Duck fat potatoes

Duck fat potatoes: The ultimate side dish 

Crispy and golden on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, these are no ordinary roast spuds. Roasting potatoes in duck fat adds richness and results in an incredibly crunchy and thick crust. Sometimes referred to as “liquid gold” because of its incredible taste, duck fat as an ingredient can be traced back to ancient times, but it’s now commonly found in French cuisine. This duck fat potato recipe is perfect for Christmas, dinner parties, roast dinners or as a decadent side dish to pair with main courses. 

Key ingredients for duck fat roast potatoes

This simple recipe for roasted duck fat potatoes includes just four ingredients: potatoes, duck fat, rosemary and sea salt flakes. When choosing the best potatoes for duck fat potatoes, use an all-rounder that will give you a crispy exterior and a fluffy inside, such as Carisma or Red Royale potatoes.

For the best tips when preparing roast potatoes in duck fat, peel and halve each potato to create uniform pieces. Ensure you take the additional step to soak them in cold water with salt. Soaking removes excess starch to help the potatoes cook more evenly, and the addition of salt will help season from the inside out. 

While duck fat is a key component in this recipe, in some recipes the potatoes are cooked in goose fat for a stronger, gamier flavour. Other alternatives also include lard (rendered fat from pork), dripping (rendered fat from beef), ghee (clarified butter) or oil. 

Crispy duck fat potatoes in the air fryer

Potatoes roasted in duck fat are often cooked in the oven but you can also choose to use the air fryer. This saves on preheating time, and can also free up your oven to cook the main course if you’re short on space.

To cook potatoes with duck fat in the air fryer, toss the potatoes in duck fat and seasonings until well combined. Place into an air fryer basket and cook at 200°C for 35 minutes. Depending how large your air fryer is, you may need to shake the basket half way through cooking or air-fry in batches to achieve crispy duck fat potatoes. 

How to serve duck fat roasted potatoes

Crispy duck fat roast potatoes make a gourmet addition to any Christmas, Easter or holiday table. Serve them with a delicious roast pork or an impressive glazed ham. Complete your feast with easy side dishes such as buttery green beans and simple sauces like garlic and basil aioli or homemade gravy. 

To elevate your dining experience, present your roast duck fat potatoes on a platter lined with baking paper, sprigs of fresh rosemary, and a large spoon so guests can help themselves. You can also keep it rustic by serving them straight from the roasting pan – just be sure to let the pan cool slightly before placing it on the dinner table. Store any leftover delicious duck fat potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge, and reheat in the oven the next day.