Roasted Purple Potatoes

This simple but delicious garlic and rosemary whole roasted purple potatoes make for a beautiful, delicious, and nutritious side dish to any meal!

Purple potatoes don’t just look incredible, they are also highly nutritious and a wonderful addition to any meal. This post takes you through a super simple recipe using less than 5 ingredients to make delicious rosemary garlic whole roasted purple potatoes. The results are crispy, flavorful spuds worthy of any dinner spread!

There are actually several purple potato varieties available (including the purple majesty – which I love the name of!) and are grown practically year-round and found in most large grocery stores. While looking very exotic, these potatoes are very versatile and can be used in place of other potatoes 95% of the time. When it comes to flavor, I find purple potatoes to be slightly earthier than your regular white potatoes, with a subtle nutty-ness.

They are also delicious for making these crispy rosemary garlic potatoes. These roasts have a fluffy center and crispy skin, that could be even crispier if chopped into smaller pieces when roasting.

Health Benefits Of Purple Potatoes

While they may look like an experiment, purple potatoes are actually 100% natural. They get their color from anthocyanins, which is the pigment that gives many plants their red, blue, and purple coloring (like blueberries and beetroot). These anthocyanins also work as antioxidants though too, containing anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and even anti-cancerous benefits.

Nutritionally speaking, purple potatoes are fairly similar to your regular spuds. Whilst they have a lower GI than regular potatoes and may be better for blood sugar levels, the antioxidant levels are where this humble spud shines. In fact, purple potatoes have up to 4x more antioxidants than most standard potatoes.

Furthermore, purple potatoes also boast some fairly impressive health benefits. It is worth noting that more research needs to be done, but so far, the results are looking very positive. For example:

They are rich in potassium: In fact, just 100g provided around 10% of your RDI. This is great for strengthening bones, preserving calcium stores, preventing muscle loss, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the risk of stroke.

The anthocyanin content: Provides more than the benefits already mentioned above. Anthocyanins are also liked with improved eye health, reduced risk of heart disease, and healthier cholesterol levels.

Promotes brain health: Due to the high level of vitamin B6, it helps your body to produce hemoglobin and can help maintain brain cognitive function.

Improves blood pressure levels:  In a similar way to many BP-lowering medications, these purple potatoes may help relax and strengthen blood vessels.

Just to name a few of the main benefits I came across while researching.

Roasted Purple Potato Recipe Ingredients

With a medium-starchy texture, these potatoes work well in recipes that require them to hold their shape, as well as mashed, etc. This recipe for roasted purple potatoes uses the two-step method of first boiling and then roasting.

The results are spuds that are soft and fluffy inside, but crispy on the outside.

• purple potatoes
• garlic, olive oil, fresh rosemary sprigs
• salt and pepper, to taste

How To Cook Purple Potatoes

Start by cleaning the potatoes – scrub them well with a brush and water.

Then, if using non-organic potatoes, peel the skin. If they are organic, you can keep the skin on and this will get you extra nutrients.

Place the potatoes in a saucepan and cover them with water. Bring to boil, then reduce to medium heat and simmer for about 4 minutes. This is the key step to the fluffy inside and crispy outside.

Drain the boiled potatoes, dry thoroughly, and then place them in an oven-safe dish or baking sheet. I decided to keep mine whole, however, you can also chop yours up into smaller ‘roasties’.

Preheat the oven to 400 ºF/200ºC.

To prepare the ‘marinade’, grate or finely chop the garlic and mix it with olive oil, pepper, and salt.

Toss the garlic mixture with the purple potatoes, taking care as the potatoes will be hot.

Sprinkle the rosemary spring pieces over the potatoes.

Place in the oven and roast for around 30 minutes at 200ºC/400ºF, turning halfway through. Depending on your oven and the size of the potatoes, this may take slightly less or longer – so check after around 25 minutes and cook for longer, as needed.

Once ready, serve immediately to take advantage of their full crispiness. They work alongside any meal you’d usually serve with some roasties. I love to serve mine alongside Lemon & Dill Oven Baked Salmon (immune boosting).

Recipes Notes

• I decided to make whole rosemary roasted potatoes. However, you could also chop them up into smaller pieces and reduce the cooking time, if necessary. Smaller pieces will become even crispier.
• You can swap out the seasonings for any of your favorite roasted potatoes seasonings. Other delicious options include parmesan, a herb blend, swapping rosemary sprigs for parsley or thyme, etc.
• Optionally, you can also use an air fryer for this recipe. You just need to reduce the oil and follow the guide with the machine for the perfect ‘roast potato’ temperature.
• You can make a massive batch of these for weekly meal prep. They will lose crispness throughout the week, but taste delicious.
• You can also make some purple sweet potato powder to use in your smoothies, bakes, and cakes.

More Delicious Potato Recipes

• Oven-Roasted New Red Potatoes
• Easy Mashed Purple Potato
• Potato Roti Recipe
• The Perfect Baked Potato Recipe

If you have any questions, leave a comment below, I’d also really appreciate a recipe rating. Also, If you love this recipe as much as I do, love seeing your recreations, so feel free to tag me on Instagram @AlphaFoodie.

Roasted Purple Potatoes

This simple but delicious garlic and rosemary whole roasted purple potatoes make for a beautiful, delicious, and nutritious side dish to any meal!

5 from 10 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan

Freezer friendly: No

Shelf life: 1 Week

Prep Time: 6 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 34 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 240kcal

Author: Samira

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 pound purple potatoes
• ▢ 3 garlic cloves
• ▢ 2 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
• ▢ salt and pepper to taste

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Clea the potatoes – scrub them well with a brush and water.
• If using non-organic potatoes, peel the skin. If they are organic, you can keep the skin on and this will get you extra nutrients.
• Place the potatoes in a saucepan and cover them with water. Bring to boil, then reduce to medium heat and simmer for about 4 minutes. This is the key step t the fluffy inside and crispy outside.
• Drain the boiled potatoes, dry thoroughly, and then place them in an oven-safe dish or baking sheet. I decided to keep mine whole, however, you can also chop yours up into smaller ‘roasties’.
• Preheat the oven to 400ºF/200ºC.
• To prepare the ‘marinade’, grate or finely chop the garlic and mix it with the olive oil, pepper, and salt.
• Toss the garlic mixture with the purple potatoes, taking care as the potatoes will be hot.
• Sprinkle the rosemary spring pieces over the potatoes.
• Place in the oven and roast for around 30 minutes at 200ºC/400ºF, turning halfway through. Depending on your oven and the size of the potatoes, this may take slightly less or longer – so check after around 25 minutes and cook for longer, as needed.
• Once ready, serve immediately to take advantage of their full crispiness.  They work alongside any meal you’d usually serve some roasties. I love to serve mine alongside Lemon & Dill Oven Baked Salmon (immune boosting).

Notes

I decided to make whole rosemary roasted potatoes. However, you could also chop them up into smaller pieces and reduce the cooking time, if necessary. Smaller pieces will become even crispier
You can swap out the seasonings for any of your favorite roasted potatoes seasonings. Other delicious options include parmesan, a herb blend, swapping rosemary sprigs for parsley or thyme, etc.
You can also use an air fryer for this recipe, You just need to reduce the oil and follow the guide with the machine for the perfect ‘roast potato’ temperature. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1Side | Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 964mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2mg

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