Tasty Mashed Potatoes

My family has been enjoying a basic mashed potato for years with just milk and butter. With this new recipe for us, the Tasty Mashed Potatoes, we have expanded our family's meals with a new version of an old family favorite. I will continue using our basic mashed potato recipe when pairing it with rich main dishes such as casseroles, marinated beef ribs, and the like. For the Tasty Mashed Potatoes, I'm going to pair it with less rich main dishes such as chicken schnitzel, breaded pork chops, steamed or oven baked fish, etc.

This new version has simple modifications that give our mashed potatoes extra flavor with the extra feature of a melted or golden browned cheese topping, which our family loves. I think the garlic infused butter also makes a nice difference to the flavor. Of course, you can pair this dish with any main dishes you prefer.

One tip I can share is to not over salt it since there is already salt added when boiling the potatoes and there is saltiness in the cheese.

Please note: I have updated the recipe to include 2 garlic cloves instead of three. Use three to four cloves if you like the dish to have more garlic taste.

Recipe: Tasty Mashed Potatoes

Serves: 4

Cook time: 40 minutes

Author: Christine Strasser

Ingredients

2 lbs. Russet potatoes

2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped 

water (to cover the potatoes)

1/4 c. light cream

30 g. unsalted butter

1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

Preparing the oven:

Place the oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 200 C

Preparing and baking the potatoes:

1. Peel and cut large potatoes into 8 parts (quarter small potatoes).

2.Put the potatoes in a pot filled with water, with enough water to cover the potatoes and add 1/2 tsp salt.

3. Boil the potatoes for 20 minutes.

4. Turn off stove then drain the potatoes and set them aside in a bowl where you mash them in later.

5. In a small pan, melt the butter. Stir into the butter the garlic and cook for 3 minutes in low heat to infuse the butter with garlic flavor. Stir the garlic butter occasionally.

6. Mash the potatoes then mix in the cream, salt and the melted butter with garlic.

7. Transfer the potatoes in a baking dish and cover with the mozzarella cheese.

8. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Serve hot.