Preheat your oven to 500 degrees F

Place the whole potatoes on a shallow pan

Pour ¾ cup of water into the pan

Cover the pan tightly with foil

Roast for 30 minutes on the bottom rack

Remove and let the potatoes cool for 10 minutes

Pour some olive oil in the pan and roll the potatoes around to coat them

Smash each potato with a potato masher or a spatula to an inch or half inch high, but keeping it together as a potato

Season with some thyme, salt and pepper

Roast uncovered on the top rack to dry out for 15 min

Then lower the temp to 400 and roast for 30-40 min on the bottom rack to crisp them.