Mashed potatoes are a popular side dish in the US. To make them, boil peeled and quartered potatoes until soft, mash them with cream, butter, and seasoning, and add cheese or bacon for extra flavor.
A staple at dinner tables in the United States, mashed potatoes are a simple and delicious side dish that can accompany a variety of main dishes. Recipes for mashed potatoes range from extremely simple to elaborately spiced, but to whip up a tasty side dish for your next meal, you don’t have to do a lot of work to get started. Start by going to the store for your basic ingredients: potatoes, onion, cheese, salt, pepper, garlic, sour cream or cream and butter. Make sure you have a potato masher handy; a large spoon can be substituted for the masher, but mashing makes the process much easier.
It’s important to select the right potatoes for your mashed potatoes. Russets work well, but other types of potatoes can produce creamier, more flavorful mashed potatoes. Yukon Gold potatoes are a good choice. Buy 6-10 potatoes and peel them, then cut them into quarters lengthwise. Place the quartered potatoes in a large pot and fill it with water until all the potatoes are covered. Boil the potatoes until soft – you should be able to break them up easily using just a fork – which can take 15 to 25 minutes.
When the potatoes are soft enough, drain the water from the pot. You’ll need a potato masher or large spoon to start mashing potatoes. Add cream or sour cream as you mash the mashed potatoes and butter. The milk can be substituted if you prefer; this will adjust the texture to your liking, so add a little of each ingredient at a time. The mashed potatoes should have a smooth texture once the mashed potatoes are finished, although some cooks prefer chunky mashed potatoes. This is up to your discretion; mash your mashed potatoes until the texture is to your liking.
Once the mashed potatoes are mashed to your liking, it’s time to flavor them. Feel free to get creative here, but start with the basics: salt and pepper to taste, chopped green onion, and minced garlic. For an even more intense flavor, try adding shredded cheddar cheese or chopped bacon. That’s all there is to it, but if you want to add a little more flare, try spreading the mashed potatoes in an oven-safe dish, spreading the cheese on top, and baking for five to ten minutes.
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