Fried potatoes: recipes and cooking tips

October 21, 2019
Second courses
Victor Sobolev

Fried potatoes are a frequent guest on the table of many Russians. This wonderful dish is suitable for both a hearty lunch and dinner. In addition, it goes well with many products, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, cheese, sour cream and various meat products. It can be used as an independent dish or as a side dish. How to cook fried potatoes? It would seem that nothing is simpler, but even this familiar homemade fast food requires a certain amount of knowledge and skills. You can learn in detail how to deliciously fry potatoes from this article. If you follow some nuances when cooking, the potatoes will certainly turn out tasty, crispy and aromatic.

Secrets to cooking perfect potatoes

In order for the dish to turn out successful, it is recommended to use a few useful tips. How to deliciously fry potatoes in a frying pan?

First you need to choose the right dishes. Cast iron and with a thick bottom are ideal. In a thin aluminum pan, the potatoes will not cook well and will most likely stick. You can also use a deep fryer.
Choose the right potatoes. For frying, it is better to use yellow and pink varieties with thick skin. White potatoes are more suitable for making mashed potatoes, soups and casseroles.
You need to cut the vegetable into moderately thin slices, at least 7-8 mm. This way it is well fried on the outside, forming an appetizing crust, and remains soft on the inside.
It is advisable to cook fried potatoes in refined sunflower oil or butter. You can also use olive oil, but it leaves a specific taste that not everyone will like.
It is recommended to salt the dish towards the end of frying so that the vegetable does not have time to fall apart and lose its aesthetic appearance.
It is not necessary to turn the potatoes too often so that they are fried evenly on all sides and do not lose their shape.
Make the fire not too strong, but not too small.
In order to get rid of excess oil, i.e., so that the potatoes subsequently become less fatty, after cooking they need to be laid out on a paper towel.

Tips for making the perfect fried potatoes

Choose a cast iron or steel frying pan with a thick bottom. This is the best option for frying potatoes.
Potatoes can be fried in refined vegetable oil. For extra taste, add a little lard or butter to it.
To ensure that the potatoes are perfectly browned, they should be placed in well-heated oil. It is not recommended to fry in cold oil or add it during frying.
It is better to place the potatoes in the pan in one layer. Then it will be covered with a crispy crust.
You need to turn the slices several times. It is important to find a balance: do not stir too often (otherwise the pieces will not brown) or too rarely (otherwise the dish will simply burn).
You should not stir the potatoes immediately after you put them in the oil: leave the pieces for 4-5 minutes so that a crust has time to form on them.
If you want to get the most crispy and beautiful potatoes, it is better to fry onions, mushrooms and other additives separately and add them to the pan 5-7 minutes before the potatoes are ready.
You should always add salt at the end. Otherwise, the potatoes will release moisture, stick together, and instead of perfect golden pieces you will get an unappetizing porridge.

How to achieve a golden crust?

The secret to fried potatoes is simple - you need to get rid of the excess starch contained in the tuber. To do this, pour the vegetable cut into slices with water at room temperature and leave for 20-30 minutes. Then drain off excess moisture and let dry on a paper towel.

You only need to fry the potatoes when the frying pan with oil is completely hot. Otherwise, the dish will stick together, the vegetable will be loose and not as tasty as we would like.

To improve the aroma and perfect crust, you can combine two types of butter - butter and vegetable. Potatoes also turn out very well with lard, but then they will be even more high in calories. Too often it is better not to get carried away with such a dish.

Is it possible to add onions to potatoes?

regular onion

People are divided into two opposing camps on this issue:

Some say that onions are not needed, since their taste dominates all others and overpowers the wonderful aroma of potatoes;
Others believe that without onions there is no way at all, it’s like cola without ice.

In fact, both are right. Look, cooking is a very subjective thing. Eat the way you like. No one and nothing should embarrass you if you personally enjoy a certain method of cooking.

Meanwhile, we found a compromise between the two camps, which seemed impossible: add GREEN fresh aromatic onions to the finished potatoes. Any greens are beneficial for fried and stewed dishes! Well, we are glad to end this war of tastes.

green onions have never harmed a single dish

Simple potato recipe

This dish is easy to handle even for a person who is not good at cooking. It will require the most basic products that everyone has in their refrigerator:

potatoes - 5-6 tubers;
salt, pepper - a few pinches;
oil - for frying.

Cooking process:

Peel the potatoes, rinse and dry well.
Then cut into thin slices or sticks.
Heat the pan, add oil, and as soon as it starts to foam, add the potatoes.
Fry until golden brown. 5 minutes before cooking, add salt and pepper to taste.
Delicious simple fried potatoes are ready! Everyone at home will definitely appreciate this dish and ask for more.

How to make classic fried potatoes

Photo: Gayvoronskaya_Yana / Shutterstock

Ingredients

500–600 g potatoes;
3 tablespoons vegetable oil;
1 teaspoon butter;
salt, ground black pepper - to taste.

Preparation

Wash the potatoes well, peel and cut into small equal slices. Fill them with cold water for 30–40 minutes, then rinse and dry well with a paper or cloth towel.

Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a wide frying pan. Add the butter, wait for it to melt, and add the potatoes. The pieces should lie in one layer. If there are too many potatoes, it is better to fry them in batches.

Reduce heat to medium. Do not cover or turn the potatoes over! If it looks like it's burning, shake the pan slightly. After 5-6 minutes, when a golden crust forms on the slices, carefully turn them over, being careful not to break the pieces. Fry the potatoes for another 15–20 minutes. During this time, turn it over 3-4 times in the same way.

When the potatoes are soft, remove them from the heat, add salt and pepper to taste and stir. Sprinkle with chopped herbs if desired.

Delicious potato recipe

To prepare this dish you need:

potatoes - 6-7 tubers;
vegetable oil - for frying;
dill - 1 bunch;
seasonings, salt - to taste.

How to cook:

Peel the potatoes and cut into thin slices.
Heat the frying pan well and pour in vegetable oil.
Place potatoes. Add your favorite spices and don’t forget to add salt. This dish goes very well with paprika.
It is not recommended to stir the potatoes often to prevent them from turning into mush.
Fry until golden brown.
Garnish the finished dish with finely chopped herbs. You can serve it on the table and treat your loved ones!

Delicious fried potatoes in butter

The dish according to this recipe comes out very tender and aromatic. To prepare it you will need:

boiled potatoes - 5-6 tubers;
butter - 50 g;
salt, pepper - to taste.

Algorithm of actions:

Pre-boil the potatoes until tender in salted water.
Drain and dry on a paper towel.
Then cut into thin slices or circles.
Heat a frying pan well and melt the butter.
Fry until the desired golden brown crust appears.
The dish is ready. The potatoes are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Potatoes in lard

A similar dish is often prepared in Ukraine. Fried potatoes cooked in lard turn out juicy and flavorful.

For this recipe you will need:

potatoes - 5-6 tubers;
lard - 70 g;
salt, pepper - to taste.

Cooking:

First you need to deal with lard. Cut it into thin pieces and place in a heated frying pan, lightly greased with oil.
Fry the lard over high heat, then reduce it and simmer until the lard begins to melt.
Meanwhile, add the potatoes cut into slices or cubes into the frying pan. Immediately add salt and pepper. Fry until cooked, i.e. until golden brown.
The potatoes according to this recipe are very satisfying, high in calories and truly masculine. This is an excellent side dish for any meat and vegetable dish.

A wonderful recipe for fried potatoes in a frying pan with onions and tomatoes

To prepare this wonderful dish, you will need the following ingredients:

potatoes - 5-6 tubers;
onion - 1 pc.;
tomato - 2 pcs.;
salt, pepper - to taste.

Cooking process:

Chop the onion into small cubes.
Peel the tomatoes. To make the process easier, it is recommended to scald it with boiling water. Then the skin will be removed much easier.
Cut the tomato into small pieces.
Heat a frying pan with oil and add the onions. Fry it until it becomes transparent. Then add the tomatoes to the onions and simmer everything together for up to 5 minutes.
Potatoes, meanwhile, need to be fried in a separate pan. If you add a raw vegetable to onions and tomatoes, it will not cook well and will be sticky and soft.
As soon as the potatoes acquire a golden crust, add them to the rest of the vegetables and simmer all the ingredients for 5-6 minutes under a closed lid.
A fragrant, delicious dish is ready!

Potatoes with garlic, mushrooms and sour cream

One of the most popular and beloved dishes in Russia. In order for it to be successful and all the vegetables to be well fried, mushrooms and potatoes need to be cooked separately, in different pans, and only mixed together at the very end.

For preparation you will need:

mushrooms (preferably champignons) - 500 g;
potatoes - 5-6 tubers;
sour cream 15% - 4-5 tbsp. spoon;
garlic - 2-3 cloves;
salt, seasonings - to taste.

How to cook:

Pass the garlic through a press.
Heat a frying pan with butter (or vegetable) oil and add the champignons there. Fry them until all the liquid comes out. Add garlic, sour cream to the mushrooms and mix well. Don't forget to add salt.
At this time, fry the potatoes in a separate frying pan until tender.
At the end, mix all the ingredients and simmer under the lid for 7-10 minutes.
Garnish the finished dish with parsley or dill.

