There is possibly no food that says “comfort food” quite like mashed potatoes. They’re one of the main reasons that we could never go on a low-carb diet! Especially on a chilly evening, mashed potatoes are warm and nourishing.
Even though mashed potatoes are a little bit time-consuming, they’re definitely worth the wait. The taste of instant mashed potatoes just can’t come close to the taste of real mashed potatoes. If you want the perfect side dish, these mashed potatoes are incredibly delicious.
Mama Mashed Potatoes
You want family dinners to be something memorable. The whole point of going to the effort of cooking is to feed your family a healthy meal that you can share together. Mama’s mashed potatoes are the kind of hearty, comforting fare that will make your kids think of home long after they’re adults.
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Mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish for a variety of meals. Whether you make a beef or pork roast, bake some chicken breasts, or meatloaf, mashed potatoes would be the perfect complement.
If you want to make your dinner with mashed potatoes, they will be even better if you make some gravy. Plain mashed potatoes are amazingly great on their own, but gravy makes them absolutely perfect.
Obviously, you can’t make gravy if you don’t also have some type of meat drippings. Don’t ruin your homemade real mashed potatoes with gravy made from a powdered mix! Gravy is actually really easy to make if you have some meat drippings.
Combine two tablespoons of flour and 1 ½ cups of milk to the meat drippings. Cook it over low to medium heat and whisk constantly. Making gravy is not difficult, but it does require your full attention if you don’t want it to be lumpy. Whisking constantly is the key to avoiding lumps in your gravy.
Traditional Mashed Potatoes
Traditional mashed potatoes are creamy and satisfying. But a common problem when people try to make mashed potatoes from scratch is that sometimes they can turn out lumpy. Because the whole point of mashed potatoes is that they should be creamy, finding lumps in your potatoes can be a real disappointment.
There are a couple of things you can do to avoid getting lumps in your mashed potatoes. One of the best thing you can do is use an electric mixer. You can use a potato masher if you don’t have a hand mixer, but lumps tend to be more likely to occur when you use a potato masher. Handheld electric mixers can give your mashed potatoes a whipped texture if you mix them long enough and that’s a texture you would enjoy.
Another thing you can do to achieve the right texture in your mashed potatoes is to vary the type of milk you use. This is one of those occasions where you don’t want to go for skim or other low-fat options. (Don’t even pretend mashed potatoes are a diet kind of dish. That’s a big part of their appeal!) Use whole milk or even half and half to make your potatoes extra creamy.
If you’re serving mashed potatoes with a dish like fish or are even just making the mashed potatoes as the primary centerpiece of your meal, you don’t need gravy. Try adding a cup of shredded cheddar to your potatoes to make them an even more delicious treat.
When you want comfort food, there’s nothing better than mashed potatoes. Full of creamy goodness, your belly will be pleasantly full for a long time. Once you’ve had your fill of mashed potatoes, it’s time for a nap.
Other Great Potato Dishes to Make
Potatoes are a staple in American cuisine. They've been enjoyed in many ways for years. Mashed potatoes are one of the best ways to enjoy a good bag of potatoes, but don't let other potato dishes go neglected! Try your hand at making one of the following suggestions.
If you've never tried making your own French fries, it's now easier than ever before. With the advent of the air fryer, making French fries no longer requires dangerous hot oil. Now, you can simply pop your fries in the air fryer for a few minutes and they're done! Your whole family will love homemade French fries.
Few things are better on a cold winter day than potato soup. Creamy and delicious, this soup is deceivingly simple for how good it is. One of the great things is that you can enjoy time with your family while it cooks, making it a perfect weekend meal. Throw in some bacon bits and cheese, and you're good to go.
Finally, try making some of your own hash browns! Hash browns are a great way to start any morning, especially when paired with some eggs and toast. If you've already made your own hash browns before, do something different and turn them into a casserole! A hash brown casserole can easily be a meal all on its own.
If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to check out our Mama's Hearty Beef Stew Recipe and our Bourbon Chicken Recipe.
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Mashed Potatoes Recipe
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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- Total Time: 65 Minutes
Description
Even though mashed potatoes are a little bit time-consuming, they’re definitely worth the wait. The taste of instant mashed potatoes just can’t come close to the taste of real mashed potatoes. If you want the perfect side dish, these mashed potatoes are incredibly delicious.
Ingredients
- 9 medium white potatoes
- 6 Tablespoons butter or margarine
- ¾ cup hot milk or 6 Tablespoons evaporated milk
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- Salt
Instructions
- Boil scrubbed potatoes in 1 inch boiling salted water in covered saucepan, for 35-40 minutes, or until tender. Drain.
- Peel, place over low heat 1 or 2 minutes, to dry out, shaking pan gently.
- Mash thoroughly, using a potato masher, until no lumps remain. Or use an electric beater.
- While mashing or beating gradually add enough of the combined butter and milk to make potatoes fluffy and creamy. Season to taste.
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Cook Time: 45 Minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Foodio/Shutterstock.com.