Ingredients
-
2 pounds Potatoesabout 6 medium potatoes
-
1/4 cup Margarine
-
1/2 cup Milk
-
1/2 teaspoon Salt
-
Dash Pepper
-
Variation
-
Instead of margarine, use Butter
-
For a lighter version, use Skim Milk
Steps for Simple Mashed Potatoes
|
1
Done
5 Minutes
|
Prepare the PotatoesWash and peel the potatoes, and cut into large pieces. Remove the margarine from the refrigerator so it can soften while the potatoes cook. |
|
2
Done
28 Minutes
|
Cook the potatoesAdd 1 inch of water (and the 1/4 teaspoon salt if desired) to the saucepan. Cover and heat to boiling over high heat. Add potato pieces, cover, and heat to boiling again. Once water is boiling, reduce heat just enough so the water bubbles gently. Cook covered 20 to 25 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork. The cooking time will vary, depending on the size of the potato pieces and the type of potato used. Drain potatoes in a strainer. |
|
3
Done
2 Minutes
|
Cook the potatoes over low heat in a saucepanReturn the drained potatoes to the saucepan, and cook over low heat about 1 minute to dry them. While cooking, shake the pan often to keep the potatoes from burning, which can happen very easily once the water has been drained off. |
|
4
Done
3 Minutes
|
Mash the potatoesPlace the potatoes in a medium bowl to be mashed. You can mash them in the same saucepan they were cooked in if the saucepan will not be damaged by the potato masher or electric mixer. |
|
5
Done
8 Minutes
|
Finish the Mashed Potatoes by adding the other ingredientsMash the potatoes with a potato masher or electric mixer until no lumps remain. Use a handheld potato masher for the fluffiest mashed potatoes. If using an electric mixer, do not mix too long. overmixing releases more potato starch, and the potatoes can become gummy. Add the milk in small amounts, beating after each addition. You may not use all the milk because the amount needed to make potatoes smooth and fluffy depends on the type of potato used. Add the margarine, salt, and the pepper. Beat vigorously until potatoes are light and fluffy. |
Additional Info for Simple Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes are easy-to-make, and can be prepared as a side dish for any type of meat, but I recommend the poultry or chicken meat recipes as the main course. Mashed Potatoes can be prepared also for Thanksgiving Dinner, being one of the most used side dishes for turkey.
Content on this recipe…
- Did you Know?
- About Simple Mashed Potatoes
- Some Variations
- Great for a Vegetarian lifestyle
- Can I refrigerate or freeze it?
- Notes and Tips
About the Mashed Potatoes Side Dish Recipe
It is one of the most simple to prepare side dishes, along with french fries. It needs only a few minutes to be prepared and cook. As for ingredients, look for “good looking” potatoes (preferably mile 0), margarine or butter (what you like most), milk, salt, and pepper.
Other than Thanksgiving Dinner, the mashed potatoes are used to make Shepherd’s Pie (or cottage pie) also. I see many recipes with ” the best-mashed potatoes”, or “ultimate recipe for …”, but this recipe is just a simple one and does not have to be “the best one” or “the ultimate”. It has the same ingredients, with 90% same steps and directions. Returning to our side-dish, the history of its origin is blurry, although it began appearing in 1747 with an entry in The Art of Cookery by Hannah Glasse.
Some Variations
There are a lot of variations for this simple recipe, making them more complex … or not. I’ll add below the variation for a lighter recipe or the garlic mashed potatoes. If it’s after me, the original dish is the best.
Lighter Mashed Potatoes
To prepare lighter Mashed Potatoes, for 6 grams of fat and 210 calories per serving, use skims milk and decrease the margarine to 2 tablespoons.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Peel six cloves of garlic, and cook them with the potatoes. Mash the garlic cloves with the potatoes.
Great for a Vegetarian lifestyle
Vegetarian persons who like potatoes can eat this with a salad, fish, or only with toast bread. As a recommendation, I like to eat it with Greek Salad or even with a simple one prepared only with tomatoes and cucumber. If you want to add fish next to it, you can prepare the Seared Snapper Fillets or Sole Fish Fillets with Almonds & Walnuts. Any combination you choose will be great.
Can I refrigerate or freeze it?
Normally, you can refrigerate it for 1 to 2 days, but why would you do that? Mashed potatoes are great when are hot. After refrigeration, this side dish loses flavor and texture. As for freezing, you can do that also, but again, why freeze a side dish that can be prepared so easily?
Notes and Tips
- Essential Equipment: large saucepan (about 3-quart size), a potato masher, or an electric mixer.
- For this recipe can be used most types of potatoes. Although russets are known as baking potatoes, they also can be boiled and mashed. Look for potatoes that are nicely shaped, smooth, and firm, with unblemished skin that is free from discoloration.
- Place the milk in a microwavable measuring cup and microwave uncovered on High for 40 seconds before adding to the mashed potatoes. The potatoes will be hotter.
- Don’t add the milk all at once. Gradually pour while mixing.
- If you are using Russet Potatoes, don’t overbeat them. These kinds of potatoes are the best to get a fluffy texture but are the easiest to mess up.
- Pour the milk when you mash the potatoes, and you can add margarine or butter halfway till you finish.
