How to Confit Potatoes in Olive Oil

How to confit potatoes with olive oil, no duck fat used here. Most delicious roasted little potatoes in oven or air fryer you will ever serve as an easy side dish with dinner. Use baby or fingerling cooked together with Garlic Confit all in the same pan!

Roasted Little Potatoes in Oven

Smaller is better when it comes to this cooked in oil technique so they are submerged more than baked potatoes sizes. You could go with a bag of multi colored with red, purple and Yukon Gold or just go with the latter as we did here. As for the seasonings that is up to you but simple is best if you ask me, just onion and garlic.

Confit Potatoes in Olive Oil

It is better to go with whole vs. Sliced Potatoes in Oven because with the skin-on they will stay in tact better and not fall apart. Traditionally duck fat was used, when this technique made it to the states, other versions became more popular like this one. Olive is easier to find, cheaper and will give you the same delicious flavor.

Confit Fingerling Potatoes

In the past we have made a Heirloom Potato Medley on a sheet pan but without the oil. There is a big difference between the two of course when it comes to the texture of the skin and amount of flavor you can create making it this way.

Ingredients

• Baby potatoes are what we used here, the cook time is appropriate for that size or fingerlings
• Olive oil
  • You can make garlic oil at the same time which is amazing to use in other dishes so don’t get rid of it when done here
• Shallots or small diced onions work
• Salt and pepper
• Basil
• Rosemary is best fresh but dried works

Use as many as will fit in a single layer inside a 9×13″ pan, you don’t want them to overlap. A piece of aluminum foil is necessary to cover the top so they can essentially steam with the heat to perfection. It is similar to when you Bake Potatoes at 375 in Foil but these have a lot more flavor.

How to confit potatoes without duck fat

It is easy, just use another variety of oil you prefer and follow our step by step instructions here. You preheat the oven to 350 F. Place potatoes in a baking dish in a single layer with garlic cloves, and chopped shallots. Pour in your oil with a sprinkle with salt, pepper and basil, add rosemary sprigs. Cover baking dish for 1 hour. Remove foil and bake another 20-30 min longer.

What fat can you use to confit?

Butter, lard or oils such as; olive, vegetable, duck, goose, beef or chicken will work for this. Use what you have on hand, can find and/or pairs well with what you are cooking.

Tips for Choosing Fat for Confit

• Flavor Profile should match with the food you’re confiting. Meats pair well with animal fats, while lighter foods like fish or if you’re making Garlic Confit Mashed Potatoes can benefit from olive oil.
• Availability meaning use what is readily available to you. Duck fat and goose fat might be harder to find, whereas olive and vegetable are more common and cheaper too.
• Cooking Temperature needs to be low and stable for this type of cooking, around 200°F – 93°C so what you choose should work well in lower temps.

Can you confit in vegetable oil?

Yes, if that is all you have, go ahead with that. If you used a small oven-safe dish you could do this in a smaller form to make Potatoes in a Toaster Oven this way too! Fingerling and baby will take the same amount of time. If you used “regular size” russets you would need to adjust timing a bit or until tender thru to the middle of course.

Confit Potatoes in Air Fryer

In the past we have made Ninja Foodi Fingerling Potatoes with just a spray of oil which are great but not the same idea as you see here. In order to make this you need to remove the inner basket that has holes in the bottom (you won’t need that). Use small baby potatoes so they will fit and can be submerged easily.

• Place taters and peeled garlic cloves inside inside liner of air fryer.
• Pour enough olive oil or neutral variety of oil like vegetable to completely cover them.
  • You can sprinkle in chili flakes for heat or fresh herbs of your choice for added flavor.
• Close drawer or lid that is attached for the Foodi
• Set to air fry at 300 degrees for 30-40 minutes (depending on size) or until everything is fork tender and lightly golden brown.
  • Check at minute 30 with a fork.

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