Patates Tsakistes

Another way of roasting potatoes

In Cyprus, as in Greece, potatoes are roasted rather differently to the way they are roasted in British cuisine. In Britain, the art is to make the potatoes golden brown and crispy. To achieve this the potatoes are generally parboiled then roasted with frequent basting.

The Greek way of roasting potatoes is usually to put the potatoes in the same dish as the meat and seasoned with oregano as well as salt and pepper. One does not end up with the same golden crispness of the British roast potato, but the potatoes absorb the flavours of the meat and other vegetables in a most delicious manner.

But there is another way and that is the Potatoes “Tsakistes”. Tsakistes means cracked. You may be familiar with Green Olives “Tsakistes”. The cooking process is simple. Wash some small potatoes and parboil them with the skins. You want to remove them from the water before they are soft enough to eat.

You then crush them slightly so that they crack open. Place them in a baking dish. Season with salt and pepper. Add coriander seeds. Drizzle with olive oil and bake at 220 for about half an hour. Serve with whatever you are having with them and sprinkle with fresh basil leaves.