One of the best things about my stay in the rolling Italian countryside this summer was temporarily having a garden blessed with several large rosemary bushes. I don’t think a meal went by that wasn’t preceded by a little garden foraging. During that one sun-drenched week, I probably ate more rosemary than I’d eaten in years. Fortunately, my newfound love of the herb didn’t have to end there. Like any self-respecting kitchen garden, ours also boasts a herb spiral and the cuttings we put in there in the spring have flourished over the summer. I’d originally just planned to make rosemary potatoes – it is a classic, after all – but then I noticed the oregano next to it had grown explosively. Fresh oregano is a lot more subtle than its dried counterpart, but it makes a wonderful addition to roast potatoes, as its soft and velvety leaves become deliciously crunchy in the oven. 

Ingredients (for 2 potato fans):

About 800g waxy potatoes, peeled and cut into eights

3 (or more) sprigs of fresh rosemary, some leaves chopped, some sprigs whole

A good handful of fresh oregano, roughly chopped

olive oil

sea salt flakes

cracked black pepper

• Heat the oven to 200-225 Celsius.
• Parboil the potato wedges for 5-10 minutes or until tender enough to pierce.
• Drain them well and shake them vigorously in a sieve or colander, this will create a slightly fluffed up, rough surface that will result in extra crispiness

• Line a baking tray with baking parchment and divide the potato wedges on top.
• Drizzle with olive oil and a little bit of sunflower oil, add the rosemary, half of the oregano, salt and pepper and toss to coat.
• Bake for about 30-40 minutes until golden brown. Turn and add the rest of the oregano halfway.