Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Spicy Toum

There’s no wrong way to enjoy potatoes. Baked, fried, mashed, and more – we love how transformative these simple spuds can be. But have you ever had smashed potatoes? Our crispy smashed potatoes recipe is guaranteed to be your new favourite side dish or low-maintenance appetizer. The crispy, craggy surface of these potatoes gives way to a tender, fluffy interior that ticks all our flavour and texture boxes. Seasoned with spices like za’atar and sumac and served with our Spicy Toum, these crispy smashed potatoes are simple to make, easy to enjoy, and the perfect side for weeknight or weekend meals. 

 

Smashed Potatoes vs. Mashed Potatoes

While their names are pretty similar – with just a single letter setting them apart – mashed potatoes and smashed potatoes are actually two totally different dishes! 

Mashed potatoes can be made from different types of potatoes, although yellow ones are most commonly used. To make mashed potatoes, boil them in water and then crush them, using a handheld masher, mixer, or ricer.  This dish typically uses milk and butter to get a fluffy, smooth consistency, although add-ins like sour cream, buttermilk, and more pop up in different recipes. 

Smashed potatoes, on the other hand, are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Like mashed potatoes, smashed potatoes are boiled first, then transferred to a baking sheet and smashed using a heavy-bottomed glass, spatula, or fork. They’re often brushed with olive oil (or a combination of olive oil and butter) to help crisp up in the oven, where they are cooked until crispy and golden. This dish can be seasoned in a variety of ways and works as an appetizer and snack as well as a side dish. Unlike mashed potatoes, which can be limited in their mix-ins and flavour profiles, you can season this potato dish pretty much any way your taste buds like! 

 

How to Make the Best Crispy Smashed Potatoes

1. Choose small potatoes. You don’t need to use baby potatoes exclusively for this recipe, although we’ve recommended them. Smaller potatoes (think no larger than two inches) are best. This allows for them to get extra crispy, which is what we want in this recipe.
2. Try different colours. If you like red-skinned potatoes, try red-skinned potatoes. If you prefer yellow potatoes, opt for them. Or do a mix for a variety in colour as well as flavour. 
3. Smash until about ¼” thick. Even smashing of your potatoes means even cooking. Smashing until they’re about ¼” thick results in a crispy, craggy surface that’s perfect for seasoning and dipping. 
4. Oil your baking sheet. To ensure that your smashed potatoes are crispy on both sides, you’ll want to brush a large baking sheet with olive oil. While we normally use parchment paper on our baking sheet for easy clean-up, brushing it with oil really helps take them to the next level. 
5. Season your potatoes. We season ours before we smash them, to make sure that the entirety of the potato is flavourful. You can also sprinkle extra seasoning on top after smashing but before baking for added oomph. Certain seasonings – like freshly grated cheese – are better to add after your potatoes have baked, to avoid burning. 
6. Let potatoes steam dry. After you’ve smashed your potatoes, wait a moment to allow some of the steam – and thus, some of the moisture – to escape. This will make for crispier smashed potatoes that still retain a fluffy interior. 

 

What You Need for the Best Crispy Smashed Potatoes

Potatoes: We’ve used baby potatoes in this recipe for a more uniform shape and cook time. However, if you don’t have baby potatoes on hand, you can use yellow potatoes or red-skinned potatoes instead. Make sure they’re on the smaller side so that they can properly crisp up and get those delicious edges and crevices. No more than two inches in diameter is ideal for this smashed potato recipe. 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil to help achieve that luscious crispiness. Tossing the potatoes in olive oil helps coat them evenly so they can crisp up in the oven. You can also brush some olive oil on top of the smashed potatoes and underneath them on the baking sheet you’re using to help them crisp up on all sides. 

Za’atar Seasoning: This traditional spice blend contains thyme, sesame seeds, salt, sumac, and cumin. You can make your own if you already have these spices on hand or pick up our pre-mixed option. We like the unique Middle Eastern spice profile this seasoning lends to our crispy smashed potatoes recipe. 

Sumac Spice: An ingredient found in our Za’atar Seasoning, we also added a pinch of extra sumac to this smashed potatoes recipe. Popular in Middle Eastern recipes, sumac has a tangy flavour with an earthy sweetness and notes of floral and citrus.  

Salt and Pepper: The finishing notes for any recipe, regular salt and black pepper help the flavours pop. If you’d like a little extra crunch, you can swap your standard salt for Farm Boy™ Fleur de Sel, which has larger salt grains for more flavour and added texture. Sourced from salt marshes in Greece, its slow dissolving rate allows the flavours to linger on the tongue.  

 

What is Toum?

Toum is a garlic sauce that’s popular in Lebanese cuisine. Fluffy and delicious, it’s made with minimal ingredients and often served with chicken, shawarma, or French fries. It can be used as a dip or spread and smeared on sandwiches, wraps, and more. Its airy texture is made by emulsifying the oil with the garlic, incorporating air into the recipe itself. 

Our Toum is made with just five ingredients: canola oil, garlic, lemon juice, water, and salt. That also means that toum is completely vegan! We make ours fresh in-house in small batches to provide you with the best flavour to enjoy with a variety of dishes. 

In this smashed potatoes recipe, we’ve chosen to use our Spicy Toum for dipping. If you have a more sensitive palate or are simply averse to spice, you can pick up a container of our original recipe instead! Our Spicy Toum is also vegan and crafted with just one addition ingredient: cayenne. This gives our Spicy Toum a bit of heat and fire in addition to all that garlicky goodness.  

