Mashed potatoes, the ultimate comfort food, hold a special place in the hearts (and stomachs) of many. But what’s the secret to creating mashed potatoes so light, fluffy, and heavenly that they seem to defy gravity? In this food blog post, we’re diving into the art of crafting the fluffiest mashed potatoes known to humankind. Get ready to unlock the spud-tacular magic!
Ingredients:
- 4 large russet potatoes
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) of whole milk or heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- Salt, to taste
- White pepper, to taste (black pepper works too)
- Optional: minced garlic, chives, or grated Parmesan for extra flavor
Instructions:
- Opt for russet potatoes, also known as Idaho or baking potatoes. Their high starch content is key to achieving fluffy mashed potatoes.
- Peel the potatoes and cut them into evenly sized-chunks. This ensures they cook uniformly.
- Place the potato chunks in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Add a generous pinch of salt to the water. Bring the water to a gentle boil, and let the potatoes cook until they’re fork-tender. This usually takes around 15-20 minutes.
- Drain the cooked potatoes thoroughly in a colander. Return the drained potatoes to the hot pot and let them sit for a minute or two to allow any excess moisture to evaporate.
- While the potatoes are draining, gently warm the milk or heavy cream. This helps prevent the potatoes from cooling down when you mix them.
- Add the unsalted butter to the drained and slightly dried potatoes, and then mash the butter into the hot potatoes until it’s fully melted and incorporated.
- Begin mashing the potatoes using a potato masher or a ricer. Slowly pour in the warm milk or cream as you continue to mash. This helps to create a silky-smooth texture. Keep mashing and mixing until the potatoes are as creamy as your heart desires.
- Season your mashed potatoes with salt and white pepper (which keeps the color pure, but black pepper is fine too) to taste. If you like, add minced garlic, chives, or grated Parmesan for extra flavor.
- Give your mashed potatoes a vigorous final mash to ensure they’re light and fluffy.
- Spoon your cloud-like mashed potatoes onto plates or into a serving bowl. Optionally, top them with a pat of melted butter, a sprinkle of chives, or a dusting of Parmesan.
