The intense color of these purple potatoes roasted with garlic makes them a unique side dish. Roasting them in olive oil with garlic and thyme infuses them with a beautiful savory flavor. I’ve added some roasted green chile peppers for a little kick of spice. Give ’em a try.
Table of contents
About This Recipe
I simply can’t resist grabbing a few pounds of eye-catching purple potatoes every year at my local farm stand market. Their fun intense color is irresistible and they always make a showy unique side dish.
Purple potatoes are a medium starch potato like Yukon Gold potatoes. A medium starch potato that holds up well and holds their shape for one of our favorite ways to cook potatoes, roasting them.
They are popular in South America. They hail from Bolivia and Peru. Purple potatoes may be labeled as Purple Majesty, Purple Viking or Purple Peruvian. At the stand where I purchased these the sign simply indicated “Purple Potatoes.
The secret to get the most out of the flavor, is to fine chop the garlic, use lots of small pieces of fresh thyme sprigs, and spice things up by stirring in some chopped roasted green chile peppers at the end.
It’s an easy recipe, let’s take a look at how to cook purple potatoes roasted with garlic and thyme.
Why You’re Going To Love Cooking with Purple Potatoes
- Roasting potatoes is an easy peasy side dish.
- You don’t have to peel purple potatoes, that saves time. And the peels are totally edible.
- Purple potatoes are healthier than white potatoes.
- The spices added to this recipe will knock your socks off.
- They add a pop of color to your plate. They’ll add some pizzaz to a chicken entree.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Cooking is always an easier proposition when we practice mise en place. Always gather and measure ingredients before starting any recipe.
Here’s what you need for this roasted purple potato recipe.
- Purple Potatoes. When you can find them, give them a try. I usually have luck at my farm stand market. If you can’t find purple potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes will work just fine for this recipe.
- Fresh Garlic. When using garlic to flavor recipes that are cut into small pieces, like these purple potatoes, use a mini-chopper to chop it fine. That way you’ll be able to coat more of the surfaces of the potatoes to infuse more of that garlic flavor into each piece.
- Fresh Thyme. I grow fresh thyme every Summer. I usually grow Lemon Thyme which will add a hint of citrus to this recipe. Use fresh French thyme or even dried thyme.
- Olive Oil: Oil is essential in this recipe not only to coat the potatoes for browning purposes, but the fat in olive oil will also help infuse flavors into the potatoes.
- Chile Peppers I’ve used roasted Pueblo Chile Peppers grown here in Colorado. They’re Mirasol peppers which are medium in heat. You can use roasted Hatch Chile Peppers, or even the canned chile peppers from the grocery store. Or even a sprinkle of New Mexico Red Chile Powder.
How To Cook Purple Potatoes
This recipe is so easy.
- Just cubing the potatoes in small pieces allows them to roast quickly in the oven.
- Toss them with olive oil, garlic, thyme and chopped chile peppers.
- Add them to a sheet pan and in under 30 minutes you have a unique side dish.
More Questions You May Have About Purple Potatoes
Purple and red potatoes are packed with antioxidants, fiber and potassium.
blood sugar. Eating purple potatoes instead of white potatoes is a good move when watching your blood sugar. While the starch in purple potatoes increases blood sugar, it does so to less of an extent than the starch in the yellow or white varieties. Source: Healthline
I rarely peel potatoes, unless I’m using thick skinned russet potatoes for a more delicate recipe like Oven Home Fries. But just like any other potato the skins of purple potatoes are completely edible.
Do purple potatoes taste different? They taste very similar to any other potato, except slightly nuttier tone.
Serving Suggestions
- In my opinion, what main course doesn’t benefit from a potato side dish? And since potatoes can feel heavy and hearty, a beautiful tossed salad would be a perfect partner.
- These purple potatoes roasted with garlic are delicious side for Grilled Chicken, your favorite Steakhouse Burger, or even a Grilled T-bone Steak.
Recipe Variations
Want to shake things up? Here are some recipe variations.
- Combine equal amounts of red potatoes, white or gold potatoes, and purple potatoes to make about 2 pounds. This is nice for a 4th of July side dish recipe.
- Root Vegetables With Purple Potatoes: Use 1 pound of purple potatoes, 1 pound red-skinned potatoes, 2 small peeled and cut-up turnips, and ½ to 1 cup of rough chopped carrots. Add 1 onion, cut into wedges, and add fresh parsley in place of the thyme. Omit the chile peppers.
- Rosemary Roasted Purple Potatoes: Replace the thyme with 2 teaspoons fresh chopped rosemary. Omit the chile peppers if using Rosemary.
More Popular Potato Recipes
If you like potatoes as much as we do, take a look at these potato recipes.
And if you’re a potato fan like us, or looking for more side dish ideas, don’t miss my Side Dish Category, you’ll find lots of great ideas, including the most popular on my site for Broccoli Cheez Whiz Rice Casserole.
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How To Cook Purple Potatoes With Garlic
Ingredients
- 2 pounds purple potatoes
- 3 cloves garlic chopped in a food processor
- 8 sprigs fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 ounces roasted chile peppers canned, or three large chile peppers, roasted and cleaned
Instructions
- Get that oven nice and hot so these purple potatoes will turn out nice and crispy. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- To get the garlic in very small pieces, use a mini-chopper. Just peel three cloves of garlic and give them a few whirls in the chopper. Use a rubber spatula to scrape the pieces out.
- Prep the Sheet Pan Either spray a sheet pan with PAM or using a basting brush, brush the pan with olive oil.
- Simply wash and scrub the purple potatoes with a vegetable brush. Cube the potatoes in 1" pieces. Set aside.
- Combine all the Seasonings Pour the cubed purple potatoes into a large mixing bowl. Add the garlic, thyme sprigs, salt and pepper and olive oil. Toss well to coat and combine.
- Add the potatoes to Sheet Pan Pour the potatoes onto the sheet pan and distribute them in a single layer. PRO TIP Heat the sheet pan in the oven for about 10 minutes before adding the potatoes. That hot pan will give you a jump start on crisping the outside of the potatoes.
- Roast the potatoes for 20 to 25 minutes, or until browned and tender, occasionally turning.
- Move the potatoes to a large serving bowl and stir in the chopped roasted green chile peppers.
- Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs.
Notes
Nutrition
Roasted Purple Potatoes with Garlic and Thyme, It’s What’s for a side dish
Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and believe that everyone should try to cook as often as they can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.
I think it is fun using purple potatoes for the color they add to the plate and adding the roasted green Chile peppers is a flavorful addition.
Purple potatoes are wonderful! Don’t see them much at my market, but am always happy when they’re there. They have a great flavor, but it’s their great good looks that really attracts me. Terrific recipe — thanks.
Hi John. I agree, I don’t find them often, but when I do I grab them up.
Any type I see purple potatoes at the market, I buy them. They are my favorite and I didn’t know they were as healthy as red potatoes. Good information! Like you I never peel potatoes because most of the nutritional ingredients are in the peel so why peel. Of course I love your recipe. It’s so simple and it’s got green chile! 🙂
Looks like a tasty side dish Chef – we just enjoyed our first purple potatoes but not our last.