How to Make Awesome Mashed Potatoes

Want to know how to make awesome mashed potatoes that everyone will actually be excited to eat? I've got you covered. It's the side dish of your dreams.

A holiday feast always holds a special kind of magic. There's always tradition and ritual involved, even if you don't call it that. You do the same things every year for no other reason than that's the way it's always been done. You know somehow that if you don't do it that way, the energy won't be right. Holiday meals are a spell for togetherness, love, and gratitude, even the tense ones with awkward or problematic relatives.

And what you serve matters. Each family has their own traditions, and you rarely deviate from them. The kitchen witch is truly in her element, spending all day at her hearth, weaving spells of love, prosperity, and protection with every baste, stir, and sprinkle. It's the power of the kitchen witch and their food that has brought everyone together, after all. And the power they can raise with everyone gathered around the table can be miraculous.

What makes these mashed potatoes so awesome?

If you think mashed potatoes are boring, gloopy, or gross, you've been doing it wrong. I'm quite proud of my mashed potatoes, and I would never have a holiday meal without them. This recipe is packed with flavor and texture with a perfect balance of salt, fat, and acid. Potatoes don't have much flavor on their own, so they're the perfect vehicle for taking on herbs and spices.

These are thick and chunky, with some of the skins left in for added texture. There's certainly plenty of butter, but also hints of cayenne, garlic, and onion from your spice cabinet. Yeah, you can cover them in gravy, but these potatoes don't need anything added to them to make them awesome. I frequently find myself scraping out the remnants from the pan and licking the spoon like they're cake batter. I can't get enough.

Magical Properties of Milk

I have a full post about the magical and healing properties of potatoes. Let's dig in to the magical properties of milk instead. This recipe uses milk or cream, as well as sour cream which can be called on for nurturing energy. Many ancient spells center around the production and protection of milk. You can also use milk in your spell work, such as a prosperity bath spell. Mix equal amounts of milk from various animals and/or plants along with charged water and honey, then add this to your bath and soak in the abundance energy to draw more money to you. (Source: Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes)

Tips for making awesome mashed potatoes

First off, I've given you measurements in the recipe card below, but these are just suggestions. Go by feel and taste as you go to make sure you get the balance right. I never really use a recipe when I make mashed potatoes these days, and I make them a lot.

You'll want to use Yukon Gold or a similar type of potato with a thin skin and a medium starch level. If you're in the UK, Maris Pipers are your best option. You can leave the skin on or just lazily peel them, leaving some pieces of skin behind. They're the perfect balance of creamy and fluffy.

Chop your potatoes into largish chunks so they don't go too mushy, and make sure to start them in cold, salted water. Put a lid on and bring the water to a boil, but keep an eye on it so it doesn't bubble over. You can turn the heat down to medium once it gets bubbling. Start checking if your potatoes are cooked through at about 20 minutes, but I find 25 minutes is usually the sweet spot. You want them to be easily pierced by a fork.

Drain your potatoes well, then return them to the hot pot off the heat. I add in all the butter, seasonings and spices, and sour cream, then just a bit of milk or cream before I start mashing. I use an s-curve shaped potato masher for my potatoes as this leaves a bit of texture behind and keeps your potatoes from getting overworked and gummy. Add additional cream or milk until you get to the level of smoothness you require.

If you saw sour cream in that last paragraph and thought that was weird, you've gotta trust me here. Potatoes, butter, and milk are all quite heavy, and the pop of acid from the sour cream brightens the flavor. It's so good.

FAQ

Mashed potatoes should be so awesome that you would happily eat them all on their own. I know I do all the time. I hope you never have to eat sad mashed potatoes again.

Looking for more awesome potato side dish recipes? Try some Potato Rolls with instant mashed potatoes or this Dill Potato Salad.

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