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July 27, 2014

Potatoes

“The world’s joy
is spluttering,
sizzling in olive oil.
Potatoes
to be fried
enter the skillet,
snowy wings
of a morning swan –
and they leave
half-braised in gold,
gift of the crackling ember
of olives.”

– from “Ode to Fried Potatoes” by Pablo Neruda

I come by my love of potatoes honestly. My mother’s side of the family is entirely of Irish origin. Her father’s great grandfather came to Canada in 1835, while her mother’s great grandfather came in 1838. In other words, they were well-established Canadian settlers more than a decade before the Irish potato famine. My ancestors continued farming in Canada and, in fact, some still do. Growing up a farmer’s daughter, I remember potatoes being part of nearly every supper my mom put on the table.

The potatoes in this recipe weren’t fried, but everything else Neruda wrote about them is true. They entered the oven on snowy wings, and, once roasted, exited half-braised in gold. (I don’t know about you, but just reading that line made me want to eat them all over again.) The potatoes came straight from the farmer’s market, so good they required only the subtlest of add-ins, like the jade of green onions and Neruda’s ember of olives.

Roasted Fingerling Potato Salad
(adapted from The Globe and Mail)

1 pound (1/2 kg) fingerling potatoes, cut in half lengthwise
1 Tbsp olive oil (first amount)
kosher salt or freshly ground sea salt
2 thinly sliced green onions (scallions), white and light green parts only
1/2 celery stalk, thinly sliced
1 Tbsp chopped parsley
Pinch red pepper flakes
1/4 cup crumbled feta
1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp olive oil (second amount)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Toss potatoes with 1 Tbsp olive oil, and season with salt. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender. Cool slightly.

In a small bowl, combine lemon juice and 1 Tbsp olive oil.

Toss potatoes with green onions, celery, parsley and red pepper flakes. Dress with the lemon juice mixture. Add feta and combine gently. Serve warm or at room temperature.

“I have made a lot of mistakes falling in love, and regretted most of them, but never the potatoes that went with them.”

– Nora Ephron

Filed Under: Salads and Side Dishes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bonnie says

    July 27, 2014 at 11:35 pm

    Beth, I have never met a potato I didn't like. I remember them as a staple of my childhood dinners as well. They really are the ultimate comfort food. The fingerling potato salad looks like the perfect companion at any meal. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  2. vanillasugarblog says

    July 27, 2014 at 11:46 pm

    Roasted and salted just right.
    You did this perfectly.
    Even the leftovers, should there be any, are so good mashed up and fried up with eggs!!

    Reply
  3. bakewithjill.com says

    July 28, 2014 at 12:47 am

    I never get tired of potatoes. Love the quote from Nora Ephron!

    Reply
  4. Valerie Gamine says

    July 28, 2014 at 1:46 am

    Pablo Neruda…so much love. I believe he could make Brussels sprouts sensual.
    Scrumptious dish! It's almost 10pm and I must have a potato!

    Reply
  5. lisa is cooking says

    July 28, 2014 at 2:54 am

    My mother's family is entirely Irish too, and I too love potatoes! These look golden and delicious, and those toppings sound great with them.

    Reply
  6. Natalie Aguirre says

    July 28, 2014 at 10:35 am

    Looks delicious. Thanks for sharing another fantastic recipe.

    Reply
  7. Joanne says

    July 28, 2014 at 11:10 am

    Roasted potatoes are just one of the more perfect foods out there. Can't go wrong! Love your subtle but perfect paired additions to the salad.

    Reply
  8. Barbara says

    July 28, 2014 at 11:28 am

    Yes, roasted potatoes are delicious! Yours look lovely and golden, Beth, and your additions are perfect. Never would have thought to add feta.

    Reply
  9. grace says

    July 28, 2014 at 11:55 am

    i hadn't seen that neruda poem, how neat! these potatoes look sensational, crispy but also still soft and meaty, just how i like 'em.

    Reply
  10. Angie Schneider says

    July 28, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    I just made some baked potatoes for the lunch. Yours looks so golden brown and crisp.

    Reply
  11. Jemi Fraser says

    July 28, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    It's only 10 o'clock, but I've got a hankering for potatoes now! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Cheri Savory Spoon says

    July 28, 2014 at 3:23 pm

    Hi Beth, love potatoes, they are the perfect food. Great recipe!

    Reply
  13. I Wilkerson says

    July 28, 2014 at 6:14 pm

    These are o beautiful! I am so missing potatoes but I (mostly) don't buy them when they are not in season. But I just got word that the first potatoes come in tomorrow's CSA box! Hooray

    Reply
  14. backroadjournal says

    July 28, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    I'm a real lover of potatoes as well and yours look great. I really like the way they are finished at the end with the lemon and feta.

    Reply
  15. Guru Uru says

    July 29, 2014 at 3:39 am

    Mmm, I can never resist potatoes 😀

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    Reply
  16. Gloria Baker says

    July 29, 2014 at 5:54 pm

    I love potatoes Beth and these look awesome:)))

    Reply
  17. Caroline Taylor says

    July 30, 2014 at 12:20 pm

    This is a great side, lovely idea.

    Reply
  18. nancy at good food matters says

    July 30, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    I love this Neruda poem!
    this, to me, is simple perfect food. potatoes never cease to satisfy in all their humble glory. this year, I grew potatoes in my garden—or rather—Potatoes grew in my garden. I cut and tossed some sprouted eyes into the tilled ground, and have just begun harvesting! so thrilled, it worked. and freshly dug potatoes are incredibly creamy and delicious.

    Reply
  19. Kitchen Riffs says

    July 30, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    I always love the quotes you often include with your posts! And I love potatoes. Great dish, inspiring thoughts. Thanks.

    Reply
  20. Claire Davis says

    July 30, 2014 at 8:35 pm

    The quote did make me want to eat those! I love potatoes and lemon so this sounds delicious. I'll have to try it.

    Reply
  21. Mary @ The World Is A Book says

    August 1, 2014 at 5:27 am

    Great Neruda poem! That looks delicious and copying the recipe to try later. Thanks!

    Reply
  22. Juliana Levine says

    August 1, 2014 at 5:39 pm

    These roasted potatoes look great Beth, I love the idea of celery in it…very flavorful!
    Have a wonderful weekend 😀

    Reply
  23. Andrea_TheKitchenLioness says

    August 3, 2014 at 6:26 pm

    Beth, you can never have enough recipes for those lovely potatoes!

    Reply
  24. veggieats.com says

    August 4, 2014 at 7:34 pm

    Very flavorful and love any variations with roasted potatoes

    Reply
  25. Katerina says

    August 6, 2014 at 7:46 am

    I love potatoes in any form especially roasted! They look absolutely mouthwatering!

    Reply
  26. Daniela Grimburg says

    August 8, 2014 at 5:43 pm

    This is elegant simplicity at its best.
    The potatoes look amazing and I'll prepare them this weekend, just got some beautiful fingerling potatoes at the Farmer's market.

    Reply

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