Adding different ingredients to mashed potatoes adds flavor and texture.
Mashed potatoes are among the most preferred side dishes. They are economical, quick and simple to prepare and complement a wide range of entrees including meat, poultry and fish. Based on their plain taste, when prepared in the traditional manner of adding milk, butter, salt and pepper to them, mashed potatoes are easy to dress up or transform into other side dishes.
Dairy Mix-Ins
Instead of butter, mix in a few spoons of sour cream to add richness. Turn the mashed potatoes cheesy with a handful of your favorite shredded cheese. Cut up cream cheese into small cubes and stir them into piping-hot mashed potatoes to add a swirl of taste. Using buttermilk instead of regular milk or cream in the preparation gives the potatoes a unique tartness.
Healthy Additions
Steam broccoli or cauliflower florets until done and fold them into the potatoes right before serving. Use an electric hand mixer to blend cooked, chopped spinach with the potatoes to make a colorful, nourishing dish. Saut chopped red or green bell peppers in a little oil, stir in a handful of chopped fresh basil and pour over prepared mashed potatoes.
Ethnic Twists
For potatoes with a Mexican flair, stir in a couple of chopped, canned chipotle peppers along with melted butter flavored with fresh lime juice. Mediterranean-style mashed potatoes are created by adding chopped Kalamata olives and fresh thyme. Wasabi paste and black sesames transform mashed potatoes into an Asian-inspired side dish.
Restaurant-Style Mashed Potatoes
Fill individual ramekins with mashed potatoes mixed with pureed roasted garlic. Sprinkle the tops with a mixture of freshly grated Parmesan and cold, grated butter. Place under the broiler until brown and bubbly. For a skinless, twice-baked potato-style side dish, fill ramekins half full of buttered and seasoned mashed potatoes and top with chopped chives, sour cream and bacon bits.
Shaped Mashed Potatoes
Using fresh or leftover mashed potatoes, mix them with a beaten egg, grated onion and a bit of flour to bind together the ingredients. Refrigerate until firm and shape into fritters or patties. Pat some fresh or Panko-style plain breadcrumbs into each side and fry in a lightly oiled, non-stick skillet until golden brown. For a healthier dish, use a small ice cream scoop to make potato balls from the mixture and bake them on a lightly greased cookie sheet or baking pan at 400 degrees Fahrenheit degrees until brown and crisp.
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