Hello, fellow food lovers! Today, we're diving into a classic comfort food that everyone adores: mashed potatoes. This recipe is my go-to for achieving the perfect balance of creamy, fluffy, and flavorful potatoes that will have everyone asking for seconds.
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 25 minutes
- Servings: 6
Shop Key Ingredients
- High-Quality Sea Salt
- Whole Black Peppercorns with Grinder
- Potato Ricer (for the smoothest texture!)
- Heavy-Duty Potato Masher
Full Recipe Ingredients
- 3 lbs Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled
- 1 cup whole milk or heavy cream
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt, plus more for the cooking water
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Optional garnish: 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley
Instructions
- Prep and Boil the Potatoes Peel the potatoes and cut them into evenly sized 1-inch chunks. Place them in a large pot and cover with cold, salted water by at least one inch. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to a steady simmer and cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are very tender and can be easily pierced with a fork.
- Warm the Milk and Butter While the potatoes are boiling, gently warm the milk and butter in a small saucepan over low heat until the butter is completely melted. Do not let it boil. Keeping the dairy warm is the secret to creamy, not gummy, potatoes.
- Drain the Potatoes Once the potatoes are fork-tender, drain them completely in a colander. Return the empty pot to the stove over low heat and add the drained potatoes back in for about 1 minute, shaking the pot gently. This helps to evaporate any remaining moisture, ensuring a fluffy result.
- Mash to Perfection Remove the pot from the heat. Mash the potatoes using a potato masher or press them through a potato ricer for an even smoother texture. Pour in about half of the warm milk and butter mixture and begin to gently fold it into the potatoes with a spatula.
- Combine and Season Continue to add the remaining milk and butter mixture until you reach your desired consistency. Stir in the salt and black pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Serve and Garnish Transfer the mashed potatoes to a serving bowl. If you like, make a swirl on top and add an extra pat of butter. Garnish with fresh chives or parsley before serving hot.
