Fondant Potatoes

Ingredients

• 3 large whole russet potatoes
• 2 tablespoons high-heat-resistant vegetable oil, such as grapeseed oil
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 sprigs thyme, plus more for garnish
• 0.5 cup chicken broth, or more as needed

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. Cut off ends of russet potatoes. Stand potatoes on end, and peel them from top to bottom with a sharp knife to make each potato into a uniform cylinder. Cut each cylinder in half crosswise to make 6 potato cylinders about 2 inches long.
3. Place potatoes into a bowl of cold water for about 5 minutes to remove starch from the outsides.
4. Heat vegetable oil in a heavy oven-proof skillet over high heat until it shimmers slightly.
5. Pat dry potatoes with paper towels. Place potato cylinders with the best-looking ends into the hot oil. Reduce heat to medium-high, and pan-fry potatoes until well-browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.
6. Flip potatoes and repeat on the other ends. As they cook, use a paper towel held with tongs to carefully blot out the oil from the skillet. Add butter and thyme sprigs to the skillet.
7. Pick up a thyme sprig with tongs and use it to paint butter over the top of the potatoes. Cook until butter foams and foam turns from white to a pale tan color. Season with more salt and pepper. Pour chicken stock into skillet.
8. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and cook until potatoes are tender and creamy inside, about 30 minutes. If potatoes aren't tender, add 1/4 cup more stock and cook for 10 more minutes.
9. Place potatoes on a serving platter. Spoon thyme-scented butter remaining in skillet over potatoes. Garnish with thyme sprigs. Let cool about 5 minutes before serving.