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    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Crispy Polenta Roast Potatoes Recipe

    Published: Feb 1, 2021 · Modified: Nov 23, 2022 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Polenta roast potatoes in a roasting pan with rosemary pin image

    Fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside, polenta roast potatoes are the perfect accompaniment to any roast dinner!

    Polenta is the secret ingredient that ensures crispy crunchy roast potatoes EVERY time. You'll never look back once you've tried these beauties. You might also like my duck fat roast potatoes too!

    Polenta roasties in a roasting pan.

    Roast potatoes are the quintessential part of any roast dinner, and these crunchy polenta roast potatoes are my fool-proof method for achieving roast potato perfection. You won't be disappointed!

    👩‍🍳 Love roast potatoes? Try my easy air fryer roast potatoes too!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why should you try it?
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🧊 Suitable for freezing?
    • ❓ FAQS
    • 😋Related recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why should you try it?

    • Perfect crispy roast potatoes every time.
    • Delicious with any roast dinner.
    • Can be frozen and cooked straight from the freezer.

    🥘 Ingredients

    Ingredients needed for the crispy polenta roast potatoes.
    • Maris Piper Potatoes - the best variety of potato for roasting. You could also use King Edward.
    • Olive Oil - the healthiest fat for roasting potatoes.
    • Polenta - helps create that crispy crunch on the outside.
    • Rosemary - delicately flavours the roast potatoes.
    • Sea Salt - essential for seasoning.

    🔪 Instructions

    Step by step photo instructions for making the crispy roast potatoes.
    Step by step polenta roast potatoes

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Preheat the oven to 220°c (200 fan/ 425F/ Gas 7).

    Two: Peel the potatoes and cut any larger ones into two pieces.

    Three: Place the potatoes in a pan of salted water and place on the hob on a high heat. Once the water is boiling time 8 minutes.

    Four: Drain the potatoes immediately and allow to steam dry in a colander for 5 minutes.

    Five: Tip the potatoes back into the pan (make sure there are no remaining water droplets in it) and add the polenta. Give the potatoes a shake to rough up the edges and coat the outsides in the polenta grains.

    Six: Put 3 tablespoons of olive oil into a roasting pan and place in the oven for 5 minutes.

    Seven: Take the pan out of the oven and tip the potatoes into the hot oil. Coat each one with oil, using a spoon then roast in the oven for 30 minutes.

    Eight: After 30 minutes, baste the potatoes and then return to the oven for 15-20 more minutes until golden and crispy. Serve with freshly chopped rosemary and season with salt.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    The polenta roasties are great with slow cooker roast beef, air fryer whole chicken, turkey crown, slow cooker lamb breast or roast pork. I also regularly serve them with slow cooker pork chops, savoury mince, baked cornflake chicken nuggets and lamb tagine for filling weeknight dinners.

    📖 Variations

    • Use semolina flour instead of polenta for coating the potatoes.
    • Flavour the roast potatoes with fragrant herbs such as bay, thyme and rosemary. Garlic cloves in their skins can also be added whilst roasting.
    • Use goose fat or duck fat instead of olive oil for a richer flavour.
    • Try roasting sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes. There is no need to par boil sweet potatoes first.

    🧊 Suitable for freezing?

    Make the potatoes up to the stage of roasting in the oven and instead of cooking them straight away, open freeze them on a baking tray for 2 hours, and then pop the frozen potatoes into freezer bags for future use.

    When you're ready for roast potatoes, just whip them out of the freezer and carry on with the recipe. There is no need to defrost them first, but you will need to add 5 minutes to the cooking time.

    I always have a stash of parboiled polenta-coated potatoes in my freezer for quick and easy weeknight dinners.

    ❓ FAQS

    Why are my potatoes not crispy?

    Ensure that the potatoes have fully dried out after par boiling them, before roasting them in hot fat. Make sure your oven is hot and try not to keep opening and closing the oven door whilst they are cooking.

    What is the healthiest oil to roast potatoes in?

    Potatoes can be roasted in many types of oils and fats such as vegetable oil, goose fat and duck fat. The healthiest oil for roasting potatoes is olive oil, which also results in the crispiest roast potatoes too.

    What potatoes are good for roasting?

    Maris Piper or King Edward varieties are the best for roasting due to their golden skin and creamy white flesh, but ordinary white potatoes can also be used.

    Polenta roast potatoes in a roasting tin.

    😋Related recipes

    More tasty side dishes to try;

    • Roast Sweet Potatoes
    • Boulangère Potatoes
    • Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
    • Yorkshire Puddings
    • Baked Carrot Fries
    • Pesto Focaccia
    • Pilau Rice
    • Spiced Red Cabbage
    • Sweet Potato and Blue Cheese Dauphinoise
    • A pan of sweet potato chilli.
      Easy Bean & Sweet Potato Chilli Recipe
    • Peanut butter chicken satay curry in a red pan with coriander.
      Easy Peanut Butter Chicken Curry Recipe
    • Air fryer chicken legs in a Ninja Foodi air fryer
      Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Legs
    • Harissa roast chicken on a wooden carving board.
      Harissa Roast Chicken Recipe

