Recently I pulled a Rachel Ray when I decided to recreate one of my favorite dishes from one of my favorite restaurants at home. Anyone who watches RR knows what I mean. Almost every episode she is yapping about how something she ate at some restaurant was so good that it inspired her to make her 30 min meal. I would listen to her and kind of think that it was a cop out. I mean...come up with your own dishes Rachel! But now my attitude has changed being that I have moved and can no longer eat at some of my favorite NYC restaurants. One of my favorite places in Harlem (which will remain nameless for fear of a law suit) had this fingerling potato appetizer that I absolutely loved and I have been craving them so much that I decided to go ahead and make them myself! Which actually wasn't that hard because every time I ordered and ate them, I would sit and marvel at their delicious simplicity and tell myself, or my friend Melissa who I always went to this place with, that I could make these!
So here is my first successful attempt at recreating a favorite dish and even putting my own little spin on it. Serve them as a satisfying starter! Anyone can make french fries but this takes them to the next level.
Crispy Fingerling Potatoes w/ Lemon & Garlic Aioli
1 Bag of Fingerling Potatoes
Salt & Pepper
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons parsley, plus 1 tablespoon for garnish (finely chopped)
1 small clove garlic (grated or minced)
juice of 1/2 a lemon
zest of 1/2 a lemon
3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Directions: Put the fingerling potatoes in a medium sized pot, add about a tablespoon
of salt, and fill the pot with cold water. Put the pot over high heat and once the water
has come to a boil, allow the potatoes to cook for 10 minutes (or until fork tender).
While the potatoes are cooking you can make the aioli. Mix the mayo, parsley, garlic,
lemon juice and zest together in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste and
set aside.*
After the potatoes have boiled, drain and run cold water over
them. Once they have cooled enough for you to handle, slice
each fingerling potato in half lengthwise. Then, heat about 3-
4 tablespoons of olive oil in a non-stick frying pan. You want
the pan to be very hot, but be careful not to burn the oil. Next,
place each fingerling flesh side down in the pan and allow to
pan fry for 3-5 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
(you may have to do this in 2-3 batches)
After the potatoes have turned golden brown, remove them
from the pan and place them on a paper towel lined plate.
Season liberally with salt and sprinkle with parsley. Arrange
potatoes on a plate and serve with the aioli as a dipping sauce.
Enjoy!
*Time Saving Note: You can make the aioli ahead of time
because it gets better as it sits. Just cover with saran wrap
and refrigerate.
