Ingredients
Potatoes and Garlic
- 1 kg potatoes (Desiree, Russet or Yukon Gold)
- 4 large garlic cloves (smashed or roughly chopped)
- 1 tablespoon salt (to boil potatoes and season mashed potatoes)
Dairy and Seasonings
- 75 g butter (softened)
- 100 g cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or as needed)
- black pepper to taste
- salt and black pepper to taste
Garnish
- chives to garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Potatoes: Wash, peel, and cut the potatoes into halves or quarters of equal size to ensure even cooking. Place the potatoes and smashed garlic in a saucepan, add salt, and cover with cold water.
- Boil Potatoes: Bring the water to a boil and cook the potatoes and garlic for about 15-20 minutes or until they are tender and can be easily pierced with a fork.
- Drain and Cool: Drain the potatoes in a colander and allow them to cool for 3-5 minutes to let excess moisture evaporate.
- Warm Cream and Butter: Place the skillet used for boiling on medium-low heat. Add butter and let it melt, then add the heavy cream and gently warm the mixture until the butter is fully melted and the cream is heated through.
- Mash Potatoes: Mash the drained potatoes into the warm butter and cream mixture using a potato ricer or masher, ensuring a smooth consistency.
- Add Cream Cheese and Season: Fold in the softened cream cheese gently until fully incorporated. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed.
- Serve and Garnish: Transfer the mashed potatoes to a serving bowl, create a decorative swirl on top, garnish with chopped chives, an extra drizzle of melted butter, and a sprinkle of black pepper. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Use starchy potatoes like Russet or Yukon Gold for fluffy, smooth mashed potatoes.
- Smashed garlic cloves add a mellow garlic flavor; for stronger taste, mince the garlic finely.
- Adjust cream quantity to achieve your preferred mashed potato consistency.
- Warming the cream and butter beforehand helps blend flavors and gives a silky texture.
- For extra richness, substitute some heavy cream with sour cream or use milk instead.
- These mashed potatoes can be prepared ahead and gently reheated with a little cream or milk to loosen the texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American