Description
Creamy Mashed Potatoes are a classic comfort food made from tender, fluffy potatoes blended with rich butter, sour cream, and warm milk or cream. This recipe yields smooth, velvety mashed potatoes perfect as a hearty side dish for any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 2 pounds of Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
Dairy
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup of whole milk or heavy cream
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Seasonings
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Optional: 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
Instructions
- Prepare the potatoes: Peel and chop the potatoes into even-sized pieces to ensure they cook uniformly.
- Boil the potatoes: Place the chopped potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Add a pinch of salt to the water.
- Cook the potatoes: Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
- Heat the milk or cream: While potatoes cook, gently warm the milk or cream in a small saucepan or microwave, avoiding boiling.
- Drain and return potatoes: Drain the cooked potatoes well and return them to the pot.
- Mash potatoes: Use a potato masher or ricer to mash the potatoes until smooth and free of lumps.
- Add butter: Stir the softened butter into the mashed potatoes until well combined.
- Add warm milk or cream: Gradually pour in the warm milk or cream while continuing to mash to reach desired consistency.
- Incorporate sour cream and seasoning: Mix in the sour cream, then season the mashed potatoes with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Add optional garlic: If using, gently fold in the minced garlic for extra flavor.
- Serve: Serve the mashed potatoes hot, optionally garnished with a pat of butter or chopped chives.
Notes
- Use Russet potatoes for fluffier texture or Yukon Gold for a creamier consistency.
- Warm the milk or cream before adding it to prevent cooling the potatoes and to help them absorb liquids better.
- For extra flavor, you can roast the garlic before mincing it and adding.
- Mashed potatoes can be made ahead and gently reheated with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and pepper, as potatoes absorb flavors differently depending on variety and freshness.
