When it comes to the holidays, no table is complete without a bowl of perfectly whipped mashed potatoes. These Ultimate Mashed Potatoes are luxurious, creamy, buttery, and full of flavour and make the perfect companion to all your favourite holiday sides. With a few simple techniques and a few ingredients, you can make the best mashed potatoes that your guests have ever tasted!
Why these are the Ultimate Mashed Potatoes
What makes these mashed potatoes the ultimate? It’s all about achieving the perfect texture and flavour balance. You’ll get fluffy, velvety potatoes that are smooth but still have substance and the perfect texture. Plus, with just the right amount of butter and cream, these mashed potatoes are rich, but not too heavy, making them the ultimate comfort food for Thanksgiving.
Here’s what makes this recipe stand out:
- Perfect Texture: The key to the best mashed potatoes is the combination of both Yukon Gold and Russet potatoes. The Yukon gold adds flavour and moisture, while the Russet adds fluffiness and absorbs all the butter and cream mixture.
- Loads of Butter & Cream: You can’t have the ultimate mashed potatoes without being generous with butter and heavy cream. These essential ingredients add richness and tons of flavour.
- Subtle Garlic Flavour: A single clove of garlic is steeped in the butter and cream mixture. It releases so much flavour and becomes soft enough to mash directly into the potatoes once fully cooked, adding a depth of flavour to this recipe.
Avoid the Food Processor
Avoid using a food processor to make mashed potatoes because it can easily overwork the potatoes, leading to a gluey or gummy texture. The blades of a food processor break down the starches in the potatoes too aggressively, causing them to release excess starch, which results in a sticky, unappetizing consistency.
For the best mashed potatoes, it’s better to use a potato masher, ricer, or food mill to achieve a smooth, fluffy texture without over-processing the potatoes. This ensures that they remain light and creamy, perfect for your Thanksgiving table!
I hope that you enjoy this recipe! For more Thanksgiving and holiday recipe side dish ideas, check out my YouTube video below! Also, check out my fall appetizer recipes in this YouTube video! 🍂
Get the Recipe: The Ultimate Mashed Potatoes
The Ultimate Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes
- 1 1/2 pounds Russet potatoes
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- Water to boil potatoes
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 garlic clove whole
- Sea salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon Italian parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Use a vegetable peeler to peel all the potatoes. Chop the potatoes into 1-inch pieces and add them to a large pot with water.
- Add the 2 teaspoons of sea salt to the pot, place on the stove, and bring it to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the potatoes for 20-25 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Use a sharp knife to test the doneness of the potato by inserting it into the enter of a potato- it should easily slide right through the centre of the potato.
- As the potatoes are boiling, place the butter, heavy cream, garlic, and bay leaf in a small pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and set aside.
- Remove the potatoes from the heat and strain the potatoes using a colander. Return the potatoes to the pot on the stove over low heat. Remove the bay leaf from the butter and cream mixture and discard. Pour the butter and cream mixture into the potatoes and use a potato masher to mash the potatoes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Add the potatoes to a serving bowl and top with a pat of butter and a sprinkle of chopped parsley for garnish. Serve immediately and enjoy!
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