11/16/2022
Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes.
The holidays are coming and the food choices aren’t always in our control. 😳
I’ll be honest, when it comes to baking, I want the butter and sugar, and no longer try to make dessert “healthy”. However, when it comes to the side dishes, and main courses, I’ve definitely found ways to keep them delicious, but cut a few things.
Years ago I took out the butter & cream/milk and started using the cooking water and olive oil. Hear me out! Still fluffy, still rich and creamy. And I can’t remember who from my mother-in-laws annual Thanksgiving started adding butternut squash to the mashed potatoes, but I’m telling you it’s fantastic.
Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes
Serves ~8
Vegan, non-dairy
Ingredients:
• 2 1⁄2-3 pounds (1.15 kg) small Yukon gold or yellow waxy potatoes
• 3 tablespoons (45 g) kosher salt or flaky sea salt plus more to taste
• 5 quarts (4.75 l) water
• 1⁄3 cup (80 ml) extra-virgin olive oil plus more for serving
Directions:
• Prep the potatoes: Wash them, and trim off any eyes or damaged skin. Peel if you prefer smoother mashed potatoes, but their is lots of flavor in the skin of Yukon gold potatoes. Cut them so they're all about the same size, about 2-inches in diameter. Leave them whole if they're golf-ball size.
• Put the potatoes in a large pot with 3 tablespoons of the salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are fork tender, but not falling apart, 20-25 minutes.
• Scoop out 2 cups of the cooking water, then drain the potatoes. Add the potatoes back to the hot cooking pot to evaporate any water & dry the potatoes.
• Pour the olive oil over and 1 cup of the cooking water. Mash them with a handheld potato masher, adding more water a little at a time until the potatoes are the texture you like (you might not use all the water). Taste and add more salt, if desired.
• Serve warm, drizzled with additional olive oil.
NOTES
• MASH: Use the right tool. A ricer or food mill, hand-held potatoes masher, or a hand-mixer set to LOW will each activate the residual starches the lease which yield the fluffiest mashed potatoes.
Feel free to add herbs, or roasted garlic. 🤤