1-First Step: Prepare Your Equipment and Potatoes Start by preheating your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, which prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. While the oven heats up, wash and dry your potatoes thoroughly. Keeping the skin on is essential for the classic hasselback look, so don’t peel them. Pat them completely dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, as excess moisture will prevent proper crisping.

2-Second Step: Master the Signature Slice Creating those beautiful, even slices is the key to perfect hasselback potatoes. Here’s the foolproof method: 1. Place one potato on a cutting board. 2. Position two butter knives or chopsticks on either side of the potato, parallel to each other. These act as guards to stop your knife from cutting all the way through. 3. Using a sharp chef’s knife, make thin crosswise slices about 1/8-inch (3 mm) apart. The guides will prevent your knife from reaching the cutting board, keeping the potato intact at the bottom. 4. Repeat this process for all six potatoes.

3-Third Step: Season and Arrange Transfer your sliced potatoes to the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle generously with olive oil, making sure some gets between the slices. Use your hands to gently work the oil into all the crevices. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, again working the seasoning between the slices for even flavor distribution. Now comes the fun part: carefully tuck fresh sage leaves between the potato slices. Aim for every third or fourth slice, spacing them evenly. The sage will infuse the potato with its aromatic flavor as it roasts. Finish with another light drizzle of olive oil over the top.

4-Fourth Step: First Roasting Stage Place the baking sheet in your preheated oven and roast for 50 minutes. During this stage, the potatoes will begin to fan out slightly as they cook, and the olive oil will start creating that crispy exterior. The high heat (425°F) is essential for achieving those crispy edges while keeping the inside tender. About halfway through this first roasting period, check on your potatoes. If they seem dry, you can baste them with any pan juices. This helps keep them moist and promotes even browning.

5-Fifth Step: Garlic Herb Butter Application After the initial 50-minute roast, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Your crispy hasselback potatoes will have started opening up like beautiful fans. Now brush them generously with your homemade garlic herb butter. Make sure to get the butter between the slices, where it will melt and create incredible flavor throughout.

6-Sixth Step: Final Roasting and Serving Return the buttered potatoes to the oven for another 25 minutes. This second roasting period allows the butter to melt into all those crevices, creating layers of flavor while achieving maximum crispiness. The potatoes are done when a fork easily pierces through the center and the edges are beautifully browned and crispy. Remove from the oven and taste for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and a pinch of red pepper flakes for color and a subtle kick. Serve immediately with extra garlic butter on the side for dipping.