How to Make the Best Garlic Mashed Potatoes for a Perfect Side Dish
Pass the garlic mashed potatoes please!
It’s hard to believe that these creamy garlic mashed potatoes are so easy to make and come together in record time. Simply cook the potatoes, sauté the minced garlic, mix in the ingredients, and mash. What could be simpler?
Quick and Easy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Garlic mashed potatoes are a straightforward and delicious easy potato dish to make. This is due to their simple preparation process and minimal ingredients. The combination of boiled potatoes, garlic, butter, and cream allows for a quick assembly, making it an ideal choice for both novice cooks and experienced chefs.
The versatility of this dish also means it can easily complement a variety of main courses, enhancing the overall meal without requiring extensive culinary skills or time.
What Are the Best Potatoes to Use for Garlic Mashed Potatoes?
When selecting the ideal potatoes for making mashed potatoes, starchy varieties such as Russet or Idaho potatoes are often recommended. This is due to their high starch content and low moisture. The end result is a light and fluffy texture.
Alternatively, Yukon Gold potatoes are also a popular choice. Ideally, they produce a creamy consistency and a slightly buttery flavor. These types of potatoes not only mash well but also absorb flavors effectively, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.
How to Cook Potatoes Before Mashing
For cooking potatoes for mashing, it’s generally recommended to start with cold water. Starting with cold water allows the potatoes to heat up gradually, ensuring they cook evenly throughout. If you plunge them into boiling water, the outside will cook faster and might become mushy before the inside is done.
Additionally, starting with cold water helps control how the starches in the potatoes behave. You’re less likely to end up with a gluey texture in your mashed potatoes.
Once the potatoes come to a boil, reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Cook potatoes until they offer no resistance when pierced. This should take 10–12 minutes for baby potatoes, 15–20 minutes for small potatoes, or 30–40 minutes for large, cubed potatoes.
Drain potatoes in a colander and let cool 10 minutes.
How to Make Perfect Garlic Mash
To create the ideal garlic mash for garlic mashed potatoes, use fresh garlic cloves for sautéing. Once softened, mash the garlic with a fork or a potato masher, ensuring a smooth consistency. This will ensure the garlic blends harmoniously with the potatoes.
Is it Better to Use Cream or Milk for Garlic Mashed Potatoes
When preparing mashed potatoes, the choice between cream and milk can significantly influence the dish’s texture and flavor.
Cream typically results in a richer, creamier consistency, enhancing the overall indulgence of the potatoes.
Half-and-half is richer than milk, but not as rich as heavy cream. Use heavy cream if you want over the top, decadent results.
In contrast, milk offers a lighter option, producing a smoother texture while allowing the natural flavor of the potatoes to shine through. Ultimately, the decision depends on personal preference and the desired outcome for the dish.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Prep Time:
30 mins.
Cook Time:
20 mins.
Servings: 4-6
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds of potatoes (Yukon Gold or Russet)
- 4 cloves minced garlic (see notes)
- 1/2 cup milk or cream (see notes)
- 1/4 cup butter
- salt & pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Peel and dice the potatoes into even chunks. Place in a large pot and cover with cold water.
- Bring the water to a boil and cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
- In a small pan melt the butter over medium heat and add the minced garlic. Sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot. Add the sautéed garlic, milk or cream, salt, and pepper. Mash until smooth and creamy.
- Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with parsley, and enjoy!
Notes for Making Garlic Mashed Potatoes:
What is the easiest way to mince garlic?
Check out this link to find easy steps for how to mince garlic.
Can you use margarine instead of butter?
Butter is one of the primary flavors in mashed potatoes, so use the best quality you can. It is generally preferred for mashed potatoes due to its richer, creamier flavor and texture compared to margarine.
While margarine can be a suitable substitute in some recipes, it often lacks the depth of flavor and luxurious mouthfeel that butter provides. Additionally, butter is a single ingredient (cream), while margarine is a blend of oils, which can affect the overall taste and texture in mashed potatoes.
Do you use hot or cold water for boiling potatoes?
When boiling potatoes, it’s recommended to start with cold water. Adding potatoes to cold water ensures they cook evenly, as the temperature rises gradually, allowing the inside to catch up with the outside.
Starting with hot water can cause the outer layers to cook too quickly, resulting in an uneven texture and potentially a mushy outside while the inside is still undercooked.
Adding milk or cream to garlic mashed potatoes:
Half-and-half is richer than milk, but not as rich as heavy cream. Use heavy cream if you want over the top, decadent results.
It’s generally recommended to warm the milk or cream before adding them to mashed potatoes. This will help blend more easily into the potatoes, resulting in a smoother, creamier texture. It will also prevent the potatoes from cooling down too quickly.
Best way to mash potatoes:
After draining the potatoes, return them to the warm pot for a few minutes, stirring gently. This will allow excess water to evaporate.
Take caution to mash the potatoes gently. Using a potato ricer will give you the fluffiest results. If you don’t have a potato ricer, use a hand masher. Mashing by hand can produce a range of textures, from slightly chunky to relatively smooth. It all depends on the amount of mashing and the type of masher you use.
Above all, don’t overwork the potatoes. This can result in over-agitation of the starches resulting in a gummy consistency.
What to Serve With Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Garlic mashed potatoes are a versatile side dish which means they will complement a wide range of main courses. They pair well with roasted meats like chicken, beef, and pork, as well as grilled fish, meatloaf, sausages, and even hearty dishes like beef stew or shepherd’s pie. You can also enjoy them with dishes like chicken piccata, turkey, or pot roast.
A little trivia…
Mashed potatoes are a favorite and considered one of the most popular comfort foods in Western culture. That status didn’t just come by chance. Since its origin in the Andes Mountains, mashed potatoes have earned their place as a favored dish that transcends cultural boundaries and generations.
So, when you eat your garlic mashed potatoes, take a moment to appreciate its history and tradition that continues to live on.