And courtesy of Epicurious.com.... Here's a recipe for the afore-mentioned potatoes. I prefer to cut the potatoes length-wise into halves or quarters depending on the size of the potatoes. I like the resulting "crust" to "melting potato" ratio. They take a bit longer to bake that way, but I think it's time well spent. -And if want to go vegetarian, just add more lemon juice or a little water to the pan. *I also like the method of parboiling the potatoes before you place them in the oven. This results in a sort of "potato lava" that comes out of the piece of potato when you cut into them - much like the potatoes in Chicken Vesuvio. YUM!
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PATATES RIGANATES
Editor's note: This recipe is excerpted from Aglaia Kremezi's book The Foods of the Greek Islands.
To read more about Kremezi and Greek Easter, click here.
Few people can resist these potatoes, which are capable of stealing the show from any food they accompany — so make sure you have plenty for seconds. Although it is served all over Greece, this dish is particularly good on islands like Naxos, where the local potatoes have an exceptional taste. On the special days when a leg of lamb or a chicken is roasted, the potatoes are cooked in its juices.
If you want to cook this dish using small potatoes, there is no need to peel them, but I suggest that you halve them, because they taste best when they can absorb more sauce.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
by Aglaia Kremezi
Houghton Mifflin Company
3 pounds baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, crumbled
1 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup beef stock or chicken stock
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Place the potatoes in a single layer in a 13-x-9-inch baking dish and pour the oil over them. Add the garlic, dried oregano, salt and pepper to taste and toss well to coat with the oil.
Bake the potatoes for 15 minutes. Add the stock, toss and bake for 10 minutes more. Add the lemon juice, toss and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more, or until the potatoes are cooked through. If you like, preheat the broiler and broil the potatoes for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown.
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