Caramelized potatoes are a delicious side dish that is especially popular in Scandinavian cuisine, particularly in Denmark and Iceland. And there people serve the traditionally with Christmas. So if you're looking for inspiration for your Christmas menu, you should definitely give these caramel coated potatoes a try.
Caramelized potatoes
Ingredients
- 500 grams potatoes small potatoes
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Cook the potatoes in their skins for about ten minutes, until they are just tender. Let them cool until they are lukewarm.
- Let them cool until they are lukewarm. Peel the lukewarm potatoes.
- Heat the brown sugar in a pan over medium heat.
- Add the honey and butter to the pan when the sugar starts to caramelize. Mix everything until you get a smooth sauce.
- Now add the peeled potatoes and toss them in the caramel sauce for a few minutes.
Nutrition
How to make caramelized potatoes?
Caramelized potatoes are a simple and tasty side dish for many festive occasions. It is a bit of work, but they can be easily prepared in advance.
To make caramelized potatoes, it is best to use small potatoes. Cook them in their skins. Then let them cool and peel them. Now you can perfectly prepare this step in advance. By cooking them in their skin you preserve more of the vitamins just under the peel.
Next, we make the caramel in the pan. For this, melt brown sugar over medium heat without stirring. When the sugar starts to caramelize, add the butter and honey and stir everything into a smooth sauce.
Then it's time to add the peeled potatoes to the caramel sauce. Shake and roll them gently so that the caramel completely coats them. Let the caramel coated potatoes cook for a few minutes until they have a nice shine.
This sweet and shiny side dish now perfectly complements a savory and salty Christmas meal, such as duck or pork roast.
The origins of caramel coated potatoes
Since the Middle Ages, roasted goose with kale and caramelized chestnuts has been popular as a side dish among the upper classes in Denmark for Christmas and holiday meals. Between 1820 and 1850, the poorer population in Denmark began making a similar dish. But instead of goose, they used duck (poor man's goose) and potatoes. To mimic the chestnuts, they used the smallest possible potatoes.
This is why caramelized potatoes are typically very small. If necessary, the potatoes were cut to chestnut size. One of the oldest recipes for "sukkerbrunede kartofler" (Danish) is known from 1785.
Caramelized Potatoes Today
This dish originates from Denmark and is a traditional part of the Danish Christmas menu, where it is called sukkerbrunede kartofler. It is often served alongside dishes such as roasted duck or pork roast. The combination of the sweet potatoes with savory main courses makes it a beloved choice during the holidays.
In other Scandinavian countries, this delicacy is also popular during Christmas or other festive occasions. For example, Icelanders are fond of Brúnaðar kartöflur.
Read more about caramelized potatoes in the following article:
- What are caramel potatoes and how are they traditionally eaten? (Daily meal).
- Icelandic caramelized potatoes (Our big escape).
- Brunede kartofler (Wikipedia - DE).
- Brúnaðar kartöflur með rjóma (Islandfan Kochbuch).
More surprising.potato
Potatoes, along with pasta and rice, are one of the most classic side dishes in our cuisine. We prepare them in many different forms. Everyone knows boiled potatoes, Belgian fries, or fried potatoes. But they offer much more. You can find more surprising potato dishes in the following articles:
- Mashed potatoes with French Boursin.
- Savory potato waffles.
- Crispy crunchy cubed potatoes.
- Easy potato-egg salad.
- Hasselback potatoes.
If you speak Dutch, you can find the Dutch version of this recipe on gerechtenweb.blog.
toondebacker says
Make this once with Christmas, and your family will ask to make it again and again!