Mashed potatoes are a classic comfort food that can elevate any meal, whether served alongside a roast or enjoyed on their own. With just a few simple ingredients and some elbow grease, you can create a bowl of creamy, fluffy goodness that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
To find the ultimate mashed potato recipe, I tested five different variations from Food & Wine with a team of testers from the People Inc. Test Kitchen. Our focus was on flavor and texture, looking for the ingredients and techniques that would take this humble side dish to the next level.
After careful tasting and consideration, the clear winner was José Andrés’ Mashed Potatoes with Manchego and Olive Oil. José Andrés is a Spanish-American chef known for his innovative dishes and commitment to fighting world hunger. His mashed potato recipe includes a unique twist on garlic, oven-roasting the cloves in olive oil until they are soft and fragrant. This creates a rich, mellow flavor that adds depth to the dish.
The potatoes are boiled until tender, then mashed by hand with warm heavy cream. Finely diced Manchego cheese is slowly stirred in to melt, adding a nutty flavor, while olive oil is emulsified into the mix for richness. The result is a silky, luxurious mashed potato that is perfect for any occasion, from a holiday feast to a simple weeknight dinner.
For those looking for a quicker option, the runner-up was Justin Chapple’s Garlic-and-Herb Mashed Potatoes. Justin Chapple is a culinary director at Food & Wine known for his creative cooking techniques. His recipe skips fresh garlic and herbs in favor of spreadable cheese flavored with those ingredients. This shortcut adds tang and richness to the potatoes without the need for heavy cream or butter.
Yukon Gold or purple potatoes are simmered, drained, and passed through a potato ricer before the cheese is added. The result is a creamy, fluffy mashed potato with a tangy flavor reminiscent of a sour cream and onion chip. This recipe is quick and easy to make, perfect for a last-minute side dish.
Whether you prefer the rich, nuanced flavors of José Andrés’ recipe or the tangy simplicity of Justin Chapple’s, mashed potatoes are a versatile side dish that can be customized to suit any taste. With a little creativity and the right ingredients, you can create a mashed potato masterpiece that will have everyone at the table asking for seconds.
If you’re a garlic lover, Marcus Samuelsson’s Garlic Mashed Potatoes might be the perfect dish for you. This recipe, which came in a close second to my top pick, features a generous amount of garlic cloves simmered with Yukon Gold or fingerling potatoes in a mixture of milk, heavy cream, and thyme. The resulting mashed potatoes are creamy and golden, with a strong garlic flavor that may be too intense for some palates. The addition of butter, olive oil, nutmeg, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and seasonings rounds out the dish, creating a decadent and flavorful side.
On the other hand, Julia Child’s Mashed Potatoes with Garlic is a great choice for those who appreciate classic French cuisine. This recipe includes a garlicky béchamel sauce made with 30 cloves of garlic, which is then mixed into riced russet potatoes along with butter, heavy cream, and parsley. The end result is a creamy and rich dish that pairs well with saucy main courses like Coq au Vin. While the texture may be slightly pasty for some, the mellowed garlic flavor and luxurious ingredients make these mashed potatoes a standout option.
For butter lovers, Anthony Bourdain’s Mashed Potatoes, Kind of Robuchon-Style is a must-try. Inspired by renowned French chef Joël Robuchon, this recipe features an astonishing amount of butter (1 1/2 pounds) mixed into boiled and riced Yukon Gold potatoes. The emulsification process of adding butter in batches and stirring vigorously results in an incredibly rich and buttery dish that must be served immediately to maintain its creamy consistency. While the flavor may be overwhelming for some, the decadence of these mashed potatoes is sure to please any butter aficionado.
Overall, each of these mashed potato recipes offers a unique and flavorful take on a classic side dish. Whether you prefer a strong garlic flavor, a taste of French cuisine, or an indulgent buttery experience, there’s a recipe here for every palate. Experiment with these dishes to find your favorite and elevate your next meal with delicious and satisfying mashed potatoes.
When it comes to mashed potatoes, everyone has their own preferences. Some like them rich and indulgent, while others prefer a lighter, fluffier texture. In a recent showdown of mashed potato recipes, I had the opportunity to taste test and compare dishes from some of the top chefs in the industry. While each recipe had its own unique twist, there were definitely some standout favorites and a few disappointments.
One of the recipes that stood out for its richness was a dish inspired by Julia Child and Anthony Bourdain. These mashed potatoes were loaded with butter and cream, creating a decadent side dish that would be perfect for a special occasion. However, the texture of the potatoes left something to be desired. The constant stirring required to emulsify the fat resulted in a slightly gluey mash, which was not as appealing as I had hoped.
On the other hand, the top two recipes from José Andrés and Justin Chapple took a different approach. By using clever ingredient swaps and simple techniques, they were able to create mashed potatoes that were both flavorful and perfectly textured. I learned some valuable tips from these recipes, such as drying excess moisture from the potatoes before mashing and using a potato ricer for the finest consistency.
Overall, the showdown taught me that more fat is not always better when it comes to mashed potatoes. Sometimes, less really is more. While rich and indulgent dishes have their place, it’s important to find a balance between flavor and texture. If any of these mashed potato recipes were to appear on my dinner table, I would be thrilled to dig in and enjoy.
