Duck Fat: The One Ingredient You Need for Perfectly Roasted Potatoes

Duck Fat: The One Ingredient You Need for Perfectly Roasted Potatoes

I’d never really heard of duck fat, or how to use it, until a friend insisted on spreading it over the roasting potatoes one year. Instead of putting olive oil over my chopped potatoes, we brushed them over with duck fat and sprinkled a generous amount of salt.

After the potatoes looked sufficiently golden and crunchy, which took a little over an hour from memory, they were ready to serve. I soon became a believer in duck fat roasted potatoes after I took that first bite.

Duck fat can be bought at Woolies and Coles for just under $7 for a 200-gram jar. Sure, that might not be as cheap as a bottle of olive oil but think of it as a little treat for when you’re wanting restaurant quality potatoes.

Since I first dipped my toes into the world of duck fat potatoes, I’ve looked up some recipes that will make you take a few extra steps than I did. If you’re feeling lazy, just melt the duck fat into a liquid and brush it on. You won’t get the world’s best crunchy potato but they’re still probably tastier than any olive oil roasted ones. If you’re aiming for something special and don’t mind taking a few extra steps, this recipe from Recipe Tin Eats will get you there.

Duck fat potato recipe

What you’ll need:

  • 1.75-2kg potatoes, medium to large
  • 2 tbsp semolina (optional)
  • 1.5 tsp salt plus 1tbsp salt
  • 200g duck fat
  • 2 tsp rosemary
  • Sea salt flakes

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 230°C
  2. Add 1 tbsp salt then potatoes in a large pot of boiling water. Boil 10 minutes.
  3. Drain potatoes well.
  4. Shake excess water out of pot, return turned off stove. Tip potatoes in then stand for 5 minutes to steam out excess water.
  5. Add 1.5 tsp salt and the semolina. Place lid on then shake the pot up and down vigorously 5 to 7 times to rough up the surface.
  6. Pour duck fat into heavy based, metal roasting pan.
  7. Heat in oven for 5 to 7 minutes until it’s shimmering and very hot with little wisps of smoke.
  8. Working quickly and carefully, remove pan from oven.
  9. Transfer potato in, turn to coat in fat then arrange cut face down.
  10. Roast for 25 minutes. Turn potatoes, roast 15 minutes. Turn again, then roast 10 to 15 minutes until deep golden and super crunchy.
  11. Transfer to warm serving bowl. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes and rosemary, serve immediately.

[Via Recipe Tin Eats]


I don’t doubt for a second that the above recipe delivers some of the finest roasted spuds you’ve ever tasted but if you’re time-poor, spending that much time on one aspect of a meal is too much for most weekday evenings. Instead, you can skip some of the steps such as the par-boiling as long as you don’t mind waiting a bit longer for the potatoes to cook.

The end result will be something great either way.

Whilst you’re here, it’s also worth stopping by our Coles coupon page to nab sales on your groceries.

This article has been updated and retimed since its original publication. 

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