Baby Potatoes with Butter & Herbs – This is a simple, elegant way to prepare baby potatoes, steamed or boiled. Think – steak dinner. Or roast chicken.
You only need a little bit of butter. But you want lots of fresh herbs!
Welcome back to Day 7 of the inaugural Holiday Salad Marathon, where I’m sharing 30 salads in a row through to Christmas Eve – just for something different to the usual sugar-loaded baking countdowns!!
Today:
Baby Potatoes with Butter & Herbs
I realise today’s recipe isn’t technically a salad as such, with no leafy greens in sight. But I consider it a staple potato side dish and it’s especially handy during the holiday season because it doesn’t involve use of the oven (valuable real estate during feasting season!). So I decided it’s a must share!
What you need for Butter Baby Potatoes with Herbs
Here’s all you need:
Baby potatoes / new potatoes – choose small ones that are the same size if you can, so they cook through in the same time without the skins bursting. The larger the potato, the more prone they are to the skin breaking when boiled or steamed;
Butter – just 2 tbsp / 30g is all you need. The idea with this recipe is that the potatoes are lightly coated with a slick of butter, as opposed to dousing. The potatoes won’t absorb any butter because we’re keeping them whole. It’s basically the polar opposite of intense buttery richness of Paris Mash, the ultimate mashed potatoes!
Herbs – my favourite combination is dill (for fresh flavour), chives (for a touch of oniony freshness) and parsley (for extra subtle freshness which doesn’t add too much extra flavour).
This potato recipe isn’t supposed to be rich and super buttery. It’s supposed to be simple, with just a light coating of butter on the potatoes, so they can be served with rich mains like steak, prime rib or crackling roast pork.
How to make Baby Potatoes with Butter & Herbs
The making part is as simple as:
Boil or steam potatoes until there’s no resistance when you pierce them with a knife;
Add butter, salt and pepper, toss until butter is melted and it coats the potatoes. Then add herbs just before serving – for maximum freshness impact!
The light coating of butter just adds a bit of flavour to the otherwise plain potatoes along with (of course) the hit of freshness from the herbs!
Because it’s not too heavy, it’s an ideal potato side for rich mains such as:
And again, because it’s not too heavy, it is also terrific to serve with seafood – any fish, prawns/shrimp, lobster, Morton Bay Bugs, Crab etc. Sensational side dish for a seafood platter, come to think of it, if you feel like splashing out!
No recipe video today, because it’s such a simple recipe. But if you really want one, ask nicely in the comments below and I will make one for you! – Nagi x
What is the Holiday Salad Marathon?
This is my inaugural Christmas recipe countdown where I am sharing 30 salad recipes in a row until Christmas Eve – something completely different to people’s usual baking countdowns!
These salads are in addition to my regular 3 new recipes a week. Because aren’t you bored of the usual tomato-cucumber-lettuce garden salad routine??
Click here to see all the Holiday Salad Marathon recipes to date, or sign up for instant updates and you’ll receive a free email alert whenever I publish a new salad! 🙂
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Baby Potatoes with Butter & Fresh Herbs
Ingredients
- 1kg/ 2 lb baby potatoes / new potatoes , about 3cm/1.2" round ideal (look for same size ones)
- 1 tbsp salt , for cooking (Note 1)
- 30g/ 2 tbsp unsalted butter (no need to melt)
- 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
Fresh Herbs:
- 2 tbsp fresh dill , finely chopped
- 1 tbsp chives , finely chopped
- 1 tbsp parsley , finely chopped
Instructions
- Boil potatoes: Place potatoes in a large pot of cold tap water with 1 tbsp salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower heat to medium so they're simmering gently (this stops skin splitting). Cook for 10 – 15 minutes until there's no resistance when pierced with a knife. Alternatively, steam the potatoes.
- Steam dry: Drain in colander then leave for a minute to let the potatoes steam dry (if wet, butter won't stick).
- Toss with butter: Transfer to a bowl, add salt, pepper and butter. Toss to melt and coat.
- Add herbs just before serving. Stir through, transfer to serving bowl and serve warm!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
More irresistible potato sides
Life of Dozer
When I told him to STAY! outside a cafe. I was so impressed he was obeying him, I snapped this photo… but then two seconds later, he breached the barrier. Naughty boy!
Wow! Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe idea! I like potato for making maximum recipes as a vegetables ingredients. By the way, I will try with this herbs potato for next recipe.
Hi there I love the recipes that you have..They look very neat and delicious and most of all, it takes little ingredients to make something amazing . thank you so much.
Looking at making these but just wondering how long before guests arrive can you boil them and then add the butter sauce? Thank you!
Tastes delicious and very easy the!
Great potatoes!
Delicious potatoes, really quick and easy
Dear poor Dozer, we are all getting older darling, even you, and we must all slow down a little, just a little. You are lucky you have a mummy who loves you so much.
Yes, this IS a salad and just about the only way I eat potatoes ! Looks wonderful ! Potatoes steamed and butter I do not usually keep in the house brought out of the fridge and piles of herbs . . . . dill, dill and more dill . . . well, with the ‘others’ 🙂 ! Actually give me a few green leaves aside and I could make this a full meal ! My message to Dozer on the pot pie site . . . I know, bubs, I know !!!!!!
Gad, Milady . . . the guy practices virtually in my back yard ! Don’t worry – won’t do else than pass on info 🙂 !!!
Gosh childhood memories ! My grandma used to do these but she added a little mint when simmering them.
Next was butter and finely chopped parsley.
I hope Dozer can quickly learn to take things slowly and heal his back.
Hope Dozer is ok. I just read a few posts wishing him well. Hope it’s nothing serious…stressful when our furry babies don’t feel good😥
Hi Nagi, could I cook the potatoes in the slow cooker? Do you know how long it would take? Thank you
Love your recipes, but i love Dozer even more!
Thanks so much Jade 🙂 N x
Nagi, you’re speaking my language! Just adore potatoes in any form, but especially these baby taties – yum. This will be made and enjoyed very soon. Lots of love and cuddles to Dozer – take it easy, sweet boy, and recover soon.
Thanks so much Liz!! N x
I do love a nice herby potato ❤️
Get well soon Dozer! Try being lazy and sedentary for a while, you might like it lol.
Thos herbs make all the difference don’t they Rachel!!! N x