Easy Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Let’s make everyone’s favorite creamy, flavorful, perfectly seasoned mashed potatoes. It is a delicious side dish that is perfect with roast chicken or turkey, gravy, roasted vegetables, or other dishes. You can make this dish with just 6 simple ingredients and by following 6 easy steps. All you need is good potatoes, cream or milk, butter, garlic, nutmeg, and salt. This mashed potato recipe will give you the perfect flavored side dish for any occasion. Now follow along with this recipe and use the chef’s useful tips to make delicious, mouth-watering homemade mashed potatoes.

Ah, mashed potatoes, a timeless classic that never fails to delight the taste buds and bring comfort to the table. With just a handful of simple ingredients and a few easy steps, you can transform humble potatoes into a creamy, flavorful side dish that pairs perfectly with a wide range of mains. From roast chicken to turkey, from gravy to roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food that brings people together around the dinner table. So why not elevate your next meal with a generous serving of homemade mashed potatoes? Follow this recipe, and let the creamy, buttery goodness take center stage on your plate!

Vadim Rachok

Chef

Mashed Potato

Originating in South America, where potatoes were first cultivated thousands of years ago, mashed potatoes have a rich and fascinating history. However, it was European explorers who introduced the potato to the rest of the world, making it popular in many different cuisines. 

Mashed potatoes have become particularly popular in Western cuisine because of their versatility, comforting texture, and delicious flavor. A creamy, fluffy side dish that pairs well with a variety of dishes, mashed potatoes are mixed with butter, milk, and seasonings. Mashed potatoes are also relatively easy to make, which makes them a household staple and a favorite comfort food for people of any age.

Mashed Potato Ingredients

• Potatoes: Mashed potatoes are based on the main ingredient, potatoes. They are cooked until tender, then mashed to a smooth consistency.
• Butter: Butter makes mashed potatoes creamy and indulgent, adding richness and flavor. It is also a key ingredient in the creation of a smooth texture.
• Cream: Cream is another important ingredient contributing to mashed potatoes’ creamy texture.  It adds richness and helps bind the potatoes together.
• Garlic: Garlic adds a spicy and aromatic taste to mashed potatoes. It adds a subtle garlic flavor when cooked and mashed with the potatoes.
• Nutmeg: Nutmeg adds warmth and richness to mashed potatoes. Adding just a pinch enhances the overall flavor and aroma.
• Salt: Salt is essential to season mashed potatoes and bring out their natural flavor. 

Recipe for Mashed Potato

1. Dice the peeled potatoes into even cubes, rinse with water, and place on the stove.
2. Add enough water to cover the potatoes. Add 2 cloves of garlic and cook until potatoes are tender. 
3. Pour the cream into a saucepan and add the butter. Place the saucepan over low heat and cook until the butter is melted.
4. Take another saucepan with a sieve and rub the potatoes through the sieve. Mash the garlic as well.
5. Add nutmeg, salt, and a mixture of cream and butter to the potatoes.
6. Place the saucepan over low heat and whisk until the potatoes are pliable, tender, and airy.

Chef Recipe Tips:

• For those who do not eat fatty foods, the cream can be replaced by milk. 
• You can add truffle paste or topinate to the potatoes for a more interesting flavor. 
• Store the mashed potatoes in a box with plastic wrap. 
• Rub the potatoes through a sieve in several pieces, not all of them. 

Why Is It the Best Mashed Potato Recipe?

• This recipe includes tips and tricks to make creamy, fluffy mash anytime.
• No one can resist them (and anyone can perfect them) because they are so buttery and creamy!
• This recipe for mashed potatoes is simple, so it’s perfect with just about anything.
• It can be served alone, as a side to turkey and gravy, for holiday dinners, or just for good old-fashioned comfort food.

Other Tastes You Can Add to Your Mashed Potato

• Cream Cheese or Sour Cream – adds a bit of taste to the mashed potatoes that I personally don’t like, but you can add a dollop if you like!
• Garlic – Chop up a clove or two and cook them in some melted butter before adding them to the mashed potatoes.
• Bacon bits – No need to explain!
• Green onions – finely chopped or sliced

How to Store Mashed Potatoes?

Firstly, allow mashed potatoes to cool completely. Then, transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for three to four days. Before eating, heat in the microwave, oven or on the stovetop.

Can You Freeze Mashed Potatoes?

Yes, you can freeze individual or group servings of mashed potatoes for up to one month.  When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight or reheat from frozen in a slow cooker, stovetop, or oven.

What Are The Best Potatoes For Mashed Potatoes?

The best potatoes for mashing are Yukon Golds and Russets. Yukon Golds are yellow potatoes with thin skin. I like to use them in my mashed potatoes because they have a creamy texture, a rich golden color, and a buttery flavor. Yams are white potatoes that are high in natural starch. All that starch makes for a fluffy, creamy mashed potato.

You can make this recipe with either type of potato. Another option that I like to use is to use a mixture of the two. The russets are great for fluffiness, and the Yukon golds are a great addition for flavor. It’s a combination that can’t be beat!

What to Serve With Mashed Potato?

Mashed potatoes, with their creamy texture and comforting flavor, are incredibly versatile and can be served with a variety of dishes. Some of the most popular ways to serve mashed potatoes:

• Roast chicken or turkey: The savory flavors of roasted poultry complement the creamy texture of mashed potatoes.
• Gravy: Add richness and depth of flavor by pouring warm gravy over mashed potatoes.
• Meatloaf: A classic accompaniment to hearty meatloaf, mashed potatoes contrast comfortingly with the savory meat.
• Steak: Mashed potatoes provide a creamy and indulgent element to balance the flavors of a juicy steak.
• Roasted vegetables: For a well-rounded and satisfying meal, serve mashed potatoes with roasted vegetables such as carrots, brussels sprouts, or green beans.
• Meatballs: Whether they are served with marinara sauce or Swedish gravy, mashed potatoes are a delicious accompaniment to meatballs of all kinds.
• Grilled or baked fish: The tender, flaky texture of grilled or broiled fish contrasts beautifully with the creamy texture of mashed potatoes.