HOW TO ROAST POTATOES IN OVEN RECIPES

1. Preheat the oven to 190ºC/375ºF/gas 5.
2. Peel the potatoes, cutting any larger ones so they’re all an even-size – twice the size of a squash ball is about right.
3. Wash the potatoes in cold water to get rid of any extra starch then tip into a large pot, cover with cold salted water and parboil for 7 minutes, then drain in a colander and leave to steam dry for 3 minutes.
4. Give the colander a bit of a shake to help chuff up the potatoes – this will help to make them super-crisp later on.
5. At this point, you need to decide which flavour combo to go with. Tip the potatoes into a large tray in one layer, and add the fat – olive oil, butter or goose fat – then season really well with sea salt and black pepper.
6. Toss the potatoes in the fat (you could get the potatoes up to this stage the day before, simply cover them with clingfilm or tin foil and pop in the fridge or in a cool place until needed), then roast for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden and three quarters cooked.
7. Now’s the time for my trick. Gently squash each potato with a potato masher to increase the surface area – the more of your potato that’s in contact with the pan, the crispier it will be.
8. Add 1 good lug of oil to a small bowl and pick and/or tear in the herbs. If opting for flavour combo 2, peel in a good few strips of clementine zest with a speed-peeler – you won’t eat these but they’ll add amazing flavour. Break up the garlic bulb, adding the unpeeled cloves to the bowl, along with a splash of red wine vinegar, then scrunch and mix it up a bit.
9. Add your chosen flavour combo to the potatoes and give the pan a good shake, then pop back in the hot oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until gnarly, crispy, bubbly and delicious.
10. Transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper to drain off some of the excess fat, then tuck in!

Cut the potatoes into large, even-sized pieces and put in a large pan of cold salted water. Cover and bring to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes, then drain and return to the pan. Cover with a clean tea towel and the lid. Leave to steam dry for 5 minutes. Remove the tea towel and replace the lid. Shake the pan to roughen the edges of the potatoes, then tip on to a large baking tray, spread them out and leave to cool completely.

To freeze: open freeze the potatoes on the baking tray, loosely covered with clingfilm, until solid. When frozen, tip the cold potatoes into large freezer bags and return to the freezer.

To roast: there's no need to defrost the potatoes first. Preheat the oven to 220°C, fan 200°C, gas 7. Heat the olive oil or duck fat in a large roasting tin in the oven for 5 minutes. Carefully add the frozen parboiled potatoes and turn them to coat well in the hot oil. Cook for 40-50 minutes, turning in the oil once, until golden brown and beautifully crisp. Take out of the oven and sprinkle with crushed sea salt flakes and a little chopped rosemary, if you like, to serve.

Get ahead: freeze up to a month ahead. Parboiling potatoes before freezing them is not only a great way to get ahead, it also makes the potatoes extra crunchy when cooked. Roast from frozen while your cooked Christmas turkey is resting.

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/gas 7.
2. Scrub, trim and halve the carrots lengthways.
3. Scrub, peel and halve the potatoes, quartering any larger ones. Add to a large roasting tray.
4. Break the garlic bulb into cloves, leaving them unpeeled, then lightly crush with the flat side of a knife. Pick the rosemary leaves, discarding the stalks. Add the garlic and rosemary leaves to the tray.
5. Drizzle with oil, season with sea salt and black pepper, then toss well and spread out in an even layer.
6. Rub the chicken all over with a pinch of salt and pepper and a drizzle of oil. Stuff the chicken cavity with the whole lemon and the thyme sprigs. Place the chicken in the tray, on top of the vegetables.
7. Reduce the oven temperature to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6, then add the chicken and roast for 45 minutes.
8. Carefully remove the tray from the oven, use tongs to turn the vegetables over, then spoon any juices from the tray over the chicken.
9. Return the tray to the oven for a further 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. To check, pierce a chicken thigh with the tip of a sharp knife – if the juices run clear, it’s done. Otherwise return the tray to the oven, cook for a little while longer and repeat the test.
10. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a board and return the vegetables to the oven for a final 5 minutes to crisp up, if needed.
11. Cover the chicken with a layer of tin foil and a tea towel, then leave to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
12. Using a sharp carving knife, carve up the chicken, then serve with the roasted veg. Delicious with a green salad on the side.
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