Aglio e Olio Baked Potatoes
Updated Dec. 17, 2024
- Total Time
- 1 hour 10 minutes
- Prep Time
- 10 minutes
- Cook Time
- 1 hour
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- 8small to medium red or gold potatoes, scrubbed (about 3 pounds)
- ½cup mayonnaise
- 1large or 2 small garlic cloves, finely grated
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Crushed red pepper
- Extra-virgin olive oil (see Tip)
- 1(1-ounce) chunk Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
- 1tablespoon finely chopped parsley or chives
- Flaky sea salt, for topping (optional)
Preparation
- Step 1
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Pierce the potatoes all over with a fork and place them along the edges of a large rimmed sheet pan (where it gets the hottest).
- Step 2
Bake until tender, about 1 hour. A fork should pierce through the largest potato’s center easily. Remove the pan from the oven and leave on the counter to finish steaming, about 15 minutes.
- Step 3
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and garlic. Season with kosher salt, black pepper and red pepper and stir.
- Step 4
When the potatoes have cooled slightly, slice each in half lengthwise and crosswise without cutting through the bottom. Then, using both hands, gently pinch the bottoms up to push out some of the potato flesh. (If you’d like, fluff with a fork.) Lightly drizzle with olive oil and season with kosher salt.
- Step 5
To assemble, dollop each potato with some of the mayonnaise mixture. Using a very fine grater (such as Microplane), finely and generously grate the cheese over the potatoes so it piles high. Top with the parsley, some flaky sea salt for crunch, if using, and more red pepper. Serve warm.
- Since olive oil is one of the main flavors in this recipe, be sure to buy one labeled “extra-virgin,” which often signifies that it comes from olives that were cold-pressed or cold-extracted, and that the oil is flavorful. Other features to look for: a dark glass or opaque container, a harvest date that’s ideally no more than a year ago, a single country of origin, a designation of authenticity like P.D.O. or D.O.P. or flavor labels like “bold,” “bright” and “peppery.”
Private Notes
Comments
Hi Bobot, the red potato in the photo would like to thank you for calling it a russet. Red potatoes can be fluffy too if you use this method! Try it! Eric
These were tasty. I'd never thought to use aioli this way, but, as my husband and I agreed as we shoveled it down, we love French fries with aioli, so why not a baked potato? My spuds needed just over an hour at 425.
Also: If you decide to microwave the potatoes first, a good rule of thumb is to microwave them for 5 to 6 minutes on high power, and then bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 425. Be sure to pierce the potatoes' skin before microwaving.
Hard to keep from licking my fingers after feasting on these little as one commenter put it "flavor bombs." There was only one thing missing that will be added next time - bacon.
Solid recipe that’s very flexible to riff on, too. On a second round of it I cut the mayonnaise with an equal ratio of nonfat Greek yogurt to lower fat/calories while upping protein. No one knew the better. I have also amped up the aglio e olio flavors using the TJ’s seasoning of the same name instead of just salt. It layers into everything else well. Definitely use an olive oil you enjoy eating and let it flow freely and liberally.
Do yourself a favor and combine these baked potatoes with Eric Kim’s Parmesan braised beans to make a delicious and nutritious meal!