If you like garlic mayo, garlic aioli, or simply anything flavoured with a hearty dose of garlic, we promise you’ll love our chef-made Toum! 

 

Smashed Potato Topping Suggestions

While we’ve opted for a spicier, Middle Eastern flavour profile to pair with our toum garlic dip, there are plenty of ways you can choose to top your crispy smashed potatoes. Like French fries, these potatoes are a blank canvas when it comes to flavour. From different dips to simple seasonings, here are some suggestions for how to serve and top this smashed potatoes recipe. 

 

Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese 

An easy topping you probably have on hand is Parmesan cheese. Freshly grated Parmesan adds a touch of creaminess and some savoury notes to these crispy smashed potatoes. We recommend sprinkling your potatoes with cheese once you’ve pulled them from the oven. The heat from the potatoes will allow the cheese to melt but not burn. If you’re plant-based, you can pick up either of our vegan Parmesan options: our Vegan Parmesan-Style Shredded Cheese Alternative or our original Vegan Parmezzan. Both options will offer a nice nutty note that’s almost indiscernible from the real deal. 

 

Crushed Red Chili Peppers 

If you’d like a little extra flavour, an easy way to add it is by using crushed red chili peppers. These flakes have a little pop of heat but aren’t too overwhelming to your palate (unless you’re using them heavily). Sprinkle a bit on your smashed potatoes after you’ve removed them from the oven, as these flakes can burn and impart a bitter taste, which we don’t want.  

 

Tzatziki 

We love pairing these potatoes with a cool, creamy dip. If you’re using these crispy smashed potatoes as an appetizer or side, you can’t go wrong with something rich and flavourful to offset the crispiness and cragginess of these taters. Our chef-made Tzatziki is thick and creamy, with a sour cream base that’s seasoned with cucumber, garlic, and mint. It’s light, refreshing, and the perfect compliment to this smashed potato recipe. Think of it as your classic sour cream but upgraded with lush herbaceous notes. Offer it to guests on the side for dipping or spoon a small dollop on each smashed potato before serving. Finish with some fresh herbs, like mint or parsley, for added visual impact and fresh flavour. 

 

Chipotle Mayo 

Slightly tangy, extra creamy, and with a smoky kick, our Chipotle Mayo Spread is a perfect dip for this crispy dish. If you’re whipping these up for a crowd as an easy appetizer, chipotle mayo offers a bite of a bite that’ll keep your guests coming back for more. We love dipping our French fries in chipotle aioli; this is just a version of that with a fresh twist!  

 

Everything Bagel Seasoning Dip 

Rich, decadent, and oh-so creamy, our Everything Bagel Seasoning Dip is a must-try with these crispy smashed potatoes. Made with a blend of sour cream and labneh, a thick strained yogurt popular in Middle Eastern cuisines, this made-in-Ontario dip is seasoned with garlic, onion, and sesame. The toothsome bite of the sesame and poppy seeds add a delicious contrast to the crispy potatoes, while the creamy base coats every beautiful bite. A unique offering found exclusively at Farm Boy, it’s a must-try. 

 

Creamy Ranch Dressing 

Aren’t most things better with a bit of ranch dressing on the side for dipping? That applies to this crispy smashed potatoes recipe, too! Tangy and herbaceous, our Creamy Ranch Dressing is a low-maintenance way to add even more flavour to this recipe. Made in Ontario from real ingredients like buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, and dried herbs like chives, parsley, and dill, this dressing pulls double-duty as a dip. If you’re planning on serving up these smashed potatoes at a BBQ (and we think you should), a side of this ranch dressing for dipping is a sure crowd-pleaser. 

 

Authentic Steakhouse Garlic Dressing and Dip 

Garlic and potatoes are a perfect pair. While you could certainly use garlic powder to season these smashed potatoes, we recommend our Authentic Steakhouse Garlic Dressing and Dip instead. Made in Ontario and containing no additives, preservatives, artificial colours, or flavours, this dip is bursting with garlic flavour and a rich, creamy texture. Crafted with simple ingredients like puréed garlic, vinegar, salt, egg, and honey Dijon mustard, it has a wonderfully complex flavour that begs for another bite. Serve a bowl of this dip on the side of your crispy smashed potatoes and we bet you’ll be dunking them again and again. 

 

What to Serve with Crispy Smashed Potatoes

While these crispy smashed potatoes are delicious all on their own or as an easy appetizer, you may want them as a side dish for a complete meal. We recommend any of the dishes below to serve alongside this smashed potatoes recipe! 

Spicy Peri Peri Grilled Pork Tenderloin 

Grilled Chicken BLT Sandwich 

Citrus Marinated Roasted Chicken 

Frenched Long Bone Rib Eye Steak with Garlic Flower Butter 

Maple BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches 

Roasted Garlic and Herb Chicken 

Beer Braised Sausages with Sauerkraut 

BBQ Glazed Pork Back Ribs 

 

More Potato Recipes from Farm Boy

Looking for more potato-based recipes? Check out any of the dishes below! 

Mashed Potato Cakes with Poached Eggs and Hollandaise 

Irish Potato Cake and Smoked Salmon Canapés 

Crispy Hasselback Baby Potatoes 

Warm Octopus and Potato Salad 

Potato Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage