Roasted Potatoes Are 10x More Flavorful When You Add A Packet Of This Seasoning

Roasted potatoes can be sensational with just a swirl of oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. A lot of their appeal, in fact, comes from the crisp, golden exterior and the fluffy, tender interior achieved by the proper oven temperature rather than any extra ingredients. But if you make them a lot, or you just want to tailor them more precisely to your evening's dinner menu, a little extra flavor can go a long way toward shaking things up a bit. And the titular ingredients in a packet of lemon pepper seasoning will make those everyday tubers peppier than ever.

A packet of lemon pepper seasoning usually won't cost much more than a couple of bucks, it adds a bright pop of peppery citrus without requiring you to break out the zester, and perhaps best of all, you can use it more or less just how you would your more ordinary salt and pepper. For the most even coat, you can toss the potatoes in a bowl with oil, sprinkle the packet's contents, and toss some more for better distribution. More freewheeling home cooks can also simply arrange the spuds on a baking sheet as usual, drizzle with the oil, and dust on the lemon pepper seasoning by hand. Either way, you can continue roasting as you normally would and still end up with a uniquely tasty batch when all is said and done.

Whether you're roasting big Yukon Gold chunks, or halved baby potatoes, it helps to soak the spuds in water once they're cut. That will rid them of a bit of extra starch, which will help them get even crispier in the oven. Around 30 minutes in cold water is plenty. Paradoxically, any stray H2O will inhibit your desired crisping, so you'll need to be sure to pat those potato pieces good and dry once they're out of the bath. You can then toss or shower the potatoes in oil and the lemon pepper seasoning as usual.

Be cautious when adding extra seasonings along with the packet of lemon pepper. Although salt is not listed among the headlining ingredients, you'll often find it printed on the back of the pack nevertheless. Taste a fingertip's worth of the lemon pepper seasoning before you decide if the potatoes need any extra salt to be sure. Odds are you'll leave the shaker on the table. You can, however, consider adding any fresh herbs that might otherwise wilt in the refrigerator. Thyme's lightly peppery notes and dill's fresh pop are both lovely with lemon pepper seasoning. Since they're fresh herbs and not dried, they're best added after baking the roasted potatoes, else they can burn under the heat of the oven.