Fluffy mashed potatoes, done the way my mom used to, with butter and milk. They are creamy and light as air. I gave it a kick with the spiciness of fresh garlic and the freshness of parsley.
What is comfort food to you?
To me, comfort food is what brings back warm memories, nostalgia, and the food that I crave when I want to feel peaceful and cozy, preferably if eaten on my sofa (yes, I love eating on the sofa).
Mashed potatoes are one of my top comfort foods of all time. I always love mashed potatoes, especially the way my mom makes them. Fluffy, with a few clumps, not too heavy, with a hint of nutmeg. They bring back memories of my childhood, they are comforting and delicious. I could eat a huge bowl of just mashed potatoes for dinner.
They are the perfect side dish to any meat, fish, or stew. You should try them with my Red Wine Venison Stew, these Crispy Italian Chicken Cutlets or with my Sole Fish in Milk sauce.
9 times out of 10, I cook my mashed potatoes in a classic way, with no additional ingredients. Sometimes though, I like this garlicky version, which has a little bit more of a kick. It doesn't require any additional steps, but it gets a completely new flavor. A complete makeover.
If you don't like the flavor and spiciness of (almost) raw garlic, you can roast the garlic before adding it to the mashed potatoes. See this recipe for Roasted Garlic Butter.
How to make perfect mashed potatoes
Use the right potatoes
Mashed potatoes may seem like a easy peasy straight forward recipe, but it's also easy to screw up.
Potatoes themselves are a quite delicate root vegetable, they don't hold that much flavor, but they have a great consistency and versatility. One of the most common mistakes in mashed potatoes, though, is using the wrong kind of potatoes.
There are 2 main types of potatoes: waxy and starchy. Waxy potatoes have less starch and hold their shapes greatly, so they are best for roasting. Starchy potatoes instead are more floury and they mash really easily so they are best for mashing.
The most common starchy potatoes are the Russets, Idaho, or King Edward potatoes. Yukon gold potatoes are less starchy but still good for mashing.
Use the right amount of milk or cream
I must admit that I don't usually measure when I cook (just like most of Italians) and I can't tell how many times I poured too much milk in my mashed potatoes, making them way too creamy.
If you accidentally pour too much milk or cream, don't despair, they're probably not totally ruined. You just need to be more patient. Potatoes are incredibly absorbent so they will soak up all that liquid-like sponges. Plus, milk will also evaporate and will reduce. So just cook your potatoes at low heat for 10-20 minutes more and they should become again fluffy.
Use the right amount of seasoning
I like my mashed potatoes to be delicate, so I don't exaggerate with the seasoning. You just need the right amount of salt to bring out the flavor of the potatoes, a pinch of black pepper and the secret ingredient is a pinch of ground nutmeg.
Nutmeg compliments perfectly the delicate flavor of potatoes and give them a sweet yet aromatic flavor which brings your average mashed potatoes to the next level.
The Recipe
📖 RECIPE
Italian Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 lb Starchy Potatoes
- 2 tablespoon Butter
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 2 Garlic cloves, minced
- Salt
- Black Pepper, ground
- Nutmeg, ground
- ½ tablespoon Parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Peel and chop the potatoes into large cubes. Bring to boil a medium pot of lightly salted water and add the potatoes.
- Cook the potatoes for about 20 minutes, or until you can easily pierce them with a fork.
- Drain the potatoes and mash them using a fine potato masher. Mash them twice if you want them creamy and lump-free.
- Return the potatoes to the pot and add the butter, minced garlic and milk. Turn the heat to low and mix well for a few minutes. Season with salt, black pepper and nutmeg.
- Once they are done, add the parsley and mix well. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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