How to fry potatoes with meat

What do you need:

potatoes – 1 kg;
pork – 0.4 kg;
onions – 0.2 kg;
salt, seasonings - to taste;
butter or lard - how much will be needed.

How to cook:

Wash the meat, dry it, cut into small pieces. Season with salt and pepper.
Cut the onion into half rings. Use your hands to let it release the juice. Mix with pork and leave in a cool place for 1-2 hours to marinate the meat a little.
Peel the potatoes, chop them coarsely, cover with cool water. Leave for an hour, then place the potato slices on a towel to dry.
Fry the potatoes in oil or melted butter.
In another frying pan, fry the pork along with the onions with which it was marinated.
Combine meat and potatoes, simmer for 5 minutes under the lid.

If you immediately fry the potatoes together with the meat, it will fall apart and take on a less appetizing appearance. Potatoes with sausage, frankfurters, and bacon are fried in a similar way, the only difference being that they do not need to be marinated first.

One of the most popular dishes of Russian and Ukrainian cuisine is potatoes with cracklings. You will learn how to fry potatoes in lard in the video below.

Potatoes with meat recipe

This dish goes great with pork, veal, chicken and turkey. To prepare it you will need the following products:

meat - 500 g;
potatoes - 6-7 tubers;
onion - 1 pc.;
salt, pepper - to taste.

What we do:

In order for all the components of the dish to be thoroughly fried and not remain raw or loose, they need to be cooked in different pans, and only combined at the end.
Initially, you need to fry the onion over low heat until transparent. Then add finely chopped meat, salt and pepper and fry until half cooked.
Meanwhile, fry the sliced potatoes in another frying pan. To get more aroma and taste, you can add a piece of butter or lard to the dish.
When the ingredients are well fried, mix them in a saucepan and let simmer for 8-10 minutes. The potatoes will absorb all the juices and turn out incredibly tasty.
Serve with vegetable salad, cereal or any other side dish. It can also be eaten as an independent dish.

Which oil is best for frying?

With that said, the question arises as to what is best to use for preparing different dishes. Let's highlight some of the most popular oils:

Coconut. Its peculiarity is that it maintains its quality when heated. It contains 90% saturated vegetable fats. Studies have shown that this fat is completely absorbed and is not stored in the body. You can fry a variety of dishes on it. The disadvantage is that such a purchase hits your pocket hard. In addition, such a product is consumed several times faster than, for example, vegetable oil.

Ghee. This is one of the varieties of rendered fat that is actively used in South Asia. The main advantage is the ability to withstand temperatures up to 250 degrees Celsius without releasing harmful components. The downside is that you are unlikely to find such a product in stores, but there are plenty of options on the Internet. At the same time, the price is lower than that of its coconut “brother”.

We also recommend: Sodium pyrophosphate E450

Olive. This is a versatile option that allows you to fry a wide variety of foods. It contains 76% monosaturated acids, so the olive option is considered one of the safest for cooking.
Grape seeds. This product contains a large amount of Omega-3 and oleic acid, which allows it to successfully withstand high temperatures. With its help you can fry various dishes, including in the oven at temperatures up to 216 degrees.

If you know how to fry in butter correctly, there is no need to give up your favorite cooking method. If this option is not suitable for some reason, you can always choose one of the solutions proposed above. If possible, it is better to give preference to rendered lard. It, of course, contains a lot of cholesterol, but lard can easily withstand high temperatures.

Potatoes with egg and cheese

This dish is perfect for a hearty breakfast and a great start to the day. It will be appreciated by both adults and children. Cheese lovers will especially like it.

For preparation you will need:

potatoes - 5-6 tubers;
chicken eggs - 3 pcs.;
hard cheese (Russian or Parmesan) - 100 g;
salt, pepper - to taste.

How to cook:

Peel the potatoes, rinse and cut into thin slices.
Heat the frying pan with oil thoroughly. Toss in the potatoes. Fry until cooked until a golden crust appears. Don't forget to add salt and pepper.
Then crack the eggs into the pan. Once they have set, sprinkle generously with grated cheese and cover with a lid to allow it to melt.
The finished dish can be decorated with dill, parsley and sour cream.

