviews
Categorized as:
Easy 5 Ingredient Recipes, Meatless Mondays, Portuguese, Potatoes, Recipes, Sides, Vegan, Vegetarian
About David Leite
I count myself lucky to have received three James Beard Awards for my writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. My work has also appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.
Read More About Me
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