Beef dripping roast potatoes recipe
Ingredients (serves 4):
- 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) of floury potatoes (Maris Piper or King Edward varieties are ideal)
- 4–5 tablespoons of beef dripping (or enough to coat the roasting tray)
- 1 tsp sea salt (plus more for boiling)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- Optional extras: 1–2 cloves of crushed garlic and a few sprigs of rosemary or thyme.
🧑🍳 Method:
1. Prepare the potatoes.
- Peel the potatoes and cut them into evenly sized chunks, about the size of a golf ball.
- Place them in a large pot of cold, salted water.
2. Parboil.
- Bring to the boil and simmer for 7–10 minutes until they are just tender on the outside but still firm inside.
- Drain thoroughly and leave in the colander for a minute to steam dry.
3. Rough them up:
- Shake the colander gently to fluff up the edges – this will make them extra crispy.
4. Preheat the dripping:
- While the potatoes are steaming, preheat the oven to 220°C (430°F) (fan 200°C/400°F).
- Add the beef dripping to a large roasting tray and place it in the oven for 10–15 minutes, until the fat is smoking hot.
5. Roast:
- Carefully add the potatoes to the hot fat (they should sizzle) and turn them with tongs to coat them evenly.
- Roast for 50–60 minutes, turning every 15–20 minutes, until they are deep golden brown and crispy all over.
6. Optional add-ins (last 10–15 minutes):
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- Add garlic cloves and herb sprigs, if using, for the last 10–15 minutes.
7. Serve!
- Remove from the oven and place on kitchen paper to drain.
- Season with extra sea salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately.
✅ Tips for success:
- Don’t overcrowd the pan – use two trays if necessary.
- Floury potatoes are key – waxy ones won’t crisp up in the same way.
- Allowing them to steam dry significantly improves their crispiness.
- Using very hot fat is crucial – don’t forget to preheat!