Classic Mashed Potatoes With Three Variations Recipes

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, cut them into 1-inch cubes and place them in a large pot of boiling salted water. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return them to the pot.
• Meanwhile, heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan until the butter is melted.
• Using a hand held mixer, break the potatoes up and at low speed slowly add the hot milk/butter mixture to make the potatoes very creamy. Add the sour cream, 2 teaspoons of salt and the pepper and whisk to combine. Serve hot.

BASIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes; drain.
• In a small saucepan heat butter and milk over low heat until butter is melted. Using a potato masher or electric beater, slowly blend milk mixture into potatoes until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and rinse under cold water. Cut each into quarters and place in a 3-to 4-quart saucepan. Cover with cold water, partially cover the pot, and bring the water to a boil. Uncover, add the 1 teaspoon of salt, and reduce the heat so the water boils gently. Cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 10 to 12 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter together until the butter has melted and the mixture is hot but not boiling.
• Drain the potatoes and return them to the warm pan over low heat for 1 minute to evaporate any excess water. Use a potato masher, ricer, or food mill to mash the potatoes. Stir the milk and butter mixture into the potatoes, a little at a time, until the potatoes are as soft and moist as you like. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, or keep warm in the top of a double boiler, or cover and rewarm in a microwave oven.

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes and 2 tablespoons salt in a large saucepan. Cover with cold water by 2 inches, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat cream, milk, and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until butter melts.
• Drain potatoes, and press through a ricer into a large saucepan. (Alternatively, mash the potatoes with a potato masher until smooth.) Pour warmed cream mixture over potatoes in a slow, steady stream, and stir until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, or keep warm in a covered bowl over simmering water for up to 2 hours.

MASHED POTATOES WITH VARIATIONS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over high heat, combine potatoes and just enough water to cover them. ADD SALT; BRING TO A BOIL. Reduce heat to medium low; cook covered for 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are very tender. Drain well; return potatoes to saucepan. Place over low heat to dry out potatoes slightly shaking saucepan occasionally to prevent them from sticking.
• Meanwhile, in a small microwaveable bowl, heat milk and butter or oil in microwave ob high for 1 - 2 minutes or until steaming. Add milk mixture to potatoes, mash roughly with a fork. With an electric mixer, beat potatoes until smooth and creamy (if you don't want chunky mash). Don't over beat, as potatoes will become gluey. Add pepper. If desired, season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Spoon into warm serving dish if used right away. Sprinkle with parsley.
• To freeze: spoon into containers, label, seal and freeze.
• VARIATIONS:.
• Pesto potatoes: Omit butter or oil; add ¼ cup (50 ml) each pesto and freshly grated parmesan cheese before beating.
• Mustard mash: Use butter instead o foil; add ¼ cup (50 ml) grainy Dijon mustard before beating.
• Lemony mash: Use oil not butter; add ¼ cup (50 ml) chopped fresh parsley and 1 tbsp finely grated lemon zest before beating.
• Cheese and onion mash: Use butter not oil; add 1 cup (250 ml) shredded cheddar cheese Swiss cheese and ¼ cup (50 ml) finely chopped green onions before beating.
• Posh French mash: This is called aligot in French. Add 2 peeled cloves of garlic to potatoes before boiling. Drain well, returning garlic with potatoes. Mash as above, using butter not oil. Add 1 cup (250 ml) shredded Gruyere cheese before beating.
• Caesar Potatoes: Omit butter and oil; add ½ cup (125 ml) thick Caesar dressing and ¼ cup (50 ml) freshly grated parmesan cheese before beating.

MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring a gallon of water and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil over high heat. Peel and quarter potatoes and keep in cold water until ready to cook. (This can be done up to 4 hours in advance.) Add potatoes to boiling water and boil about 15 to 20 minutes, until soft; a knife should go in with almost no resistance. (It is better to overcook than to undercook.)
• In a saucepan or a microwave oven, heat butter and milk together until butter melts and mixture steams. Drain potatoes well and return to pot. Shake them around in the hot pan or over very low heat for a minute (you want dry potatoes). Using an extruding masher or a ricer, mash hot potatoes until smooth, about 2 minutes. Lightly mix in about half of hot butter mixture, just until blended. Taste for salt and add more butter mixture until seasoned to your liking.
• Stop here for fluffy potatoes. For creamy potatoes, keep stirring potato mixture, using a sturdy spoon to press it against sides and bottom of pot. Mix until dense and thick. For whipped potatoes, use a stand mixer to mash hot potatoes just until smooth, about 30 seconds. Add all the butter mixture and salt to taste, pulsing machine in short bursts at medium speed. When light and creamy, stop mixing immediately. (Potatoes can quickly become sticky.)
• To keep hot until ready to serve, transfer to serving bowl, dot top with butter, cover tightly and keep in a warm place, like the back of the stove. Potatoes will stay hot for at least 30 minutes. To keep longer, place covered bowl in a pan holding about an inch of gently simmering water. Before serving, mix well.