How to make mashed potatoes in 2 distinct styles?

With Turkey, lemon chicken, and crispy butter-fish set on the table, what’s the last thing you will need to complete the dinner before moving on to the desserts? A bowl of mashed potatoes! There are plenty of ways to curate them as per your taste – from the traditional milk-based mashed potatoes to the ones with onion and garlic. Which one suits your taste bud? This article will give you insight into how to make mashed potatoes in various styles.

This article has been curated with the assistance of culinary experts. Also, you will get snippets about ways to upgrade your mashed potatoes. Let’s kickstart learning the mashed potato-making process –

Style 1 – How to make mashed potatoes in the traditional style?

Note: From cup, to the spoon, the measurements that are used follow the US-format.

When you wish to know the recipe for mashed potatoes, the traditional format is the one that most people will start with. Here’s how to do it –

What are the ingredients?

• 2 pounds of potatoes (opt for a singular type between russet and Yukon gold) or you may choose to mix two types of potatoes (1 pound each). Let them be whole, you can mash them later.
• 1 cup skimmed/low-fat milk (warm)
• 3 cloves of garlic (peeled) / 2 tablespoons of garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon of fine table salt
• 2 tablespoons of butter (unsalted and cut into dice or shredded)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper (or just sprinkle enough to taste)

How will you prepare it?

• You will have to start by boiling the potatoes and the garlic pieces in salted water. If you are using garlic powder, you start by boiling the potatoes and later add the garlic pieces.
• Begin at a low flame and then go to a medium flame. Let it simmer. Boil the potatoes for 15-20 minutes (until they become tender).
• First, drain the potatoes and mash them physically. While doing that, add milk and butter slowly so that the content becomes creamier.
• Use an electric mixer to blend the contents into a thick creamy paste.
• Season with pepper and salt. You may add herbs or chilly flakes.

This is how to make mashed potatoes in the most traditional manner. However, for those wishing to expand their taste-buds, you can scroll down to the other varieties.

# If you do not wish to use milk while making mashed potatoes, you may choose alternatives such as – oat milk, coconut milk, soy milk, and almond milk. You may also use vegetable broth in place of milk. In case you wish to choose something creamier – you may opt for heavy cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, or yogurt.

# Do you find this mode of mashed potatoes a bit too bland? Then how to make mashed potatoes traditionally but with a touch of spice? Sautee the potatoes with sliced mushrooms in olive oil before adding milk.

# If you are a fan of cheese, add a dollop of cheddar, vegetable cream, jalapeno, smoked salmon, chive cream, or herb-green cheese on top of the dish. Let it sit for some time, and then serve.

Style 2 – How to make mashed potatoes with onions?

Mashed potatoes with green onions are one of the most-opted dishes that you can add to your dinner menu. There are 2 ways to make this dish of mashed potatoes. Here’s how you can whip it up –

If you want to know how to make mashed potatoes with buttermilk –

What are the ingredients?

• 4 pounds of Yukon gold potatoes – cut and peeled into 2-inch dice size. You may also combine 2 pounds of russet potato with 2 pounds of Yukon gold types to enhance the taste.
• 2 teaspoons of Kosher salt
• 2 green onions, sliced thinly
• 3 cups of buttermilk
• 8 tablespoons of butter (unsalted and cut into dice-like pieces)
• 1 teaspoon of black pepper (coarsely grounded)

How will you prepare it?

• As usual, boil the potatoes for upto 15-20 minutes till they become tender (in salt water from low to medium flame).
• Blend the buttermilk and butter and bring it to a simmer.
• Mash the potatoes (either manually or with an electric mixer).
• Take a cooking pot and add the butter-buttermilk combo slowly into the mashed potatoes. Keep stirring it as you add it. Once the texture becomes creamier, let it sit.
• Now you have to add the onions, kosher salt, and pepper to this mixture and stir it well. Make it creamier. You may garnish it with some herbs.

How to make mashed potatoes with chicken broth

What are the ingredients?

• 2 pounds of russet potatoes (unpeeled and cut into dice). In this case, keep the variety limited to the one mentioned.
• 2 teaspoons of kosher salt
• 1/2 cup of green onion (chopped)
• 4 oz of light cream cheese
• 2/3 cups of chicken broth (sodium content minimum)

How will you prepare it?

• Like every other time, you will have to boil the potatoes from low flame to medium until they become tender (15-20 minutes).
• Drain the potatoes and mix the ingredients such as – salt, onion, cheese, and broth by hand. Once that is done – you may use an electric mixer to make this component creamier.
• If you are not a fan of chicken broth, you may substitute it with vegetable broth containing (broccoli, carrots, beets, roasted tomatoes, cauliflower florets, and peas).

# You may either whip up either of the recipes, else follow the simple mashed potatoes recipe and sautee it in caramelized onions for a sweeter taste.

Some quick facts to remember

Before you start preparing this dish, you must remember –

• The potatoes that you use must be dehydrated. In case you have watery potatoes, add some dice of dehydrated potatoes (the ones that are crisp and translucent) to the watery ones to maintain the balance.
• Ensure that you heat the potatoes well at a higher flame. This will draw out the extra moisture from the potatoes.
• Lastly, adding a thickening agent like cornstarch, powdered milk, or flour to your mashed potatoes is best. This not only thickens the consistency but also enhances the dish’s taste.

When you keep these factors in mind when making mashed potatoes, you will genuinely find the dish tasting better than before. If that is not enough when you wish to learn precisely how to make mashed potatoes distinctly, in the next section, you will get some hacks to improve the same.

How to upgrade your mashed potatoes?

Now you have a fair idea about how to make mashed potatoes in traditional and some non-traditional styles; you must know ways to upgrade the taste. Here are some hacks to try –

• Try increasing the butter portions

Whatever the amount of butter you were adding while making that mashed potato recipe, simply double the amount and be assured of getting a wholesome taste that perhaps was missing previously.

• Garnish with herbs

Once you prepped the base, it is time to care about the garnishing. Rather than the usual green chilly topping, choose leafy or woody herbs. From thyme to rosemary to sage – there are plenty of options for you to try. Add on a herb-based sauce to make it creamier.

• Mayo is a fantastic addition

For those who prefer to add a tangy flavor to their potatoes, a dash of mayo on the mashed potatoes is just what you need.

• Mix different types of potatoes

When you make mashed potatoes, do not use the same kind of variety. Try mixing sweet ones with russet styles, the Yukon gold ones with starchy ones. Also, boil them in salty water (preferably on the higher side) for better results.

• Cooking them in broth is a great idea

You might have been keen to learn about how to make mashed potatoes in certain distinct styles, but never did you think that you could substitute water for chicken broth. Well, when you cook the potatoes in chicken broth, rather than salted water, automatically, the taste of the mashed potatoes improves.

Summing up

Do you now have an idea about how to make mashed potatoes in distinct ways? Which of these do you prefer the most? If you would like to share some strategies from your cooking closet, please note down the same in the comments section. Keep watching this space for more!