Lidia's Easy + Delicious Italian Potato Recipe

Lidia Bastianich is a world-renowned chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author, known for her delicious Italian cuisine. One of her most popular and easy-to-make recipes is this Italian potato recipe, a dish that combines the simplicity of potatoes with the rich flavors of garlic and peperoncino flakes. If you're looking for a flavorful and satisfying side dish to complement your main course, then look no further than Lidia's Italian potato with peperoncino.

Lidia's Italian potato recipe is a simple yet flavorful dish that is sure to impress your family and friends.

What Potatoes Are Needed In This Recipe?

To make this delicious Italian potato recipe, you will need large Russet Potatoes. Russets (also called Idaho potatoes) are large and oblong, and their texture is perfect for this type of dish.

About russet potatoes: for light and fluffy mashed potatoes, russets work best. They are the go-to potato for baking and can be fried up crispy and golden brown. Baked russets' delicate flavor and fluffy texture go well with a variety of toppings & sauces as well.

The Perfect Recipe for a Healthy and Flavorful Side Dish

To make this Italian potato recipe, you'll need a few ingredients. Firstly, some potatoes (duh!), olive oil, garlic, peperoncino flakes, salt, and fresh Italian parsley. Once you've got your ingredients ready, start preparing them by washing and boiling the potatoes. Put the peperoncino flakes in the spice grinder or mortar and pestle, and grind to a fine powder.

What Is Peperoncino?

Peperoncino is an assortment of delicious, hot Italian chilies - the word really just means "hot chili peppers" rather than referring to a specific variety. However, from pizza spots in the US and throughout Italy, peperoncino means Calabrian chilies or chili flakes. Calabria is where peperoncino is largely produced in Italy, although the region grows several varieties of peppers. These chile flakes provide a range of foods a moderate citrus aroma with undertones of sweetness and sourness, plus, obviously, some heat.

You can learn a little more about peperoncino in Calabria on Lidia's website here.

Whip Up This Mouthwatering Italian Potato Recipe in No Time!

Now for the fun part, cooking! Bring water to a boil & throw your potatoes in - but don't let them get mushy. Peel off the skins, and cut the potatoes crosswise into round slices. Put the slices in a large warmed serving bowl and don't forget to season them with salt, because who likes bland food, amirite?

This is where Lidia takes this recipe to the next level. The sauce. Place the skillet on medium heat with the olive oil in it for a few minutes. Sliced garlic should be strewn in the hot oil along with the crushed peperoncino, and both should sizzle while being stirred every few seconds, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the garlic is golden. Stir in the parsley after turning the heat off. Toss the warm potatoes to evenly coat them with the seasoned oil that has been drizzled over them from the skillet.

Serve Lidia's Italian Potato Recipe as a Versatile Side Dish or Main Course

You can serve this Italian potato recipe as a side dish or as a main course with a salad on the side. And if you're feeling adventurous, you can sprinkle some Parmesan cheese over the potatoes or use different herbs like thyme or oregano. But don't get too crazy, we don't want to ruin Lidia's "famous" recipe.

There you have it! Lidia Bastianich's Italian potato recipe that's so easy, even your unskilled friends can make it. We hope you enjoy this simple yet delicious dish, and who knows, maybe you'll impress your dinner guests and pretend you're the next Lidia.