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Mashed Potato
Popular throughout
the world, mashed potato is a delicious way to
serve potatoes. They can be served as is with
just butter, milk & seasoning or with other
ingredients such as garlic, onion, nutmeg & cheese can be added
for extra flavour.
Choosing the right
potato to use is important. A floury type is the
best. Some varieties suitable for mashed potato
include; Desiree, King Edward, Russet, Kerr's
Pink, Romano & Yukon Gold.
Herbs & spices can
also be added to your mash. Two popular ones are
rosemary & nutmeg. The rosemary can be stirred
in with the butter & nutmeg sprinkled over the
top just prior to serving.
Ingredients:
Method:
-
Peel the potatoes & cut into quarters.
-
Place
potatoes in a pan with salted water (just enough to
cover the potatoes). The potatoes should be
placed in cold water. Cook until tender but not
falling apart. This should take 15-20 minutes.
Note: I don't let the water boil vigorously as it
can make the potatoes fall apart more easily,
resulting in more water being absorbed which affects
flavour. Just a gentle boil will do.
-
Drain the
potatoes immediately & then return to the pan & place
back on the stove at a low heat to remove any excess
water.
-
Mash
potato until smooth, add butter & season to taste.
-
For a
creamier consistency, after mashing you could also use
either an electric or hand held whisk.
Garlic mashed
potato:
Ingredients:
Method:
-
Peel the potatoes & cut into quarters.
-
Place
potatoes & garlic in a pan with salted water (just
enough to cover the potatoes). The potatoes should be
placed in cold water. Cook until tender but not
falling apart. This should take 15-20 minutes.
Note: I don't let the water boil vigorously as it
can make the potatoes fall apart more easily,
resulting in more water being absorbed which affects
flavour. Just a gentle boil will do.
-
Drain the
potatoes & garlic immediately & then return to the pan & place
back on the stove at a low heat to remove any excess
water.
-
Mash
potato & garlic until smooth, add butter & milk
(this can be added cold or warmed up prior to adding). Season to
taste.
-
For a
creamier consistency, after mashing you could also use
either an electric or hand held whisk.
Sweet potato
(kumara) mash:
Ingredients:
-
2 sweet
potatoes
-
Knob of butter
-
Milk & or cream
-
Salt &
pepper to taste
Method:
-
Peel the sweet potatoes & cut into 1 inch
chunks.
-
Place
sweet potatoes in a pan with salted water (just
enough to cover the potatoes). The potatoes should be
placed in cold water. Cook until tender but not
falling apart. This should take 15-20 minutes.
-
Drain the
sweet potatoes immediately & then return to the pan & place
back on the stove at a low heat to remove any excess
water.
-
Mash sweet potato until smooth, add butter &
milk (this can be added cold or warmed up prior
to adding). Season to taste.
-
For a creamier consistency, after mashing you
could also use either an electric or hand held
whisk.
Blue Cheese Mashed
Potato:
Ingredients:
Method:
-
Peel the potatoes & cut into 1 inch
chunks.
-
Place
potatoes in a pan with salted water (just
enough to cover the potatoes). The potatoes should be
placed in cold water. Cook until tender but not
falling apart. This should take 15-20 minutes.
Note: I don't let the water boil vigorously as
it can make the potatoes fall apart more easily,
resulting in more water being absorbed which
affects flavour. Just a gentle boil will do.
-
Drain the potatoes immediately & then return to the pan & place
back on the stove at a low heat to remove any excess
water.
-
Mash potato until smooth, add butter &
milk (this can be added cold or warmed up prior
to adding). Season to taste.
-
Add crumbed blue cheese & gently fold in.
Mashed potato
tips:
-
Some people
swear that whisking outside makes for
fluffier potatoes. I haven't tried this
myself.
-
A couple of
pinches of baking powder can also help make
potatoes extra fluffy.
-
Finely chopped
up onion adds flavour.
-
For a slightly
tangier flavour, add sour cream instead of
milk.
-
Add a teaspoon
of wholegrain mustard at the end for
flavour.
-
A sprinkle of
nutmeg at the end is another way to add
flavour.
-
You can either
replace potato with other vegetables such as
sweet potato, pumpkin, parsnip, turnip etc.,
or make a combination. I frequently make a
mix of half potato, half sweet potato mash.
Other optional extras to add to mashed potato:
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