Cottage fries

Preheat the oven to gas mark 7, 425°F/200°C fan (or 220°C conventional). Slice the russet potatoes crosswise into 0.5 inch rounds.

Place the sliced potatoes onto a large baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Season with the salt, thyme, and black pepper. Toss all of the ingredients together to coat the potatoes and mix well. Ensure that the potatoes are not overlapping on the baking tray for an even bake.

Roast the potatoes for 25 minutes, until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and flip the potato rounds. Then place back into the oven and roast until golden on the other side for around 15 minutes more. Remove from the oven, and serve hot.

Tips & tricks

Given the simplicity of the recipe, the easiest way to ensure the most delicious outcome is to opt for russet potatoes. The starchiness of the russet potatoes creates fries with very fluffy centers for that desirable cottage fries texture. These are the most common variety of potatoes that you’ll find easily in your local grocery stores, so you won’t have to look far for them. Yukon golds are a reasonably good second alternative, but they’re not as starchy as russets, so you’ll end up with slightly creamier fries in the middle. For a different, sweeter approach, you could experiment with making sweet potato cottage fries. In short, there are numerous varieties of potatoes to choose from which would work in theory with the recipe above, but our top tip is to stick to the russets for the crispiest, fluffiest fries.

To cook the best cottage French fries, make sure they’re evenly spaced in the oven so they cook at the same pace, and take the time to make sure the rounds are all a similar width when slicing. If you have a mandoline at home, this is a simple way to ensure consistency with your rounds. Seasoning is also very important for the final flavor. We’ve included thyme in the recipe above, but other chefs will include spices like paprika or herbs like rosemary to vary the end taste.

How to serve them

Part of the reason we love fries is because they’re so versatile, and enjoyed in numerous different ways around the world. Cottage fries can be served straight from the oven alongside your favorite dips, from aioli to BBQ sauce to ketchup. Or try plating up with a lunchtime dish like a halloumi sandwich or a dinnertime serving of grilled chicken.

Storage

Though we anticipate few leftovers, cottage fries can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You can reheat cottage fries in an oven or air-fryer when you want to enjoy these leftovers at a later date.