Delicious potatoes with stew

pan fried potatoes recipe with photo

In general, you can add whatever you want to fried potatoes, as long as you like it “anything”. Experience shows that people really like to add stewed meat to any side dishes. Here we also recommend doing this if you want to have a more hearty dinner. But how can we do without useful tips:

In order not to spoil the great taste of potatoes, buy expensive beef, pork or chicken stew. The beef must have the inscription “Stewed beef GOST...”. There shouldn’t be any “Soldier’s Stew” or “Smolensk Stew” in your consumer basket at all. Stew made according to specifications (technical conditions) will always be worse than the one made based on State standards (GOST).
Before putting the stew into the potatoes, remove the fat and sinew from it, and then heat it a little in the same frying pan in which you fried the potatoes. The entire jelly-like mass will melt, and you will get clean meat, which will become an excellent main dish with potatoes.

Recipe with onions and paprika

Potatoes and seasonings always go well together. Paprika is especially suitable for this dish. Moderately sweet and rich spices perfectly complement the taste of fried potatoes, making them more excellent.

To prepare the dish you need:

potatoes - 6-7 tubers;
onion - 1 pc.;
sweet paprika - 1 tbsp. spoon;
salt, pepper - to taste.

How to cook:

Rinse the potatoes well, dry them and place them in a preheated frying pan with butter or vegetable oil. Add salt, pepper and sprinkle with sweet paprika.
Fry the potatoes until golden brown, stirring occasionally with a spatula.
As soon as the dish is browned, add the diced onion. Mix everything and cover with a lid to allow the potatoes to soak in the aromas of the seasonings. Fry for about 10 minutes.
You can serve the dish with sour cream and dill.

Should I add mushrooms?

mushrooms
Mushrooms and potatoes go well together. You can add it, the taste will not be spoiled one bit. However, one small warning: cook potatoes and mushrooms (any) separately from each other. Firstly, it will be easier to maintain the proportions of all ingredients, and secondly, mushrooms come in different varieties. Some cook faster than potatoes, while others need to be fried for at least an hour. In general, one of the two ingredients will definitely burn, don’t do that!

Boiled potatoes in a frying pan

A tasty and very tender dish. It can be prepared if there are extra potatoes left after lunch or dinner.

The recipe requires the following ingredients:

potatoes - 5-6 tubers;
butter - 50 g;
salt, pepper - to taste;
sour cream and dill - for decoration.

Preparation:

Cut the boiled potatoes into slices or cubes, as you prefer.
Heat a frying pan with butter.
As soon as it starts to foam, throw in the potatoes. Lightly salt and pepper.
Fry until a delicious golden crust forms.
Then pour sour cream sauce over the potatoes and sprinkle with finely chopped dill. You can add a little cilantro or oregano.
An incredibly tasty, aromatic, simple and quick dish for the whole family is ready.

The perfect sauce for potatoes

Creating a tasty and aromatic dish is not at all difficult; it is not at all necessary to use any hard-to-find products. To cook perfect potatoes that everyone will like without exception, it is enough to complement them with a good sauce.

It will require the following ingredients:

sour cream - 100 ml;
dill and parsley - 1 bunch;
garlic - 2 cloves;
salt, pepper - to taste.

How to do:

This sauce is very simple to prepare and does not require much time or effort.
Finely chop the dill and parsley, and pass the garlic through a press.
Then add to sour cream. Don't forget to add salt and pepper. You can also add other favorite spices - paprika or oregano.
Mix everything thoroughly and can be served.
The sauce is very simple, but still delicious and goes great with fried potatoes.

Fried potatoes with lard

List of required ingredients:

Potatoes - 1 kg;
Lard - 120-150 gr;
Onion - 1 piece;
Vegetable oil;
Salt, pepper - to taste;
Garlic, dill - optional.

How to cook fried potatoes with lard:

1. Peel and cut the potatoes in any convenient way. The main thing is that all the pieces are approximately the same size. Place the potatoes in cold water for 15 minutes and then dry with a towel.

2. Cut the lard into small pieces, but not very finely so that it does not fry. Place it in a heated frying pan and fry for about 10 minutes over medium heat, remembering to stir.

3. Add potatoes to lard and fry for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. After this, add the onion, cut into half rings, and fry for about 15-20 minutes. Don't forget to stir so the onion doesn't burn.

4. At the end of cooking, add salt and pepper to taste. If desired, add dry or fresh garlic. Mix everything well.

5. If the onions are ready, you can remove the potatoes from the stove and serve. If not, then leave the pan on the fire for another 10 minutes, and then put it on plates. When serving, potatoes can be sprinkled with fresh dill. Bon appetit!

When frying potatoes with lard, it is recommended to take a piece with layers of meat. Do not cut the lard too finely, otherwise it will be completely fried.