Mashed potatoes have been a staple of the dinner table for a very long time and it usually is the most popular dish on the table. Those creamy mounds of potatoes were one of the stars of the show in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind and they are usually the stars of the show at the Thanksgiving table as well. They are supposed to be creamy and buttery and some cooks pride themselves on how smooth and velvety they are but, most home cooks may leave some lumps in them and they are still absolutely delicious.
Mashed potatoes can be simple with just a bit of butter, milk, salt and pepper added or they can be a little more complicated with garlic, green onions, or cheese added. Some recipes get very complicated adding a variety of other vegetables, meat product like bacon, and gourmet cheese and then they are baked again making the twice baked potato that is actually mashed potatoes heated up twice.
There are even instant mashed potatoes, although not nearly as tasty as real ones. They haven’t been around all that long either being patented in’62 by Canadian scientist Edward Asselbergs. He invented the process of dehydrating mashed potatoes that is used today even though some earlier methods were patented in’12 and’54. Today we can even go to the grocery store and purchase tubs of real potatoes that have been already mashed for us and all we have to do is heat them up in the microwave.
Just mashing a potato after it has been boiled is good enough for some people. Those same people seem to think that putting potatoes in a mixer and whipping them up ruins them by releasing the starch and making them sticky, but most people like those sticky potatoes like their mothers’ made them. Methods of making mashed potatoes vary from boiling and mashing with a wire masher to baking potatoes in the oven and whipping them with an electric mixer. In the past a ricer has been used to make smooth potatoes. This is a large metal basket with holes in it with a handle attached to a blade that scrapes the inside of the basket. You put the potatoes in and turn the handle and the potato is crushed inside and comes out the holes. These potato threads make a satiny textured mashed potato with some butter and milk added.
A simple mashed potato recipe uses russet potatoes but other good potatoes to use for mashed are Idaho and Yukon Gold. The ingredients needed to make Simple Mashed Potatoes are:Two and one half pounds potatoes, peeled and cut in chunksOne fourth cup milk, One fourth cup butter, One half teaspoon salt, One half teaspoon black pepper. Instructions are as follows: Place potato chunks in 4 quarts of water and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Once it boils reduce heat to medium low and cover the pot. Let it simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes or until poked with a fork the potatoes feel soft. Drain potatoes and transfer to a large bowl and mash with a wire masher or place in a mixer bowl and whip them for a few minutes. Add milk, butter, salt and pepper and mix until potatoes become smooth and creamy. This will serve about six people.
Another variation is to make mashed potatoes with cheese and sour cream. Peel and cut into chunks 8 to 10 potatoes and place them in enough water to cover in a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil and boil about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are soft when pierced with a fork. Drain the potatoes and put in a mixer bowl. Whip for a few minutes then add 8 ounces cream cheese, one half of a 16 ounce carton of sour cream, and six tablespoons butter. Combine well than add one fourth teaspoon garlic salt and one fourth teaspoon pepper. Mix in well. You have the option of adding one half cup shredded Cheddar while whipping or placing it on top and letting it melt.
Always employ and down motion when using a wire masher instead of a side to side so that the cells of the potato do not release all the starch. Never use cold butter on mashed potatoes; instead it should be softened at room temperature. You can warm your milk before adding but never let it boil. This will ensure your potatoes are warm when you serve them. Use chicken stock instead of milk to give a different flavor but make sure to taste before adding any salt. The stock has salt in it already and you may make them too salty.
Your family and friends will love having mashed potatoes with dinner just as families have for years and years. You can add bacon, chives, green onions and just about anything else you want or you can serve them plain and simple. You can serve them with just a pat of butter, a dollop of sour cream, sprinkling of cheese, or slather them with gravy. There probably won’t be much left when dinner is over.
Ben likes his potatoes mashed. So if you are looking for some delicious mashed potatoes recipes visit his website that is full of different recipes. He specially recommends his cheddar mashed potatoes recipe.
