The Charming Parisienne Potatoes Recipe You’ll Adore Today

Crispy golden parisienne potatoes dance with buttery elegance on your plate, promising a delightful culinary adventure.

Rounded bite-sized spheres capture the essence of French countryside cooking.

Delicate knife skills transform ordinary spuds into perfect orbs of pure comfort.

Chefs adore these magical potato pearls for their visual appeal and irresistible texture.

Each carefully carved morsel promises a crisp exterior and tender heart that melts in your mouth.

Butter and herbs elevate these small gems from simple side dish to restaurant-worthy accompaniment.

You’ll want to savor every single bite of this classic French potato preparation.

Why Mary Berry Parisienne Potatoes Are A Fancy Side

• Craft Elegant Presentation: Create perfectly round potato spheres that transform an ordinary side dish into a sophisticated culinary masterpiece with minimal effort.
• Master Classic French Technique: Learn a professional cooking method used by top chefs, allowing home cooks to elevate their kitchen skills and impress dinner guests.
• Versatile Side Dish Delight: Complement multiple main courses with these golden-brown potato balls that work beautifully alongside roasted meats, grilled fish, or vegetarian entrees.
• Quick Gourmet Experience: Prepare a restaurant-quality side dish in just a few simple steps, making advanced cooking techniques accessible for anyone passionate about creating memorable meals.

Ingredients In Mary Berry Parisienne Potatoes

• Potatoes: Starchy, round potatoes work best for creating uniform spherical shapes.

• Cold Water: Helps prevent potato balls from oxidizing and turning brown.
• Salt: Enhances the potato flavor during parboiling.
• Paper Towels: Absorbs excess moisture after parboiling.

• Clarified Butter, Butter: Provides rich, golden browning for potato balls and adds a luxurious flavor.

Steps To Make Mary Berry Parisienne Potatoes

Step 1: Create Potato Spheres

Use a Parisienne scoop to carefully carve round potato balls from whole potatoes. Ensure each sphere is uniformly shaped and smooth.

Step 2: Prevent Potato Discoloration

Immediately submerge the potato spheres in cold water to stop enzymatic browning and maintain their pristine white color.

Step 3: Parboil Potato Balls

Fill a medium saucepan with water and add a pinch of salt. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Gently drop the potato spheres into the bubbling water and cook for exactly 2 minutes to partially cook the interior.

Step 4: Drain and Dry Potato Spheres

Carefully strain the potato balls using a slotted spoon. Transfer them onto paper towels to absorb excess moisture and allow them to cool completely. Pat the surfaces dry to ensure crispy browning.

Step 5: Prepare Clarified Butter

Heat clarified butter in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Allow the butter to warm evenly and become slightly shimmering.

Step 6: Brown Potato Spheres

Carefully place the potato balls into the hot butter. Cook for 7-10 minutes, rotating frequently to achieve a golden-brown exterior on all sides. The goal is a crispy, caramelized surface with a tender interior.

Step 7: Serve Immediately

Transfer the beautifully browned potato spheres to a serving platter. Serve piping hot as an elegant side dish or appetizer.

Tips To Nail Mary Berry Parisienne Potatoes

• Perfect Potato Scooping: Use a sharp-edged Parisienne scoop for uniform, perfectly round potato balls that cook evenly and look professional.
• Prevent Potato Discoloration: Immediately soak freshly cut potato balls in cold water to stop oxidation and maintain their pristine white color.
• Quick Parboiling Technique: Boil potato balls precisely for 2 minutes to create a soft interior while preparing them for crispy browning later.
• Butter Browning Secrets: Use clarified butter for higher smoke point and richer flavor, ensuring golden-brown potato balls without burning.
• Crispy Rotation Method: Turn potato balls frequently during browning to achieve an even, golden-brown exterior with a creamy, tender center.

Fun Variations Of Mary Berry Parisienne Potatoes

• Rustic Potato Wedges: Replace Parisienne scoop with knife, cut potatoes into irregular wedges for a homestyle approach.
• Low-Carb Cauliflower Swap: Substitute potato balls with cauliflower florets, perfect for ketogenic and low-carbohydrate diets.
• Herb-Infused Version: Add chopped rosemary, thyme, or parsley during browning stage for enhanced aromatic flavor profile.
• Spicy Roasted Alternative: Sprinkle paprika, cayenne pepper, or chili powder before browning to create a zesty, bold variation.

What Goes Well With Mary Berry Parisienne Potatoes

• Complement Classic French Flavors: Pair these delicate potato spheres with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc that cuts through the rich butter and highlights the potatoes' delicate texture.
• Match Protein Perfection: Serve alongside roasted chicken or tender beef tenderloin, where the golden-brown potato balls provide a luxurious textural contrast to the main protein.
• Elevate with Herbal Notes: Garnish with fresh chervil or tarragon to introduce a bright, aromatic element that enhances the buttery potato's subtle elegance.
• Balance with Light Side: Create a fresh green salad with a tangy vinaigrette to counterpoint the rich, butter-sautéed potatoes and cleanse the palate between bites.

How To Store Mary Berry Parisienne Potatoes Properly

• Store cooled Parisienne potatoes in an airtight container for up to 3 days, placing a paper towel underneath to absorb excess moisture.
• Transfer completely cooled potato balls to a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag, separating layers with parchment paper, and freeze for up to 1 month.
• Spread potatoes on a baking sheet, drizzle with a little olive oil, and warm at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until crispy and heated through.
• Warm clarified butter in a skillet over medium heat, add potato balls, and cook for 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally to restore original golden-brown crispiness.

FAQs About Mary Berry Parisienne Potatoes

• What is a Parisienne scoop?

A special rounded melon baller-like tool used to create perfectly spherical potato balls with smooth, uniform shapes.

• Can I use regular potatoes for this recipe?

Choose waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes that hold their shape well during cooking and create smooth, consistent potato balls.

• Why soak potato balls in cold water?

Cold water prevents potato oxidation, stops browning, and removes excess starch, ensuring a cleaner, more uniform cooking result.

• What makes clarified butter different from regular butter?

Clarified butter has milk solids removed, providing a higher smoke point and allowing potatoes to brown beautifully without burning.

Parisienne Potatoes Recipe

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4.5 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 22 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Golden, crispy Parisienne potatoes elevate simple side dishes with French culinary elegance. Knife-carved potato spheres deliver buttery, herb-infused charm that brings European kitchen magic directly to your plate.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Potatoes:

• 2 large russet potatoes (peeled)

Liquid:

• 4 cups water

Seasoning and Fat:

• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons clarified butter (56 grams / 2 ounces)

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Instructions

1. Use a Parisienne scoop to carefully carve spherical potato orbs, ensuring uniform size and shape.
2. Immerse the potato globes in chilled water to halt oxidation and maintain pristine appearance.
3. Prepare a pot of salted water, bringing to a rolling boil at high temperature.
4. Gently lower potato spheres into boiling water, parboiling for precisely 2 minutes to create tender interior.
5. Drain potatoes thoroughly, then spread on absorbent paper towels to eliminate excess moisture and cool completely.
6. Warm clarified butter in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat until shimmering and fragrant.
7. Introduce potato spheres to the hot butter, rotating periodically to achieve a golden-brown, crispy exterior.
8. Continue cooking for 7-10 minutes, ensuring even caramelization and developing a rich, nutty crust.
9. Transfer potatoes to a serving platter, allowing residual butter to glaze the surface.
10. Serve immediately while piping hot, presenting a luxurious French-inspired potato accompaniment.

Notes

• Mastering the Parisienne scoop requires practice, so don’t get discouraged if your first potato balls aren’t perfectly round.
• Soaking potato balls in cold water helps remove excess starch, ensuring a crispier exterior when cooking.
• Pat the potato balls completely dry before frying to achieve that golden-brown, crispy texture without splattering oil.
• For a healthier version, try using olive oil or air frying the potato balls instead of clarified butter, which can reduce overall fat content.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 210 kcal
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 1600 mg
• Fat: 11 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg