Make Ahead Garlic Potato Soupcooks Illustrated Recipes

MAKE-AHEAD MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to the middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Microwave the potatoes on high power for 16 minutes(stacking them if you have to), turning them over halfway through the cooking time. Transfer the potatoes to the oven and place them directly on the hot oven rack. Bake until a skewer glides easily through flesh, about 30 minutes, flipping them over halfway through the baking time.
• Remove the potatoes from the oven, and cut each potato in half lengthwise. Using an oven mitt or a folded kitchen towel to hold the hot potatoes, scoop out all of the flesh from each potato half into a medium bowl. Break the cooked potato flesh down into small pieces using a fork.
• Transfer half of the potatoes to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat the potatoes on high speed until smooth, about 30 seconds, gradually adding the rest of the potatoes to incorporate, until completely smooth and no lumps remain, 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl as needed.
• Remove the bowl from mixer and gently fold in two cups of the cream followed by the butter and 2 t. salt. Gently fold in up to ½ cup more of the cream as needed to reach desired consistency. Once the desired serving consistency is reached, gently fold in an additional ½ cup cream (the potatoes will be quite loose-to keep them from drying out).
• To Store: Transfer the mashed potatoes to a large microwave safe bowl and tightly cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 2 days.
• To Serve: Poke lots of holes in the plastic wrap with the tip pf a knife and microwave at medium high (75%) power until the potatoes are hot, about 14 minutes, stirring gently halfway through reheating time.

DO-AHEAD GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• In 3-quart saucepan, mix potatoes and garlic; add enough water (salted if desired) to cover. Cover and heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer covered 20 to 25 minutes or until tender; drain. Shake pan with potatoes over low heat to dry. Mash potatoes and garlic in pan with potato masher or electric mixer until no lumps remain.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat milk, whipping cream, butter, salt and pepper over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted; reserve and refrigerate 1/4 cup mixture. Add remaining milk mixture in small amounts to potatoes, mashing after each addition, until potatoes are light and fluffy. (Amount of milk needed to make potatoes smooth and fluffy depends on kind of potatoes used.)
• Grease 2-quart casserole. Spoon potatoes into casserole; cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Pour reserved milk mixture over potatoes. Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until hot. Stir potatoes before serving.

MAKE AHEAD GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes and garlic in medium saucepan with enough (salted if desired) water to cover.
• Cover and heat to boiling, reduce heat and simmer until tender (about 20 minutes).
• Drain and shake potatoes to dry over low heat.
• Mash potatoes and garlic in pan until lump free (my personal preference is to use a potato ricer).
• Heat rest of ingredients stirring over low heat until butter melts.
• Reserve 1/4 C of mixture.
• Add rest of milk mix in small amounts stirring after each addition until light and fluffy (amount needed depends on type of potato used).
• Grease a 2 quart casserole and spoon in potatoes.
• Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
• Heat oven to 350.
• Pour reserved milk mixture over potatoes and bake uncovered 40-45 minutes or until hot.
• Stir before serving.

MAKE-AHEAD POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a Dutch oven or large kettle; cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are tender. , Drain potatoes and place in a bowl; mash. Add sour cream, cream cheese, 4 tablespoons butter, onion and salt; stir until smooth and the cream cheese and butter are melted. Spread in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. , Melt the remaining butter; drizzle over the potatoes. Sprinkle with paprika. Refrigerate or bake immediately, covered, at 350° for 40 minutes; uncover and bake 20 minutes longer. If potatoes are made ahead and refrigerated, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.

MAKE-AHEAD GARLIC-POTATO SOUP(COOK'S ILLUSTRATED)

Steps:

• TO MAKE SOUP BASE: Melt butter in Dutch oven over medium heat. When foaming subsides, add leeks and cook until soft (do not brown), 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add garlic heads, 6 cups broth, bay leaves, and 3/4 teaspoon salt; partially cover pot and bring to simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until garlic is very tender when pierced with tip of knife, 30 to 40 minutes. Add potatoes, partially cover pot, and bring mixture to simmer over medium-high heat. Take pot off heat and let rest 10 minutes. Separate soup into 2 storage containers and freeze up to 1 month.
• TO REHEAT AND SERVE: Run hot water over surface of storage containers to help release frozen blocks of soup. Add soup and 1 cup broth to large Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until soup is hot and potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Remove garlic heads; using tongs or paper towels, squeeze garlic heads at root end until cloves slip out of their skins. Using fork, mash garlic to smooth paste in bowl.
• 3. Stir cream, thyme, and half of mashed garlic into soup; heat soup until hot, about 2 minutes. Taste soup; add remaining garlic paste if desired. Using immersion blender, process soup until creamy, with some potato chunks remaining. Alternatively, transfer 1 1/2 cups potatoes and 1 cup broth to blender or food processor and process until smooth. (Process more potatoes for thicker consistency.) Return puree to pot and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper and serve, sprinkling each portion with chives and garlic chips.
• For Garlic Chips: Heat oil and garlic in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, turning frequently, until light golden brown, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer garlic to plate lined with paper towels; discard oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt.