Welcome to your new favorite go-to side dish: incredibly soft, perfectly buttery steamed potatoes! In just a few simple steps, you can create a healthy, satisfying accompaniment that effortlessly complements almost any meal. Whether you’re planning a weeknight dinner or preparing for a special occasion, these easy steamed baby potatoes are a testament to how simple ingredients can yield truly delicious results. They’re quick to prepare, require minimal fuss, and are bursting with fresh flavors, making them an ideal choice when you crave something wholesome, easy, and utterly irresistible.
Why This Steamed Potato Recipe Shines: A Culinary Delight Made Simple
This recipe isn’t just another side dish; it’s a celebration of simplicity and flavor, designed to make your life easier and your meals more enjoyable. Here’s why these steamed potatoes will quickly become a staple in your kitchen:
- Achieve Buttery, Tender Perfection Every Time: Steaming is undoubtedly one of the best cooking methods for potatoes, guaranteeing a wonderfully tender texture without any dryness or excessive oil. The gentle heat allows the potatoes to cook evenly, preserving their natural sweetness and creating a consistently soft, melt-in-your-mouth experience that is then elevated by a generous toss in rich butter.
- Effortless Preparation for Busy Lives: We all appreciate a recipe that delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort, and this dish truly excels in that regard. Simply place your clean baby potatoes into a steamer basket, let them cook, and then finish by tossing them with butter and your favorite fresh herbs. It’s a hands-off approach that allows you to focus on other components of your meal, bringing dinner to the table without any last-minute scramble.
- Infinitely Adaptable to Your Taste: One of the greatest advantages of this recipe is its versatility. It serves as a perfect canvas for customization. Feel free to experiment with different fresh herbs – from earthy rosemary to bright lemon zest – and adjust the seasoning to perfectly suit your palate. Whether you prefer a subtle hint of salt or a bolder, more seasoned profile, these potatoes can be tailored to your liking, ensuring a unique and satisfying dish every time.
The Secret to Perfectly Steamed Potatoes: The Steaming Method Unveiled
Steaming might seem like a basic cooking technique, but it’s remarkably effective, especially for potatoes. Unlike boiling, which can sometimes lead to waterlogged potatoes and nutrient loss, steaming cooks them gently in a moist, hot environment. This method ensures that the potatoes retain their structural integrity, natural flavors, and a significant portion of their vitamins and minerals. The result is a potato that is fluffy, tender, and intensely flavorful, providing the perfect base for butter and herbs to truly shine. It’s a healthier cooking method too, requiring no added fats during the cooking process, making it a stellar choice for a balanced diet.
Essential Ingredients for Flavorful Steamed Potatoes
Crafting these delectable steamed potatoes requires just a handful of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Each plays a crucial role in delivering that irresistible taste and texture.
Choosing the Best Baby Potatoes
Baby Potatoes: The star of our show! Baby potatoes are ideal for steaming due to their consistent size, which ensures even cooking, and their delicate skin, which is perfectly fine to leave on. There’s no need for tedious peeling or chopping, making preparation incredibly quick. Any variety of baby potato will work wonderfully here – whether it’s baby Yukon Golds, red potatoes, or a colorful medley. They all offer a slightly different nuance in texture and flavor, so feel free to pick your favorite or whatever is readily available. This recipe is also an excellent way to use up any leftover baby potatoes you might have from a previous grocery haul. A simple rinse is all they need before they’re ready for the steamer.
Elevating Flavor with Fresh Herbs
Fresh Herbs: The vibrant soul of this dish! We often use a classic combination of fresh parsley and chives for their bright, clean, and slightly oniony notes. However, this is where you can truly make the recipe your own. Don’t shy away from experimenting with other fresh herbs that you love or have on hand. Fresh dill offers a distinctive tangy brightness, cilantro brings a fresh, citrusy pop, thyme adds an earthy, aromatic depth, and basil provides a sweet, peppery finish. A blend of two or three different herbs can also create a more complex flavor profile. Chop them finely just before adding to maximize their fresh aroma and distribute them evenly throughout the potatoes. The goal is to infuse every bite with herbaceous goodness, so have fun and get creative!
Expert Chef’s Tips for Flawless Steamed Potatoes
Achieving perfectly cooked, tender steamed potatoes is incredibly simple, but a few expert tips can elevate your results from good to truly exceptional. Follow these pointers for a consistently delicious outcome:
- Monitor Cooking Time Based on Potato Size: While 20 minutes is a general guideline, the exact cooking time will vary depending on the specific size and type of your baby potatoes. Larger potatoes will naturally take longer to cook through. To check for doneness, gently pierce one of the largest potatoes with a fork around the 20-minute mark. If the fork glides easily into the center without resistance, your potatoes are ready to be removed. If there’s still some firmness, cover and continue steaming, checking every 3-5 minutes until perfectly tender.
- No Steamer Basket? No Problem!: Don’t let the lack of a specialized steamer basket deter you from making this recipe. You can easily steam potatoes using a medium-sized pot and a lid. Simply add about one inch of water to the bottom of the pot, place your potatoes directly into the water, and cover tightly with a lid. Bring the water to a simmer and let the potatoes cook for approximately 20 minutes, or until they are fork-tender. The trapped steam within the pot will cook them just as effectively.
