Since Thanksgiving is coming up in a few weeks, I thought it would be a great idea to start sharing with you some of my favorite dishes that are great for all types of holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas! Starting here with my all time favorite, Easy Homemade Mashed Potatoes! Seriously, who doesn’t like mashed potatoes??
EASY HOMEMADE MASHED POTATOES
ARE POTATOES HEALTHY?
A lot of people think potatoes are not “healthy” because they come with quite a bit of carbs. But potatoes can be healthy based on how you cook them and what your goals are as far as nutritional intake. Potatoes are low in fat and have many vitamins and nutrients. If you are on a low carb diet, potatoes might not be the best option for you. Even though potatoes are healthy, they still have carbs. The best ways serve potatoes are boiling, steaming, roasting or baking. Bottom line is when eaten in moderation and prepared in a healthy way, potatoes can be a nutritious addition to your diet. As far as calories for mashed potatoes, depending on what you put into them, the calories per serving will vary.
WHAT ARE THE BEST TYPES OF POTATOES FOR MAKING MASHED POTATOES?
The last thing you want to serve for your family is a gluey and sticky mashed potatoes! That’s why you must choose the right type of potatoes to make the best and creamiest mashed potato! You want potatoes that are starchy and have a buttery consistency. The best two types of potatoes for making the creamiest mashed potatoes are Yukon Golden Potatoes and Russet Potatoes. Red and white potatoes require more mashing and can sometimes lead to a pasty or sticky consistency of mashed potatoes.
Yukon Golden and Russet Potatoes
INGREDIENTS YOU CAN ADD TO MASHED POTATOES:
You can add basically anything you like to your mashed potatoes. Some examples are:
- Sour cream
- Butter
- Fresh Herbs
- Spices
- Cream Cheese or Cheddar Cheese
HOW TO MAKE THE EASY HOMEMADE MASHED POTATOES
Wash and peel the potatoes. Then cube them and wash with cold water. Bring a pot half way filled with water to boil. Add 1 tsp. of salt and toss the potato cubes in. Let them boil for about 7-10 minutes, just enough to put a fork through it. Do not over cook.
Once the potatoes are soft enough, carefully drain all the hot water from the pot. A simple way to do this is to use a strainer drain the water and then return the potatoes back to the pot. White the potatoes are still hot, keep the heat on medium low and add in the butter, hot milk, sour cream and salt. Mash the potatoes well with a potato masher until the potatoes are very smooth and creamy. If you would like to whip the potatoes up in a cake mixer and use the whipping whisk, you can do so as well and transfer back to the pot. Cover and keep on low heat for a few more minutes and them remove form heat.
Transfer the mashed potatoes to a serving dish and drizzle some melted butter on top. Garnish with chives and serve with some homemade gravy and chicken or turkey!
TIPS FOR MAKING HOMEMADE MASHED POTATOES:
- Use Yukon Golden or Russet Potatoes
- Boil the water before adding in the potatoes.
- Salt the water you cook them in.
- Drain well to avoid mushy potatoes.
- Do not use a food processor to mash your potatoes.
- Use full fat milk, cheese and sour cream.
- Melt butter with herbs to infuse flavors if adding in herbs.
Finally…. I hope you get to try this recipe and enjoy it because it’s so simple and delicious. This Easy Homemade Mashed Potatoes recipe is the best side dish recipe you can serve with so many proteins. It’s my family’s favorite all year round. Be sure to follow me on my social media channels INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK and PINTEREST and send me your delicious recreations so I can repost them! Xoxo…
OTHER RECIPES YOU MAY LIKE:
Oven Roasted Parmesan Herbed Potatoes
Spicy Cilantro Hassleback Potatoes
Easy Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. Yukon golden potatoes
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tsps. salt 1 for boiling, 1 to adjust the taste
- 1/2 cup butter + 2 tbsps. melted for topping
- 1/2 cup hot milk
- 1 tsp. grated garlic optional
- Chives and fresh ground black pepper for garnishing
Instructions
- Peel and dice the potatoes into 2 inch cubes. Rinse and set aside.
- Bring a pot filled half way with water to boil. Add in the salt and potatoes and cook until they are fork soft (enough to easily insert a fork)
- Drain the water and return potatoes to pot. Add in the butter, salt to taste, hot milk and mash well with a potato masher until you obtain and very creamy texture. Note, if you are adding garlic, melt the butter and garlic together at the same time to infuse the garlic flavor.
- Remove and transfer the mashed potatoes to a serving bowl. Drizzle 2 tbsps. of melted butter on top and then crack some fresh ground pepper on top. Garnish with some chopped chives and serve.
- You can cover and keep on low for a few more minutes and then remove to serve.
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