Making Potato Baskets

Potato baskets can be made from raw potato chips, while nests (Fr. nids d'oiseau) may be fashioned from straw potatoes. Do not soak the raw potatoes in water as their starch is needed to hold the nest together. Other root vegetables such as celery root can also be made into baskets or nests.

1. Peel and slice potatoes, preferably using a mandoline slicer. Dry them thoroughly on paper towels.

   

2. Using a metal potato basket, line the larger basket with potato rounds, overlapping them thickly at the bottom.

   

3. Clamp the smaller basket on top. Immerse the basket in fat at 350°F/175°C. Fry until the potato starts to brown, 3-4 minutes.

   

4. Lift out the basket, open it and gently pry out the potatoes, if necessary using a knife.

   

5. Drop potatoes back into the fat and continue to fry until golden, 1-2 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

   

6. The finished baskets are often used as a garnish to hold straw potatoes, other deep-fried potatoes or small vegetables.