Chef Peter's Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Peter Castillo | posted January 29, 2009 |

There has been much written on the best way to make mashed potatoes - how long you cook them, with peel or without, reserving some of the cooking liquid, etc. etc. I have discovered that the real trick to creamy, buttery, heavenly potatoes is to use Yukon Gold potatoes instead of Russets. That's really all there is to it (along with butter, cream, salt and pepper). Just start with the type of potato that tastes better and mashes up better.  I am not a potato snob, so New potatoes will do fine and Russets in a pinch.

Starchy potatoes, like Russets, have high starch and low water. Starchy potatoes are great for baking and French fries, and good as mashed potatoes. When cooked in water, they disintegrate; when cooked by dry heat, they become crumbly and fluffy.

All-purpose, or chef's potatoes, like Yukon Golds, have medium starch and medium water. All-purpose potatoes are great in stews, soups, mashed potatoes, or for roasting. When cooked, they are at once moist and fluffy: they keep most of their shape in soups and don't dry out when baked.

Here's my recipe for perfect Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. These are not for the faint of heart. Serves 4.

Ingredients 

• 1/2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and quartered length-wise
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp milk
• Kosher salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

Put potatoes into a saucepan. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add water until potatoes are covered. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, 15-20 minutes, or until done - a fork can easily be poked through them.

Warm cream and melt butter, together, either in microwave or in a pan on the stove. Drain water from potatoes. Put hot potatoes into a bowl. Add cream and melted butter. Use potato masher to mash potatoes until well mashed. Use a strong spoon to beat further, adding milk to achieve the consistency you desire. (Do not over-beat or your potatoes will get gluey.) Add salt and pepper to taste.

Variations I suggest: add Boursin cheese, cheddar, chives, roasted red peppers, roasted garlic, a touch of horseradish, chopped artichokes, sautéed spinach or dandelion!