Pizza Oven Recipes: The Perfect Wood-Fired Oven Roasted Potatoes 

Is there anything more mouth-wateringly delicious than roasted potatoes from a wood-fired oven? The ultimate staple of any Irish garden party menu, our Luhnasa wood-fired oven has seen more than its fair share of spuds. After all of that time perfecting the perfect side dish, our friends and family have officially declared these the “Perfect Roasted Potatoes” -- and we know you’re going to love them too. 

Whether you are looking for healthy wood-fired oven recipes, vegetarian barbeque ideas, or an impressive side dish for a garden party, roast potatoes in a wood-fired pizza oven are always a good idea. 

 

Why We Love Potato Side Dishes 

There is nothing like the humble, often misunderstood potato. Of course, they can be fried down into junk food like chips and crisps, but potatoes are actually a versatile and healthy vegetable side. While you can make them into indulgent extra-crispy goose fat-roasted potatoes, you can also go for one of the countless vegan wood-fired oven recipes and other healthy varieties. 

Are Potatoes Healthy… Really? 

Absolutely. Potatoes are packed with a wide array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Full of potassium, folate, magnesium, vitamin B6, niacin, and fibre, they are an easy way to include vegetables in your diet. 

Potatoes are healthier than bread or rice and even more satiating. They are a great low-fat, low-calorie filling side dish. Your average potato is only about 160 calories and less than one gram of fat. While they do have carbs, it’s similar to what you’d get from a small apple or pot of yoghurt. 

Sticking a baked potato in a pizza oven or opting for our wood-fired oven recipes with minimal oil and basic toppings gives you a healthy and filling side dish.  

What Are the Best Potatoes for Roasting in a Wood-Fired Oven?

When it comes to wood-fired oven-roasted potatoes, you are spoiled for choice. Did you know that there are more than 4,000 different kinds of potatoes out there? While good old fashion red-skinned Roosters and yellow Golden Wonder will always be a mainstay, they are far from the options out there. 

Are Yellow or White Potatoes Better for Roasting?

Yellow potatoes are generally low to medium on the starch scale, which makes them great for roasting, baking, and mashing. Round potatoes, both the red and white varieties, tend to be moister and have less starch, which makes them good for boiling. Ultimately, both options are great for wood-fired oven-roasted potatoes and all of those other vegetarian wood-fired oven recipes. 

For our crispy roast potatoes, we used new potatoes. These are some of the best pizza oven potatoes but they are far from the only choice. 

 

What Are New Potatoes?

People often refer to any small potato as a new potato. While new potatoes are small, not every small potato that you see is a new potato. New potatoes are freshly harvested and never cured. After their harvest, they are briefly put into storage where their peels heal themselves of any nicks or cuts. This creates a more complete layer of protection that keeps the potatoes fresh for longer. It also gives them a moister texture and a slightly sweet taste. 

Gourmet Cooking Tip: Most potatoes are cured, which allows them to last for longer. New potatoes, however, are never cured which means they can start to go bad after just a few days. Storing them in the refrigerator doesn’t slow down this process and, when you store potatoes at a cooler temperature, they start to convert to sugars and they’ll take a far sweeter taste.

How to Choose New Potatoes

For our wood-fired oven cast iron recipes, we usually opt for new potatoes. Sometimes they are not so easy to track down in the supermarket though and Irish brands often have their own unique names that make it hard to match up with the online recipes. 

Generally speaking, the best way to choose new potatoes is to rub the skin. You should be able to scrape the skin off of a new potato easily. If the skin is too thick to remove without a knife or vegetable peeler, it is probably not a new potato. 

How Do You Roast in a Wood-Fired Oven?

People are often surprised at how easy and versatile wood-fired pizza oven recipes can be. The main thing to note about ​​wood-fired oven recipes is the cooking time and temperature. It’s essential to gauge your temperature and make sure it’s hot enough when you get there. While there are plenty of no-fuss wood-fired oven recipes, they do require more precision than just throwing a burger on the barbecue. 

Can You Use Cast Iron in a Wood-Fired Oven?

