Garlic Potatoes With Juniper Berries

A dish for those who love strong flavors--- absolutely wonderful with herbed roast chicken or pork dishes. Posted for Zaar World Tour VI. Excerpt from the book "Flavors of Greece" by Rosemary Barron.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 3  tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2  tablespoons  dried  juniper berries, lightly crushed
• 8  large garlic cloves
• 1 1⁄2 lbs tiny new potatoes

• For serving

• 1  lemon, juice of, small
•  coarse-grain sea  salt and black pepper, to taste
•  finely chopped fresh oregano
•  triangles of toasted  whole wheat bread (optional)

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350*F.
2. Pour the olive oil into a heavy shallow baking dish large enough to hold the potatoes in a single layer.
3. Sprinkle the juniper berries over the oil and place the dish in an oven for a few minutes to warm.
4. Trim off the stem ends of the garlic cloves and rub off any feathery outer skin.
5. Place the potatoes and garlic in the warm dish and roll them in the olive oil to lightly coat.
6. Bake 10 minutes and roll the potatoes and garlic in the olive oil once more.
7. Reduce the oven temperature to 300˚F and bake uncovered for 50 minutes or until the potatoes are just tender.
8. Roll the potatoes in the olive oil to coat once more and transfer to a warm platter.
9. Sprinkle with the lemon juice, salt and pepper, and oregano.
10. Serve hot or warm, with toast, if desired.