These luscious gourmet mashed potato recipes are perfect for the Holidays (2024)

FAQs

Why are mashed potatoes Christmas food? ›

Mashed potatoes hold a special place during Christmas for their comforting and versatile appeal. As a timeless comfort food, they evoke a sense of tradition and togetherness, making them ideal for festive family gatherings.

The best potatoes for mashed potatoes are a starchy varieties like russet, Idaho or Yukon gold. Starchy potatoes are best for mashed potatoes because they have a fluffy, almost airy texture that breaks down easily.

The Best Potato For Fluffy Mashed Potatoes: Russets

For fluffy mashed potatoes, we recommend using high-starch, low-moisture potatoes like russets.

It deserves its rightful place on the Christmas dinner plate. Think of it as a thanks for being there throughout the hard times in the year. “Roast potatoes, mash potato and bread sauce: if you can't have triple carbs on Christmas Day, when can you?”

Adding egg yolks to a pot of mashed potatoes is an easy, dairy-free texture and taste upgrade that doesn't require any special techniques. The yolks harbor all the flavorful fats and emulsifying components and will thus effectively unify the fat and water in potatoes, translating to a smoother, uniformly creamy pot.

I tried Ina Garten's simple recipe for mashed potatoes, and I loved the secret ingredient. In addition to Yukon Gold potatoes, butter, and milk, the ingredient list includes lemon zest. I loved how fresh the lemon made everything taste, but next time I'll probably use a little less.

The best potato masher is actually a ricer

If you want the most velvety, plush mashed potatoes, you're going to need a ricer. To understand why, it's important to know what makes potatoes gummy in the first place: overworking the starches in cooked potatoes.

Mash potatoes with half-and-half or milk using a potato masher. Add in the cream cheese and smash until the cheese melts into the potatoes. Add chives or scallions. Season with salt and pepper, to your taste.

Yukon Gold potatoes are the BA team's top pick for classic mashed potatoes. With gold right there in their name, there is no arguing that they're the (ahem!) gold standard for a mash with a creamy, rich texture.

AMERICA'S FAVORITE MASHED POTATOES

If you've been debating trying Idahoan mashed potatoes, take comfort in the fact that they are real potatoes, with quality ingredients. Many of your friends, family and neighbors have tried us and love us. After all, they are America's favorite mashed potatoes.

What potatoes are best for diabetics? ›

Best type of potatoes for diabetes

Sweet potatoes are one of the best types of potato for people with diabetes, as they are low-GI and contain more fiber than white potatoes. Sweet potatoes are also a good source of calcium and vitamin A. Carisma potatoes, a variety of white potato, are another lower-GI option.

Waxy potatoes, such as new potatoes and Yukon Gold, have better flavor and hold their shape when cooked. They're ideal for roasted potatoes and potato salad. For the best mashed potatoes, use a 50/50 combination. We like russets with Yukon Gold.

Russet Potatoes

“Their flesh soaks up liquids and falls apart into a fluffy, mealy texture,” writes Joshua McFadden in Six Seasons. “This is exactly what you want for baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato soup, and French fries.

For this basic recipe, we used a blend of red and russet potatoes. This combination creates a slight texture variation. If you prefer completely smooth mashed potatoes, this method still applies, but russet or Yukon Gold potatoes — with their high starch content — are the best choices for mashed potatoes.

Many believe it began in the later half of the 20th century when a young man tossed seasonal greetings wrapped around uncooked potatoes into the yards of houses decorated with Christmas lights,” according to the note. “It was his way of saying, 'Thank you and Merry Christmas.

Mashed potatoes, the most common way to enjoy potatoes at Thanksgiving, became an American staple in the 1700s. As far back as 1747, Americans were mashing up potatoes with butter, milk, salt, & cream. Ah, New Mexico's favorite vegetable & cultural icon, the majestic chile.

The results showed that across the country some 94% of people would opt for either roast potatoes or mash. Perhaps surprisingly, four in 10 double up and have both varieties of the spud with their Christmas Day meal.

For the upper crust of medieval society, Christmas was not only a time for indulgence but also an opportunity to show off their vast wealth to their guests. Huge feasts were held to celebrate the season.