Yep! Using a cast iron skillet in a wood-fired oven is a smart idea. It is one of our go-to pans for all kinds of vegetarian wood-fired oven recipes and wood-fired oven appetiser recipes. When you’re making roast potatoes in a wood-fired pizza oven, this is the best option. 

Another key piece of our outdoor kitchen is the Luhnasa ceramic Dutch oven for a wood-fired oven. This multi-use ceramic Dutch oven was specifically made for outdoor pizza oven recipes and it’s 100% natural clay with no harmful chemical coating. When it comes to all the things you can cook in a pizza oven that aren't pizza, this is the dish that gets the most use. 

What Is the Best Salt for Wood-Fired Oven-Roasted Potatoes?

For most of our wood-fired potato recipes, we reach for the salt flower or sea salt. While some people roast potatoes on a bed of salt, we have found that using premium salt in just the right amount gives you the perfect wood-fired roasted potato.

Salt flower, also known as fleur de sel or flor de sal, is a type of sea salt that was first widely used in France. As speciality salts have become more common here in Ireland and around the world, it’s grown in popularity. Variations from Greece, Spain, and Portugal have emerged alongside the popular French version. Today you’ll find this naturally harvested at gourmet grocery stores in Ireland and online. 

What Does Fleur de Sel Taste Like? 

In terms of flavour, fleur de sel, or sea flower, is very salty, of course. Compared to other standard sea salts, it has a slightly higher moisture content, an almost flaky texture, and a very mild briny taste.  

How to Make the Perfect Wood-Fired Oven-Roasted Potatoes

Here is yet another wood-fired recipe that is simple and easy to make. This recipe for roasted potatoes is a perfect complement to smoked food and drinks enjoyed with friends. Not only is it a quick and easy side dish, but it’s a popular dish that you can cater to any taste.   

About This Wood-Fired Oven-Roasted Potatoes Recipe

Preparation time

10 minutes

Total Time Needed

35 minutes

Difficulty level

Level 1 – very easy

Fire time

25 minutes at moderate temperature (200-250°C / 392-482°F)

Ingredients

New potatoes

Garlic

Olive oil, ideally extra virgin

Rosemary, ideally fresh

Salt, ideally salt flower or sea salt

How to Make Potatoes in a Wood-Fired Oven

• To prepare the potatoes, start by washing them and cutting them into halves or quarters. It's important to ensure that they are of similar size so that they cook evenly. It's recommended to leave the skin on for added flavour, texture, and nutrition. 

• Next, add garlic to the potatoes. You can mince the garlic if you’d like or simply smashing it with a knife will also work.

• Season with rosemary and salt to taste and blend it all together. Ideally use fresh rosemary and separate the needles from the rosemary. Be generous with it as the rosemary will give a fresh aroma to the dish.

• Drizzle with olive oil. Be generous

• Add your potatoes and the herb blend to a cast iron pan then put it inside your wood-fired oven. Remember to stir frequently to ensure even cooking and to prevent the potatoes from drying out.

• You can now savour your delicious roasted potatoes!

What Else Can a Pizza Oven Be Used For?

What else can you cook in a wood-fired pizza oven? It is one of our most frequently asked questions and that’s why we’ve put together this collection of our favourite wood-fired oven recipes that aren’t pizza. As much as we love fresh homemade gourmet pizza, it’s just one of the countless options. 

People often don’t realise just how useful and versatile a wood-fired oven can be. From gourmet garden parties to easy weekday family meals, this worthwhile kitchen upgrade can do it all. 

Want more inspiration on what you can cook in a wood-fired pizza oven? Check out our Instagram for tips and tricks to elevate your outdoor living experience.  

Meet Luhnasa. 

We are passionate about helping you create unforgettable memories with your friends and family with the art of outdoor cooking and living. That’s why we design and build high-quality, durable pizza ovens and outdoor living spaces that inspire people to gather, connect, and savour life's simple pleasures. 

Irish-owned and operated, here are Luhnasa we offer exceptional customer service, expert craftsmanship, and innovative design solutions that will exceed your expectations at every turn.