My Vegan Roasted Smashed Potatoes with Smoked Paprika Habanero Sauce will take a plain, boring potato side dish to a new level with the smokey paprika habanero dipping sauce.
Vegan Roasted Smashed Potatoes
Here's why this recipe works - my top 3 reasons:
- An easy + fun way to serve potatoes
- Made with only 7 clean, real food ingredients
- Healthy plant-based vegan side dish
An Easy + Fun Way to Serve Potatoes
Finding different ways to serve healthy potatoes can be a challenge.
For example, potatoes that aren't fried, laden with butter or cheese.
Enter "smashed potatoes" - a classic side dish just about as common as a baked potato.
They are baby potatoes that are boiled, smashed, brushed with avocado oil and then roasted to give them a soft potato on the inside and crispy outside.
In addition, I jazzed this side dish up a little bit with my special habanero sauce.
It has the smokey flavor from smoked paprika and a little heat from the habanero pepper.
And, you can make it in under 5 minutes with a Vitamix high-speed blender.
Made With Only 7 Clean, Real Food Ingredients
You'll love how this recipe can be made with a shortlist of easily accessible ingredients.
In addition, you probably already have all the ingredients on hand - with the exception of habanero pepper.
Expert Tips + Ingredient Substitutions For Vegan Roasted Smashed Potatoes
Here are some expert tips to make this recipe perfectly:
Tip #1: The variety of organic potatoes I used were called "Honey Gold" and they have a pretty golden color on the inside. I bought them at Whole Foods, but feel free to use whatever variety you can find or have on hand.
Tip #2: I garnished my potatoes with chopped kale, but you could also use chopped cilantro or parsley too.
Tip #3: The potatoes are really good even without the sauce, so if you have little ones or don't like spicy foods, you could either leave out the habanero pepper or just serve them plain (without the sauce). And, if you are serving this to different family members who don't all like a hot dip, you can just serve the roasted smashed potatoes by themselves or leave the habanero out of the sauce.
Want More Healthy Plant-Based Side Dish Recipes?
Check out these:
- Spicy Lemon Sauteed Broccolini
- Acorn Squash Rings with Walnuts and Dried Apricots
- Rosemary and Garlic Sweet Potato Medallions
- or my CLEAN EATING Cookbook with 75+ plant-based vegan + gluten-free recipes made with clean, real food ingredients just like this one that you will love!

Gluten-Free Vegan Roasted Smashed Potatoes with Smoked Paprika Habanero Sauce
Equipment
- Vitamix or high-speed blender
Ingredients
For the potatoes:
- 8 organic baby potatoes
- 1 tablespoon 100% pure avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
- ½ teaspoon organic ground garlic powder
For the sauce:
- 1 ½ cups organic raw cashews
- ¾ cup filtered/purified water
- 1 tablespoon organic ground smoked paprika
- 1 organic habanero pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
- ⅛ teaspoon organic garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Prepare the potatoes:
- Wash and scrub the potatoes and add them to a medium-sized saucepan of boiling water.
- Boil the potatoes for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until they become soft in the center.
- Strain the potatoes then place each one on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Using a fork, smash the center of the potato.
- Brush the inside and outside of each potato with avocado oil.
- Add the Himalayan pink salt and garlic powder to a small bowl and stir until combined. Sprinkle the garlic/salt mixture over the smashed potatoes. Adjust seasonings to your preference.
- Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until they become crispy on the outside.
- Serve with the Smoked Paprika Habanero Sauce.
- Enjoy!
Prepare the sauce:
- Optional: Soak the cashews in filtered/purified water for about 15-20 minutes (or while your potatoes are roasting), then drain and rinse with filtered/purified water. This step will give the sauce an extra creamy consistency.
- Add all ingredients to a Vitamix, or high-speed blender, and blend until creamy and smooth.
- Adjust seasonings to your preference.
- Transfer to small individual dipping bowls and serve with the smashed potatoes.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
Copyright Notice
The notes, instructions, and photographs for this recipe are copyrighted material and are protected under the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA). They cannot be used legally without my written permission.
M. Frost says
I have a question about the sauce: Do you remove the seeds from the habanero pepper before blending it with the other ingredients? I love spicy foods but am inexperienced cooking with habaneros. Thanks for your advice!
Karielyn says
Hi there! I do not remove the seeds from the habanero peppers before using them, I only cut off the top with the stem.
But, be very, very careful when handling habanero peppers because they are much hotter than a jalapeno. You may want to use some type of kitchen gloves when handling them and make sure the utensils and cutting surfaces are cleaned well.
Thank you for your question and I hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂
Maria says
This looks scrumptious! I'm definitely putting it on the menu to try real soon. Thanks for sharing so many wonderful and healthy recipes.
Karielyn says
Hi there Maria! I hope you enjoy the recipe...it's really good without the sauce but the sauce makes the potatoes extra special!
Thank you so much for your kind comments...they are very much appreciated 😉
Serena says
We're getting a bit tired of eating potatoes the same way around here...thanks for a new idea! Smashed! My kids will love that they can smash their food!
Karielyn says
Hi there Serena! Oh yes, they're a big hit with my boys too lol! You may want to substitute the dressing though, it may be a little hot for your children. Making the sauce without the habanero peppers or sour cream, ketchup, etc are some good kid-friendly substitutes. 😉
Susan M. says
This looks amazing.
I love anything that comes with a dip and this might even get hubby to try. He can be so boring (basic burger with tomato and lettuce, sigh) and this would wake him up!!
Karielyn says
Hi there Susan! I understand completely…my husband is the same way lol!
In fact, when I asked him to try the sauce, the first taste he said he really didn't like it. However, he asked for more and ended up eating practically the entire batch!
Good luck and I hope it gets a thumbs up from your husband 😉
Jess says
Yum!! That sauce looks amazing. I pinned this to Pinterest for future cooking 🙂
Karielyn says
Hi there Jess! Thanks so much and I hope you enjoy the recipe if you decide to make it 😉