Experience the best of global and comfort cooking with my top 20 personal favorite new recipes from Gimme Some Oven in 2020.

Following yesterday’s exciting showcase of your most beloved new Gimme Some Oven recipes from 2020, today, I’m thrilled to unveil my personal favorites from a truly unforgettable year. While there was, as expected, a delightful overlap between our lists – notably with the ever-popular homemade tortillas, which became a staple in our casita – diving into my selections reveals a clear theme: a profound sense of wanderlust.

2020 presented unprecedented challenges, and I remain incredibly grateful for the immense privilege my husband and I had to safely work from home throughout the pandemic. However, like so many of you, I deeply missed the joy of travel and the exciting adventures we had planned for the year. This included a much-anticipated springtime birthday trip to Morocco, an extended visit back to Kansas City for the holidays, and a babymoon somewhere, anywhere! As someone whose travel itineraries are meticulously crafted around culinary experiences, missing out on exploring new restaurants and tasting novel flavors on these planned trips was a particular bummer.

Instead, we embraced our home in Barcelona for most of the year, a pattern likely to continue well into 2021. Unable to hop on planes and explore the world physically, we embarked on a flavorful culinary journey right from our kitchen. This might not have been the year of travel-eating we envisioned, but it certainly turned out to be a very delicious one. From reliving our vibrant adventures in Istanbul with countless batches of menemen and comforting lentil soup, to expanding my Mexican salsa repertoire with incredibly tasty raw tomatillo, peanut chipotle, and shortcut-mole sauces. This year also saw a slight obsession with curries of all kinds, finally perfecting my dream Caesar salad recipe, and a delightful marathon of nostalgic American baked goods this fall. Alongside these, countless other new recipes and culinary experiments, many yet to grace the blog, filled our kitchen with joy. Cooking with ingredients and recipes inspired by our favorite places around the world truly became its own wonderful adventure and a bright spot in an otherwise challenging year. For that, I am profoundly grateful.

So, without further ado, here are the 20 recipes that stood out as my personal new favorites on Gimme Some Oven in 2020. I’m incredibly excited to kick off 2021 next week with a fresh lineup of healthy and vibrant recipes that I believe you’re going to adore. Stay tuned for more deliciousness to come!

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Crispy & Flavorful Smashed Potatoes: The Ultimate Side Dish

Discover how to make irresistibly soft on the inside, wonderfully crispy on the outside smashed potatoes, infused with the best garlicky, buttery flavors. This easy recipe promises a delicious addition to any meal!

For years, countless home cooks have turned to our kitchen for beloved potato recipes. From our widely popular baked potatoes to the comforting richness of our mashed potatoes, and the decadent layers of our scalloped potatoes, it’s clear that the humble potato holds a special place in everyone’s hearts. Today, we’re thrilled to introduce another must-have potato classic to your culinary repertoire:

…the glorious smashed potato! ♡

In our household, these delightful potatoes have earned the affectionate nickname “Ikea potatoes,” a nod to the trusty drinking glasses from Ikea we playfully use to gently flatten them. Whether you opt for a glass, a traditional potato masher, or even a sturdy fork, the result is always a fantastic, fun, and incredibly flavorful addition to any meal, transforming a simple potato into something extraordinary.

What truly sets smashed potatoes apart is their unparalleled texture. They achieve that coveted perfect balance: wonderfully soft and fluffy on the inside, yet spectacularly crispy and golden-brown on the outside. This delightful contrast is precisely what makes them so utterly addictive. When roasted to perfection with a generous coating of melted butter, a robust blend of garlicky seasonings, and a final flourish of fresh herbs or a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, these smashed potatoes are nothing short of delicious. Their versatility means they effortlessly complement a vast array of main courses, from roasted chicken to grilled steak or a hearty vegetarian dish.

But the magic doesn’t stop there. This recipe is also incredibly adaptable to your preferences. Want to make it vegan? Simply swap out the butter. Craving extra indulgence? Melt some additional cheese on top for a gooey, savory finish. Or perhaps you’re in the mood for a fully “loaded” experience – think crispy bacon bits, sharp cheddar cheese, cooling sour cream, and vibrant green onions. The possibilities are endless, making this simple smashed potatoes recipe a canvas for your culinary creativity. So, let’s gather our ingredients and embark on the journey to create this unforgettable side dish!

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