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Not-So-Humble Mashed Potatoes
| Meet the Blogger | More Posts by Elizabeth Smith
“As long as there are mashed potatoes, I’ll be happy,” said a guest joining us for our Thanksgiving meal. He didn’t seem to care if the turkey was dry (it wasn’t) or the cranberry sauce was fresh (it was). He simply wanted creamy smooth mashed potatoes. And they were.
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone that entered. Congrats to Julie P., our randomly chosen winner!
As arguably the most important side dish of the season, everyone seems to have a preferred method to cook mashed potatoes. (Me? I cook the potatoes cold and don’t peel them until after they’re cooked.) There are tons of recipes out there, but many are tame and traditional. Potatoes. Butter. Milk. Salt. Pepper. When done right, those five staples are heavenly. But is something missing?
Some home cooks work to ensure potato perfection by adding secret ingredients. Sour cream? Roasted garlic? Blue cheese? Why not! Here are a few of our favorite recipes that move beyond the classic mashed potato recipe in the quest for a celestial side dish.
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes. Gruyère. Parmesan. Sour cream. Oh my!- Mashed Potatoes with White Truffle Oil. If after seeing the words “truffle oil”, you’re still reading this and not headed to the store to make this recipe, I applaud you. Your will power is stronger than mine.
- Tahini-Garlic Mashed Potatoes. This dish is dairy free and full of flavor.
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips. Parsnips add flavor and texture to otherwise traditional mashed potatoes in this version.
- Miso and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Aged barley miso and roasted garlic turn this traditional side into vegan comfort food of the highest order.
Do you smash the everyday mash recipe? Share your secret ingredients in your not-so-humble mashed potatoes in the comments below by December 31, and you could win a $50 Whole Foods Market® gift card.
The fine print: No purchase necessary. Promotion ends December 31, 2012, 11:59 PM CDT. Must be a legal resident of the US or Canada (except in Quebec, where it is void) age 18 or older to participate. Taxes on prize, if applicable, are the responsibility of the winner. Employees of Whole Foods Market, Inc., are not eligible. Void where prohibited.
263 Comments
Comments
I use the usaul salt and pepper, but also mix in an egg and some whipping cream.
12/13/2012 7:21:52 AM CST
ROasted Garlic. Yum!
12/13/2012 7:24:30 AM CST
It's not my secret, per se, but the best mashed potatoes are half potatoe & half butter. Everybody knows that, right ?
12/13/2012 7:25:02 AM CST
my secret is cream cheese, garlic and BUTTER!
12/13/2012 7:38:38 AM CST
I like to put about a Tablespoon of prepared Wasabi in my mashed potatoes, you may put more to match your taste.
12/13/2012 7:38:52 AM CST
I add garlic to the water while cooking, heat my (whole) milk up before adding to the spuds, lots of butter of course, salt & but most importantly (and its noticed if I don't add...) a large pinch of SUGAR. YUM :-)
12/13/2012 7:49:52 AM CST
We enjoy mashed sweet and white potatoes, mashed w/buttermilk, olive oil, salt, black pepper and a tiny pinch of nutmeg. This is a holiday favorite and we also have it throughout the year as well.
12/13/2012 7:52:03 AM CST
This Thanksgiving I made garlic mashed potatoes with lots of cream cheese and salt and pepper. It was so creamy and such divine garlicky goodness.
12/13/2012 7:54:24 AM CST
Garlic smashed w/bacon and white cheddar is our family favorite. I am looking forward to trying the truffle smashed potatoes :) YUM!!
12/13/2012 7:56:49 AM CST
Using an old fashioned ricer makes the potatoes really smooth.
12/13/2012 8:02:16 AM CST
cream and sour cream...that is the secret, added with a little lemon pepper and I have the best mashed potatoes EVER...
12/13/2012 8:22:33 AM CST
Use a ricer! They make THE BEST mashed potatoes!
12/13/2012 8:36:07 AM CST
Mashed Taters with smoked cheddar and green onions.
6 yukon gold potatoes peeled & cubed
1/2 stick butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 cup smoked cheddar cheese grated
5 green onions chopped
1 cup heavy cream
Boil potatoes in salted water untif fork tender. Drain & add butter and cream then mash with potato masher. It's ok to have lumps. Mix in cheese and onions. Salt & Pepper to taste. Enjoy!