- Transform into a Wholesome One-Pot Meal: These steamed potatoes can easily be expanded into a more substantial, healthy weeknight meal. In the final 4-5 minutes of the potato steaming process, add some chopped broccoli florets or green beans to the steamer basket (or directly into the pot if not using a basket). The vegetables will steam alongside the potatoes, absorbing the delicious flavors. Once everything is tender, toss the potatoes and vegetables together with the butter and fresh herbs. Serve this vibrant medley alongside your favorite lean protein, such as grilled chicken, baked fish, or pan-seared tofu, for a complete and balanced dinner.
Creative Variations and Serving Suggestions for Your Steamed Potatoes
While delicious on their own, these steamed potatoes offer a fantastic foundation for various culinary explorations. Once steamed, the possibilities for flavor enhancements are endless! Consider adding a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese for a savory, umami boost, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick. For a brighter flavor profile, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a dash of apple cider vinegar after cooking can add a wonderful tang. You can also swap out butter for olive oil (or vegan butter) and a different herb blend for a Mediterranean twist. A touch of garlic powder or onion powder can also deepen the savory notes without much effort.
These versatile potatoes pair beautifully with a wide array of main courses. Serve them alongside roasted chicken, grilled steak, or baked salmon for a classic combination. They’re also an excellent complement to vegetarian dishes like lentil loafs, hearty mushroom steaks, or bean burgers. For a light lunch, simply enjoy them with a fresh green salad. Their comforting warmth and delicate flavor make them a welcome addition to any plate, from casual family dinners to more elaborate holiday spreads.
Frequently Asked Questions About Steamed Potatoes
Here are answers to some common questions you might have about making perfect steamed potatoes:
- Do I need to peel baby potatoes before steaming? No, absolutely not! The skin of baby potatoes is thin and tender, and it’s full of nutrients and flavor. A good rinse is all that’s needed.
- Can I use larger potatoes for this recipe? Yes, you can. However, larger potatoes will need to be cut into 1-inch pieces to ensure even and timely cooking. The cooking time will also likely increase.
- How do I store leftover steamed potatoes? Store any leftover steamed potatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- How can I reheat steamed potatoes? You can gently reheat them in a microwave, on the stovetop with a splash of water or butter, or in an oven until warmed through. Be careful not to overcook them, or they may become mushy.
- Can I make this recipe vegan? Yes! Simply substitute the butter with a high-quality vegan butter or a good olive oil for a delicious plant-based version.
- What kind of pot should I use if I don’t have a steamer basket? Any medium pot with a tight-fitting lid will work. You just need enough space to add about an inch of water at the bottom.
More Easy & Healthy Side Dish Recipes You’ll Love
- Air Fryer Squash
- Gluten Free Onion Rings
- Garlic Butter Parsley Potatoes
- Stewed Potatoes
- Blistered Shishito Peppers with Lemon-Garlic Aioli
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Steamed Potatoes with Fresh Herbs
Cheryl Malik
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Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds baby potatoes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter or vegan butter, see Notes
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh herbs finely chopped (e.g., parsley, chives, dill), see Notes
- Additional salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Equipment
- Medium-sized pot with a lid
- Steamer basket (optional, see Chef’s Tips)
Instructions
- Add about one inch of water to a medium-sized pot. If using a steamer basket, place it into the pot ensuring the water level is below the basket. Bring the water to a gentle simmer. Add the cleaned baby potatoes and ½ teaspoon of salt into the steamer basket (or directly into the simmering water if not using a basket). Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and cook for 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- Carefully transfer the hot, steamed potatoes to a large serving bowl. Add the butter (or vegan butter/olive oil) and the fresh chopped herbs. Gently toss the potatoes to ensure they are evenly coated with the butter and herbs. Taste and season with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper as desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Make it Vegan: To easily adapt this recipe for a vegan diet, simply substitute the traditional butter with your favorite vegan butter alternative or a good quality extra virgin olive oil. The result will be equally delicious and satisfying.
- Fresh Herbs Selection: The beauty of this recipe lies in its flexibility. While fresh chives and parsley offer a delightful classic flavor, feel free to use any fresh herbs you have on hand or prefer. Excellent choices include fresh dill for a bright, tangy note, cilantro for a vibrant, citrusy aroma, or even a mix of rosemary and thyme for an earthy, aromatic profile.
This recipe yields approximately 4 generous servings. Please note that the nutritional values provided are general guidelines only and reflect information for one serving based on the ingredients listed. Individual macronutrient content may vary slightly depending on the specific brands and types of ingredients you choose to use.
To accurately determine the weight of a single serving, prepare the recipe according to the instructions. Once finished, weigh the entire cooked dish (excluding the weight of the container) and then divide that total weight by 4. This will give you the precise weight of one serving.
Nutrition Information
The total number of servings indicated is approximate. The actual number of servings you get from this recipe will ultimately depend on your preferred portion sizes.
The nutritional values presented here are general guidelines. They reflect information for 1 serving using the primary ingredients listed and do not include any optional ingredients or variations. Actual macronutrient counts may vary slightly based on specific brands and types of ingredients used in your preparation.
For precise serving weight determination, prepare the recipe as instructed. After cooking, weigh the entire finished dish (excluding the weight of the container). Then, divide this total weight by your desired number of servings to find the weight of a single serving.