Forked Lemon Potatoes
There are plenty of delicious things to be done with a new potato. If you haven’t tried forking them yet, you must – cooked new potatoes are squished with a fork (or use your hand) to flatten them, then cooked in a hot pan until golden and crispy-edged. The quick lemony vinaigrette elevates them to a whole new level that’s perfect for summer supping. This is what I would make if I lived in a French farmhouse or Italian villa, and serve them outside on one of those long rustic tables that instantly make you think of Martha Stewart or Pinterest. With plenty of wine, natch.
Either that or I’d serve them for dinner with pan-fried fish and sliced cucumbers on the living room floor to a little boy who needs a bath after cleaning up his Lego and picking up his socks.
Forked Lemon Potatoes

Put the potatoes into a medium-large saucepan and add enough water to cover them by a couple inches. Bring to a boil and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 20-25 minutes. Drain them well, then spread out on a baking sheet. Press down on each gently with the back of a fork to flatten each potato.
In a large, heavy skillet, heat a generous drizzle (a few tablespoons) of oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant and lightly brown, about 1 minute. Remove the garlic and discard. Add the potatoes in batches, without crowding the pan, and cook, without stirring, until the bottoms turn golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip with a thin spatula and cook for another 4-5 minutes, until golden on the other side.
In a small bowl or jar, whisk or shake together the oil, lemon zest and juice, thyme, salt and pepper.
Spoon the dressing over the potatoes and serve.
Ingredients
Directions
Put the potatoes into a medium-large saucepan and add enough water to cover them by a couple inches. Bring to a boil and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 20-25 minutes. Drain them well, then spread out on a baking sheet. Press down on each gently with the back of a fork to flatten each potato.
In a large, heavy skillet, heat a generous drizzle (a few tablespoons) of oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant and lightly brown, about 1 minute. Remove the garlic and discard. Add the potatoes in batches, without crowding the pan, and cook, without stirring, until the bottoms turn golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip with a thin spatula and cook for another 4-5 minutes, until golden on the other side.
In a small bowl or jar, whisk or shake together the oil, lemon zest and juice, thyme, salt and pepper.
Spoon the dressing over the potatoes and serve.
Julie, these look sooo good! I just picked up lemon thyme from the market and I think these potatoes would be a perfect vehicle for it!
Wow, that sounds so good right now! The perfect comfort food. If I make these for my sister she’s going to want them every night for the rest of her life!
A nice simple way of eating fresh potatoes. Like the wine part, as we got plenty of it here in France.
look wonderful-but do not think I can discard the garlic! But will take out so as not to burn
I love this! You said so much by actually writing very little. And the potatoes look super yummy.
I’ve never tried it but these look like something my family would love. Thanks!
Who’s natch?
Mama T. makes forked potatoes all the time! I always questioned her methods, but now I realize other people do it too, so it’s ok 😉
She likes to top hers with baked potato toppings – sour cream, chives, bacon bits.
Julie, those look incredible. Making them tomorrow night. xo Terri
This is actually the first time I hear about this recipe… however I must say that your forked lemon potatoes look so appetizing. I am dying to taste it. 🙂
I’ve done with salt and vinegar for potatoes but lemon sounds delicious!!
I made these last night and they are sooooo good. I used fresh new potatoes from the market and did not have thyme so used fresh oregano – yummy
Mmmmm, two of my favorites lemon and potatoes!
I made these last night, but when I squished the potatoes, they crunbled. Did I cook them too long??
Oh my gosh it’s barely 7 on a Sunday morning, and now you have me craving lemon potatoes….thanks, no I really mean that, lol.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I would never have thought to pair lemon with potatoes but it sounds delicious. And even with the frying, this has to be healthier than my usual parsley and way too much butter.
I made these for dinner last night and they were quite yummy!
to CathyH – some of mine crumbled as well – I think it might have something to do with the type of potato. I found the smaller ones didn’t crumble as badly.
I made these for dinner on Saturday night alongside a BBQd chicken, sauteed green beans, and sliced garden tomatoes and cucumbers in vinegar. Perfect summer meal! My potatoes did not flatten nicely but rather fell apart but I carried on and they were still delicious. The lemon-thyme dressing was so good!
I made these for dinner on Saturday night alongside a BBQd chicken, sauteed green beans, and sliced garden tomatoes and cucumbers in vinegar. Perfect summer meal! My potatoes did not flatten nicely but rather fell apart but I carried on and they were still delicious. The lemon-thyme dressing was so good!
My friend made these twice last week while we were free-loading at her cabin. First as an experiment and two days later because we were still talking about how good they were. So simple. So delicious.
Great idea for a summer side dish. It seems like these are quite a treat.
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Bye from Italy