12/13/2012 8:40:02 AM CST
Im trying on my mashed potaoes, I dont make them enough, its an affordable and healthy side. Id say cream cheese is good, I melt the milk and butter together and I mix it a lot so its smooth with no lumps.
12/13/2012 9:21:24 AM CST
My secret is very simple. I boil rutabaga along with yukon potatoes. Then mash them up together, adding milk, butter, salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. I use about 1/3 rutabaga, 2/3 potatoes. Even people that say they don't like rutabaga, like this. The taste difference is subtle, but really tasty. I had a friend years ago tell me about this and called it Rute Mousse.
12/13/2012 9:53:41 AM CST
Mashed potatoes were never my favorite part of the holiday meal (I'm a stuffing lady), but last year I added lots of roasted garlic, swirled in some cilantro-almond pesto, and topped the dish with sun-dried tomatoes--move over, stuffing! I love that I don't have to add any butter, cream, or cheese to it; it's still deliciously decadent and savory thanks to the pesto. (I did add a few spoonfuls of regular Greek yogurt to give it a little more creaminess, though.) Can't wait to make my new favorite dish this year, too!
12/13/2012 10:05:54 AM CST
5 pounds Yukon Gold Potatoes
1 8 oz block cream cheese
2 sticks butter
1/2-1cup of milk
2 Tbs. chopped chives
Salt & pepper
Paprika
Peel & cut potatoes into chunks, boil in lightly salted water until tender. Drain potatoes & mash with mixer. Add butter & cream chesse & mix again. Add milk a little at a time until desired consistency. Add salt & pepper to taste. Pour into a 9x13 pan, top with remaining stick of butter sliced, sprinkle with paprika. Baker in 375 oven for 1 hour.
12/13/2012 10:22:31 AM CST
Use pink or yukon gold potatoes. Wash and scrub, do not peel. Add whole garlic cloves to the pot and boil.
For 2 lbs of potatoes, I use 4 cloves of garlic.
Drain, then use potato masher and add: 1 tbls of butter, 2 tbls of cream cheese, 1/3 cup of fat free Greek yogurt, chopped scallions.
Add milk to get the desired consistency.
For make ahead: place above into buttered oven-safe casserole, place small pats of butter on top and bake in oven for apx 20 minutes at 350 or more.
12/13/2012 10:28:43 AM CST
My mashed potatoes: start with organic potatoes, leave skin on, cook till tender, mash, while hot-add one or two raw organic egg-(hot potatoes will cook egg) browned onions, and shallots in chicken fat, and add the mashed potaoes, season -salt, pepper, and a little cayanne.
12/13/2012 10:31:48 AM CST
I never seem to make the same mashed potatoes twice! I add whatever herbs and dairy products I have on hand, and no matter what method I use to cook the potatoes, or how I present them (i.e. re-stuffed/broiled skins or simply mashed - smooth or lumpy), they're always a hit! That's what's great about potatoes!
12/13/2012 10:44:00 AM CST
I like to mix and match a few different types of potatoes. Using reds, browns, purples, yukon golds, fingerlings, and even a few sweet really adds to the texture and flavor. Mash them all together with the skins still on and use a good organic chicken stock to add flavor instead of butter and milk. It's healthier and tastes great!
12/13/2012 10:59:16 AM CST
I add a couple of tablespoons of sour cream.
Sometimes I boil the potatoes in vegetable or chicken broth for extra flavor (or add a carrot).
Roasted garlic(olive oil,sea salt, cracked black pepper:bake 350 20 min to an hour til soft) is also good
12/13/2012 12:12:44 PM CST
I liked the idea and want to share my recipe through the contest. Please advice
12/13/2012 12:19:58 PM CST
My mashed potatoes start with Idaho russets only. Peeled & cooked. I then add whole milk, sour cream, Philadelphia cream cheese, European unsalted butter, salt & pepper to taste. I also add a bit of Crown Royal whiskey. This actually assures added creamy taste. Then I whip the hell out it so that there are absolutely no lumps in it at all. Be careful not to over whelm the potatoes. It is a little expensive, but it is the holidays.
12/13/2012 12:22:59 PM CST
My secret mashed potatoes recipe features caramelized onions and garlic, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, a dash of pepper, and a creamy greek yogurt finish with lemon juice....Yummy!
12/13/2012 2:48:33 PM CST