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    Recipe

    Crispy polenta roast potatoes in a roasting tin.
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    5 from 10 votes

    Polenta Roast Potatoes

    Fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside, polenta roast potatoes are the perfect accompaniment to any roast dinner! Polenta is the secret ingredient that ensures crispy crunchy roast potatoes EVERY time.
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine British
    Keyword polenta roast potatoes, roast potatoes
    Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 50 minutes minutes
    Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories 285kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Kitchen Scales
    • Knife
    • Chopping Board
    • Roasting Tin
    • Large Saucepan
    • Colander

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 1.5 kg Maris Piper Potatoes or use ordinary white potatoes
    • 3 tablespoon Olive Oil or use goose fat or vegetable oil
    • 50 g Polenta or use semolina flour
    • 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
    • 1 Rosemary sprig for serving

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 220°c (200 fan/ 425F/ Gas 7).
    • Peel the potatoes and cut any larger ones into two pieces.
      1.5 kg Maris Piper Potatoes
    • Place the potatoes in a pan of salted water and place on the hob on a high heat. Once the water is boiling time 8 minutes.
    • Drain the potatoes immediately and allow to steam dry in a colander for 5 minutes.
    • Tip the potatoes back into the pan (make sure there are no remaining water droplets in it) and add the polenta. Give the potatoes a shake to rough up the edges and coat the outsides in the polenta grains.
      50 g Polenta
    • Put 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a roasting pan and place in the oven for 5 minutes.
      3 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • Take the pan out of the oven and tip the potatoes into the hot oil. Coat each one with oil, using a spoon then roast in the oven for 30 minutes. Season with salt.
      1 teaspoon Sea Salt
    • After 30 minutes, baste the potatoes and then return to the oven for 15-20 more minutes until golden and crispy. Serve with chopped rosemary.
      1 Rosemary sprig

    Notes

    Variations:
    • Use semolina flour instead of polenta for coating the potatoes.
    • Flavour the roast potatoes with fragrant herbs such as bay, thyme and rosemary.
    • Use goose fat or duck fat instead of olive oil for a richer flavour.
    • Try roasting sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes.
     
    Freezing: Make the potatoes up to the stage of roasting them in the oven and instead of cooking them straight away, you can open freeze them on a baking tray for 2 hours and then pop the frozen roast potatoes into freezer bags for future use. When you are ready to use, just carry on with the recipe. There is no need to defrost them first, just add 5 minutes to the cooking time.
     
    Nutrition: The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Polenta Roast Potatoes
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    285
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    7
    g
    11
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Sodium
     
    403
    mg
    18
    %
    Potassium
     
    1064
    mg
    30
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    50
    g
    17
    %
    Fiber
     
    6
    g
    25
    %
    Sugar
     
    2
    g
    2
    %
    Protein
     
    6
    g
    12
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    23
    IU
    0
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    49
    mg
    59
    %
    Calcium
     
    30
    mg
    3
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter

    More Easy side dishes

    • Curried rice salad on a white serving platter.
      Easy Curried Rice Salad Recipe
    • Air fryer garlic bread.
      Crispy Air Fryer Garlic Bread Recipe
    • Rocket salad with Parmesan shavings on a white plate.
      Easy Rocket Salad with Parmesan
    • Duck fat roast potatoes in a white dish.
      Crispy Duck Fat Roast Potatoes Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Wanda

      February 01, 2021 at 8:28 pm

      5 stars
      I'm completely fascinated by this recipe! Bookmarking so I can make it for the family!

      Reply
    2. patty @ Spoonabilities

      February 01, 2021 at 9:31 pm

      5 stars
      I never thought of coating potatoes with polenta. These potatoes truly look spectacular and so crispy! Yum!

      Reply
    3. Ana Frias

      February 01, 2021 at 9:33 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect combination of flavors! Never thought of using polenta for this but it's now a favorite. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    4. Lisa | Garlic & Zest

      February 01, 2021 at 9:38 pm

      5 stars
      What a great way to add texture to roasted potatoes! I'd never heard of this technique, but I have a package of cornmeal, so I'll have to try it!

      Reply
    5. Shashi

      February 01, 2021 at 11:25 pm

      We adore potatoes and have never had them with a polenta coating so Im looking forward to trying this soon!

      Reply
    6. Alisa Infanti

      February 02, 2021 at 1:43 pm

      5 stars
      These were delish! The crispy coating and soft centre were to die for!

      Reply
    7. veenaazmanov

      February 02, 2021 at 1:51 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and so easy and I just love these tempting Crispy Polenta Roast Potatoes.Perfect as a party platter too. Thanks for your recipe.

      Reply
    8. Jess

      February 02, 2021 at 1:58 pm

      5 stars
      I love the crispy outside on these potatoes. Makes for the perfect bite!

      Reply
    9. Beth

      February 02, 2021 at 2:32 pm

      5 stars
      This is soon to be my family's favorite recipe! Can't wait to give this a try! Looks so delicious and yummy!

      Reply
    10. Natalie

      February 02, 2021 at 2:37 pm

      5 stars
      I'm trying this tonight. Potatoes look so crispy and delicious. What a lovely recipe. Definitely a keeper.

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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