One of the best things about having started a food blog, is the chance to connect with food lovers world-wide and exchange recipes and culinary traditions and adventures.
I recently posted on my Italian blog an article about roast potatoes and one of my readers, Sandro, shared his Nonna’s recipe and I felt compelled to try it.
Nothing could taste or look as good as his gran’s dish, but I was very pleased with the result and he seemed happy too.
Sandro’s Nonna used to put potato chunks in a metal frying pan (I used a non-stick scanpan…I hate doing the dishes…)with some water, salt and a 4-5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Then she’d put the lid on to allow the steam to cook the potatoes through and make them fluffy. After about 20 minutes, she’d take the lid off to let the oil and the heat create the crunchy, irresistible crust.
This is what they looked like when I made them.
My Nonna Irene used to make them in a very similar way, they were so delicious and my siblings, my cousins and I used to fight over that last bit of slightly burnt potato, stuck to the pan and drenched in oil…
This post is dedicated to her and all the beautiful Nonnas in our lives.
I miss you…
Silvia Colloca 
that’s the way they must be done. Simply great!
Sandro
My Nonna (in my opinion was one of the best cooks ever). I use to call her on my way home from work….and say what are you having for dinner tonight? She would respond and say…why do you want to come over to eat. My response was always yes. The best veal ever and her salad was wonderful. She always used her hands to mix the salad. I so very much miss her, especially during the holidays….what feasts we had then. Love and miss you always!
Pat, thanks for sharing your memory of your precious Nonna! Feel free to share her recipes too, I will try my best to reproduce them.
I’m going to have to try this, I love potatoes. These would probably be really tasty with some leftover sweet sausage and caramelized onions. I shall post a follow-up comment when I’ve had a chance to try your Nonna’s recipe and let you know how mine turned out.
My dad makes a killer fry-up, usually with leftover sausage or kielbasa (we are VERY Polish), fried crispy potatoes, and onions. It is amazingly simple and tasty!
Oh, your Dad’s fry up sounds like what I need right now!!