Crispy Hasselback Roasted Potatoes with Bacon

Do you want to give your everyday food an exciting and delicious twist? The Crispy Hasselback Roast Potatoes with Bacon are a great way to do it. This simple yet impressive dish lets you use ingredients you already have in your pantry and turn them into a unique culinary experience.

I promise making this recipe is a piece of cake. All you need is your trusty Le Creuset cast-iron skillet and some basic kitchen ingredients. In just five minutes of prep, you'll be ready to bake these oven potatoes. The result is a dish that will delight your senses. The potatoes become golden and crispy on the outside, while their interior stays soft and full of flavor. But that's not all. We've taken these potatoes to the next level by adding crispy bacon.

You can enjoy them in several ways. Serve these potatoes as a starter that will surprise your guests or serve them alongside your favorite meat or fish to turn any meal into a special occasion. Also, if you have leftovers, you can be sure they reheat perfectly to enjoy the next day.

So, what are you waiting for? This recipe is an exciting way to transform ingredients you usually have on hand into an unforgettable treat. Dare to try Crispy Hasselback Roast Potatoes with Bacon and take your meals to a whole new level!

Ingredients

• 8 potatoes (firm-textured varieties, and similar in size for even cooking)
• 5 or 6 tbsp melted butter or olive oil
• 4 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp thyme
• 2 tbsp rosemary
• 2 tbsp parsley
• 2 tsp smoked sea salt
• 200 g pancetta or bacon, cut into cubes

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Cut a thin slice along each potato, which will give them a base to make the hasselback-style cuts. After placing the potato on its sliced side (you'll see it sits stably now) you should make many cuts with a sharp knife: make deep cuts that reach three quarters of the way down, and about every ½ cm between each one*. Repeat this process with all the potatoes.
3. Pour a drizzle of oil or the butter into the frying pan skillet, which is oven-safe, and arrange the sliced potatoes in it, spreading them across the skillet.
4. Finely chop all the herbs and place them in a bowl along with the oil and spices. Mix and use that marinade to brush the potatoes with this herb mixture.
5. Sprinkle with smoked sea salt.
6. Bake the potatoes in the oven for 50 minutes at 190 º - 200 ºC (place the skillet in the oven at a middle/lower height) and then add the bacon on top. Return to the oven for an additional 10 minutes.

Notes

• If you want to serve them as a starter, you can do so as is or accompany them with some steamed broccoli or a fresh green salad drizzled with lemon juice.
• If you like, you can use this recipe as the perfect side for many main courses: serve one or two potatoes with bacon alongside fish baked in the oven or on the grill, or alongside a steak or a burger. It will elevate the presentation and taste delicious!
• There’s a trick to ensure you don’t cut the potato all the way through: place a wooden spoon (or another utensil) on either side of the potato so that when you cut you always stop at the same height because you can't cut past the stop you've placed on each side.
• If you like a garlicky flavor, before placing the potatoes to bake you can heat the skillet over low heat with a little oil and add some peeled garlic cloves to it. Let the oil become fragrant and sauté the bacon for a few seconds in that oil so it also picks up flavor (and begins to cook). Remove from the skillet and set aside, then continue the recipe as directed (at the end of the potato baking, return the bacon to the skillet).
• The potatoes are delicious as is, but if you're a cheese lover you can add grated or melting cheese on top, or even add some pieces of sliced ham between each cut of each potato. A delight!