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Prep time
10 minutes
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Cook time
40 minutes
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Serves
4
Author Notes
Cooking potato wedges isn’t rocket science, but I wanted to simplify the process as much as possible. Usually, you’ll achieve the best result if the potatoes are cooked twice—boiled first, then fried or baked—to ensure a fluffy inside and super-crispy outside. I removed that extra step (and those extra dishes) by cooking the potatoes on one sheet pan, two different ways: First, add water and steam the potatoes in the oven until partially cooked. Then take them out, season them, and pop them back in until golden brown and crispy. Easy, right? Russet potatoes are high in starch and low in moisture, delivering all the right textures once baked. To make them shine, we don’t need a lot of other ingredients: Black pepper has always been one of my favorite spices to work with—it’s such a common staple, we tend to forget how flavorful it can be. Don’t swap in pre-ground black pepper here, which is much, much blander. Crushing whole peppercorns just before using them ensures the best flavor. The honey encourages the wedges to caramelize in the oven, while balancing out that spicy kick. Hide these potato wedges under a bed of grated cheese and get ready for your guests to ask for the recipe. —Carolina Gelen
Ingredients
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6
medium russet potatoes, cut into 6 wedges each
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5 tablespoons
extra-virgin olive oil, divided
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Kosher salt
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2 tablespoons
honey
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2 teaspoons
black peppercorns, roughly crushed
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Grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano, for serving (optional)
Directions
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Heat the oven to 450°F.
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To a sheet pan, add the potatoes, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of oil, and generously sprinkle with salt. Toss to coat. Evenly pour 1½ cups of water around the potatoes. Roast for about 25 minutes, until the water has evaporated and the potatoes are partially cooked.
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Remove the sheet pan from the oven and lower the heat to 425°F. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of olive oil, the honey, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Toss to combine.
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Bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, flipping the potatoes halfway through, until they’re golden brown and crispy. Taste and adjust the salt if needed. Top with grated cheese, if using.
Carolina is a resident at Food52. She's also one of the hosts of Choose Your Own Recipe Adventure, our YouTube show where our Food52 readers pick the ingredients and techniques for a brand new recipe. Carolina recently immigrated to the U.S. from Transylvania, a place she spent most of her life. She continues to get inspired by the classic Romanian and Hungarian foods she was raised on, creating approachable, colorful, and fun recipes. For more cooking ideas and candid moments, check out her Instagram @carolinagelen.
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