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    Home » Dinner » Side Dishes

    Salt and Vinegar Smashed Potatoes

    Published: Oct 10, 2018 · Modified: Nov 14, 2023 · 8 Comments

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Save Recipe Saved!

    These vegan Salt and Vinegar Smashed Potatoes are a crispy, easy side dish.  Serve them with dinner or at your next Game Day!

    smash potatoes on a serving tray

    Over the summer, I listened to an episode of the Bon Appétit Foodcast that had me drooling.

    Carla (one of the show's regulars) started talking about making salt and vinegar smashed potatoes on the grill.  And I could not stop thinking about it.

    Except-- I was feeling a little lazy.  And I didn't have any charcoal for my grill.

    But friends-- I did have potatoes.

    These salt and vinegar smashed potatoes are delicious, carb-tastic treats that you won't want to stop eating.  They're a perfect little side dish for everyone who loves salt and vinegar potato chips.  Make them for dinner or as a game day snack!

    waxy red potatoes

    What Kind of Potatoes Should I Use?

    Small ones!

    Red potatoes will give you a creamy smashed potato, and Yukon gold will give you fluffy smashed potatoes.  Use whichever you have on hand, or whichever you prefer.

    Russet potatoes are a little large for smashed potatoes (although you could try cutting them in half before smashing). For Russet potatoes, I prefer to make these crispy oven fries and then serve them with vinegar.

    If you've got lots of extra potatoes on hand, try freezing potatoes!

    What Type of Vinegar Should I Use?

    If you want the classic, tart, salt and vinegar flavor-- use malt vinegar.  My favorite is London Pub malt vinegar.

    And if you haven't tried malt vinegar before-- go buy some.  It's the best.

    Keep in mind that malt vinegar is not gluten-free. 

    If you need to switch to another type of vinegar, these potatoes are also delicious (but somewhat less "potato-chip-ish") with apple cider vinegar.

    smashed potatoes after cooking

    Should I Bake Salt and Vinegar Smashed Potatoes on a Cast-Iron Pan or a Baking Sheet?

    I assumed baking inside a cast-iron pan would result in crispier smashed potatoes, but cast-iron pans won't hold as many potatoes as a baking sheet.

    So I tested it.

    The results surprised me-- I found that both sets of potatoes were equally crispy.  So-- use either a cast-iron pan or a metal baking sheet.

    Avoid cooking these potatoes on silicon-- they won't get crispy.

    Will Vinegar Make the Smashed Potatoes Soggy?

    Not if you add the vinegar right before serving.  The vinegar will simply act like a sauce, and add a little moisture and flavor.

    I would avoid adding the vinegar a long time before serving. 

    If, for example, you're packing leftover potatoes for lunch the next day, store the vinegar in a separate container and drizzle it on right before you eat them.

    smashed potatoes on a serving tray
    smash potatoes on a serving tray
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    5 from 9 votes

    Salt and Vinegar Smashed Potatoes

    These vegan Salt and Vinegar Smashed Potatoes are a crispy, easy side dish. Serve them with dinner or at your next Game Day!
    Author: Sarah Trenalone
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time45 minutes mins
    Total Time55 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4 people (2 potatoes each)
    Calories: 333kcal
    Freezer Friendly?
    No
    Will It Keep?
    No
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 8 red potatoes OR Yukon gold potatoes red waxy potatoes will be creamier, gold potatoes will be fluffier
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt, divided (or more to taste)
    • 2 tablespoons malt vinegar (or more to taste)
    • Optional: diced green onion to garnish

    Instructions

    • Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
    • Boil potatoes until tender.  Boil about 25 minutes for small potatoes, 35 minutes for larger potatoes.  Potatoes are ready when they can be easily pierced with a fork.
    • Preheat oven broiler.
    • Remove potatoes from the pot, and carefully smash with a potato masher or a large, sturdy serving fork.
    • Allow potatoes to cool for about 5 minutes after smashing.  This will let some of the steam escape, and the finished potatoes will be crispier.
    • Transfer potatoes to a large cast iron pan (or 2 medium-size cast iron pans), or arrange them on a baking sheet.
    • Drizzle olive oil over the potatoes, sprinkle the garlic (if using) and salt over the potatoes.
    • Broil 10 minutes or until the potatoes develop crispy edges.
    • Serve potatoes with the remaining salt.  Immediately before serving, drizzle the malt vinegar over the potatoes, or serve the vinegar on the side.
      Garnish with green onion if desired.

    Notes

    This recipe can be easily halved or multiplied. 
    Nutrition information is based on red potatoes, not Yukon gold.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 333kcal (17%) | Carbohydrates: 68g (23%) | Protein: 8g (16%) | Fat: 4g (6%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 659mg (29%) | Potassium: 1945mg (56%) | Fiber: 7g (29%) | Sugar: 6g (7%) | Vitamin A: 30IU (1%) | Vitamin C: 37mg (45%) | Calcium: 46mg (5%) | Iron: 3mg (17%)
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!

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    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    5 from 9 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Comments

    1. Amanda says

      October 01, 2018 at 8:14 am

      5 stars
      Whoooaa! I LOVE salt and vinegar with potatoes (seriously - don't leave me alone with a bag of salt and vinegar potato chips and expect to find many left!) and using that flavor profile for smashed potatoes is just brilliant! I would eat these with ALL the things, or honestly just by themselves because just like malt vinegar, crispy-edged potatoes are the bomb-diggity!

      Reply
    2. Tracy Koslicki says

      October 01, 2018 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      YES! The flavors on this my husband will LOVE. I cannot wait to surprise him with them since they're unexpected for a smashed potato - let me thank you in advance for him! 😛

      Reply
    3. Marisa Franca says

      October 01, 2018 at 2:22 pm

      5 stars
      Oh! Boy!! These potatoes sound amazing!! They would be much better than French fries. My mouth is watering just looking at them. You prepare a lot of them on a baking sheet. I haven't tasted malt vinegar but I'm adding it to my grocery list so I can make these potatoes ASAP!

      Reply
    4. Dana says

      October 01, 2018 at 5:08 pm

      5 stars
      YESSSSS. My mouth is watering. I love the idea of the vinegar! I love salt and vinegar chips (who doesn't?), but it would be nice to a) have a healthier option and b) enjoy the flavors without getting those dang cuts at the corners of my mouth. Haha.

      Would you believe my husband doesn't like potatoes? His loss. I'm going to devour these myself!

      Reply
    5. Donna says

      October 01, 2018 at 10:47 pm

      5 stars
      Well, this will be on our dinner table tomorrow. I am OBSESSED with salt and vinegar chips and even more obsessed with potatoes so this is the ultimate combination. Love it.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes says

        October 01, 2018 at 11:01 pm

        Oh yay!! Let me know when you try them!

        Reply
    6. Tina says

      October 10, 2018 at 7:55 pm

      5 stars
      Salt and vinegar chips are my cheat chip, but these potatoes sound amazing!!! I love the detailed instructions on what types of potatoes to use and what to expect from both kinds as it gives you nice options up front. These will make a perfect side dish on game day this weekend for dinner!

      Reply
    7. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

      October 15, 2018 at 11:14 am

      5 stars
      Salt and vinegar chips are SO good and I love smashed tatos with all those crispy edges. Basically, this is definitely made for me! I put vinegar on everythang!!!

      Reply
    bio

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

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