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Original poster

Boiled potatoes have no place on a roast dinner!

159 replies

BoiledOrRoastPotatoes · 29/12/2024 08:31

My DP was confused as to why I wasn’t cooking some boiled potatoes to go along with the roast potatoes on our Christmas dinner.

Who does this?! He maintains that it is a thing - his DM and DGM did them so he thinks that everyone has both roast potatoes and boiled potatoes on a roast. Google suggests he is wrong.

What do the wise people of MN think?

YABU = yes boiled potatoes and roast potatoes together on a roast dinner are normal.

YANBU = roast potatoes are the king of potatoes on a roast and boring boiled potatoes are taking up space that could be more delicious roasties!

OP posts:
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LlynTegid · 02/01/2025 10:09

I would have been one of the 18% in the poll. Sometimes depending on the meat, prefer boiled potatoes which I can then mash if wished.

StopGo · 02/01/2025 10:06

My Irish granny was a fabulous cook used to feeding hoards of hungry mouths. A roast would have roast potatoes that she dished up, to stop the men from grabbing them all. She would then plonk a massive saucepan of well drained un peeled potatoes on the table. The men and boys would stick their forks in a spud, peel and scoff it.

My Welsh Valleys MIL had seven mouths to feed. She issued the roast potatoes and did a mountain of plain peeled and boiled spuds. It was the only way she could fill the family up.

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 02/01/2025 08:52

I’ve only seen this in Ireland where the meal may also include mash!

BigDahliaFan · 02/01/2025 08:50

onefootinfrontoftheotherbabe · 02/01/2025 08:31

We never have plain boiled potatoes ever.
Unless they’re new potatoes

We used to have them at most meals when I was growing up. Though I haven't had a plain boiled potato that wasn't a new one in years. I grow my own and they are fabulous straight out of the ground.

BigDahliaFan · 02/01/2025 08:45

I had a landlord once whose mash potato was sublime, he'd do a Sunday lunch for his lodgers every now and then and we'd ask for mash and roasties. Oh God he was a good cook.

I'm in my 50s and my mum would have 2( types of potato with a roast, either dry mash or floury spuds. She was Scottish and I think it might have been a way of making things go further. My MIL does the same.

I just do roasties but think there is a place for an unroasted spud....

user1494050295 · 02/01/2025 08:35

We have roast and dauphinois potatoes

onefootinfrontoftheotherbabe · 02/01/2025 08:31

We never have plain boiled potatoes ever.
Unless they’re new potatoes

TheDogsMother · 02/01/2025 08:29

DappledThings · 29/12/2024 08:33

I love all kinds of potatoes but not two types together. Some people put mash on roasts alongside the roast ones. Also weird.

But then I'm a purist and don't think there should be Yorkshire puddings unless it's beef.

💯

sashh · 02/01/2025 08:26

FiveShelties · 29/12/2024 08:42

They should always be Yorkshires - one of the best bits. And I say that as Lancashire Lass😁

Show quote history

Yorkshire lass here.

Yorkshire pudding and gravy as a starter, a slice of one of the big proper YPs.

Then small one on the side with the roast. Roast and mashed potatoes. Carrots mashed with swede but also sliced carrots.

hattie43 · 02/01/2025 08:07

Boiled potatoes should definitely not be on a roast dinner . I don't like them anywhere though so I maybe biased

Original poster
BoiledOrRoastPotatoes · 02/01/2025 07:54

tamade · 02/01/2025 07:21

@BoiledOrRoastPotatoes is this only the first roast dinner you have had together?

If his DM just used to do a few roasties around the joint she probably would have needed to do extra spuds boiled or mashed to bulk the meal up.

Personally I love mash with roast potato on the same fork, creamy and crunchy heaven

Yes first one. We are normally busy with hobbies at the weekends so rarely have time for a Sunday lunch and when we do it’s out at a restaurant with said hobbies. I have never noticed him select a boiled potato from a self serve carvery (or noticed there have been any available at any of them).

OP posts:
tamade · 02/01/2025 07:21

@BoiledOrRoastPotatoes is this only the first roast dinner you have had together?

If his DM just used to do a few roasties around the joint she probably would have needed to do extra spuds boiled or mashed to bulk the meal up.

Personally I love mash with roast potato on the same fork, creamy and crunchy heaven

Neveragain8102 · 02/01/2025 07:12

I remember that this was something I'd come across as a child, particularly if we were dining out for Sunday lunch. Not seen it in years though except at the odd carvery

x2boys · 02/01/2025 07:08

My Grandma used to do boiled ,roast and mash...

HAPPYNEWYEAR2025 · 02/01/2025 06:38

Insane!

Dutchhouse14 · 01/01/2025 13:27

Yanbu

Peopleinmyphone · 01/01/2025 13:26

My mil does this, but claims it's mostly for making bubble and squeak the next day with the other leftover veg. My family just have roasties.

TheKeatingFive · 01/01/2025 13:26

itsjustbiology · 01/01/2025 13:22

Boiled potatoes have no place anywhere. Of all the amazing things you can do with the humble spud why would you stick to the most basic option?

To be fair, baby boiled have their place. But it isn't the season for them now.

CharlotteCChapel · 01/01/2025 13:25

CherryogDog · 29/12/2024 08:44

I wouldn't have room for more roast spuds if I ate mash so it's a no from me.
I had a horrific roast potatoe experience though, when my DP cooked a roast dinner for the first time when he moved in.
Not only had he not par boiled and shook the potatoes.... he hadn't even peeled them!
I nearly dumped him on the spot 😄

So he made jacket potato instead

itsjustbiology · 01/01/2025 13:22

Boiled potatoes have no place anywhere. Of all the amazing things you can do with the humble spud why would you stick to the most basic option?

LightsAndBaubles · 01/01/2025 13:18

We have both. I prefer boiled new potatoes to roast. We are all different.
I would not have cauliflower cheese with a roast as I don't want cheese sauce and gravy on my plate but lots of people love it. I don't like pigs in blankets either, I would rather have more meat than eat greasy, processed sausage and bacon....each to their own!

GellerYeller · 01/01/2025 13:03

Local gastro pub: Roasts and sweet potato mash
Other local pub: Roasts, mash, everything served inside a giant Yorkshire
MIL: Roasts, mash, pack of baby new potatoes with butter/mint
DM: Roasts, croquettes, Duchesse potatoes, dauphinois
Us: Roasts, dauphinois

BobnLen · 01/01/2025 13:00

DH does, I don't like any potatoes though

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/01/2025 12:56

When I was cooking Christmas Dinner for 8 , I put a pack of new potatoes ( or baby potatoes ) onto steam as an added extra .As you can never have enough roast potatoes and they run out . But my DParents wouldn;t want too many of them.
My DD loved them and insists they are part of the roast dinner .

My DS insists on Yorkshire Puddings ( home cooked ones ) so you can see what I;m dealing with here !

BrusselSproutsRock · 01/01/2025 12:46

My DP wanted boiled potatoes with his Xmas dinner when we first got together. Careful training has cured him of that particular abomination. Roasties all the way for us now.