Instant Pot Syracuse Salt Potatoes Recipe

Dec 19, 2023

Potatoes and salt are a natural match made in heaven so it's no wonder that somewhere along the line someone in Syracuse, New York came up with a really smart way to combine the two. Syracuse potatoes, also known as salt potatoes, are small, unpeeled potatoes boiled in heavily salted water. Wellness coach and recipe developer Miriam Hahn brings us an Instant Pot version that is foolproof and says, "Potatoes are my favorite comfort food and I enjoy them in so many different ways. This recipe results in the most delicious, buttery potatoes and doesn't require a close eye while cooking which is definitely a plus in my book. You might be wondering just how salty these potatoes are but no need to worry, the salt that ends up in the potatoes from the water they are cooked in gives you the perfect salty flavor without going overboard on the salty scale."

To make this recipe, we of course need some potatoes. "You're looking for small Yukon gold potatoes, and I find them usually packaged in a mesh bag. If you are hand selecting them from a bin, just make sure to choose potatoes that are all in the same size range," Hahn explains. Then we'll need some water (Hahn suggests filtered), sea salt, and butter. "I like using a very coarse salt here and you can use regular or dairy-free butter," Hahn goes on to say. The potatoes finish off nicely with some fresh herbs so pick up some parsley if you want to add a pretty finishing touch.

Our first step is to add water and salt to the Instant Pot. "To help the salt dissolve I like to use the sauté button to warm it up. I love this feature on the Instant Pot and use it frequently," Hahn explains. Stir for a couple of minutes to help the salt dissolve. If you have an Instant Pot steamer that fits inside, add the potatoes and set that inside the Instant Pot. "If you don't have a steamer basket, just put the potatoes directly into the water," Hahn shares.

Now we're ready to get cooking. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the nozzle is set to "sealing." Once the lid is secure, select the pressure cook option and set the time to 2 minutes. The Instant Pot takes about 15 minutes to reach high pressure and once it does you will hear a beep and the cooking time will appear on the front panel. When the cooking time is done, let the potatoes sit in the Instant Pot for a natural release of 15 minutes. The Instant Pot panel will now show "L15" on the front panel when it's time to switch the nozzle on the lid to venting. Stand back just in case there is any remaining steam left that will release out of the top of the lid.

The potatoes should be cooked to perfection but go ahead and insert a fork to make sure they are tender. Then remove them from the Instant Pot and transfer to a serving bowl. If you were not using the Instant Pot steamer, you'll need to drain the potatoes and lightly dry them off. Then add the melted butter and top with chopped parsley. These potatoes pair well with so many things. Try them with burgers, veggie burgers, grilled chicken, or steak. These easy and delicious potatoes will be on repeat at your house from now on!