How Celeb Chef Ina Garten Makes The Best Mashed Potatoes
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Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, always has a hack or secret to making the best-tasting comfort food. When it comes to mashed potatoes, Garten has a few tricks up her sleeve that produce creamier, more flavorful spuds — and the ingredients and tools you need aren't far-fetched or esoteric. Basically, Garten gently heats her whole milk and butter in a pan while her potatoes are boiling, uses a food mill to break the potatoes down, mixes in the warm dairy products, and finishes the potatoes with tangy buttermilk. Salt and pepper are the only seasonings she incorporates. Kosher salt is Ina's go-to, and we bet that's what she reaches for when making this dish!
Garten's mashed potatoes of choice are Yukon Golds, which comes as no surprise to us — we already knew this grocery store favorite was the best potato for mashing due to its higher starch content and buttery taste. Although Ina Garten prefers a simple mashed potato that lets a splash of buttermilk do the talking, we love to use our mashed taters as a blank canvas for endless customization. Her recipe makes a delicious template for doctoring our mashed potatoes, or even serving on a DIY potato bar for your next get-together!
You can use Ina Garten's mashed potatoes as the basis for something more elaborate
We previously compiled a list of 21 ingredients you can add to mashed potatoes, but the possibilities are near-limitless. While some folks use plain mashed potatoes as a side dish, we are all about making them the star of your dinner by piling them high with protein and other great toppings. This makes an unforgettable customized mashed potato bowl or a loaded accompaniment that will take your next steak dinner over the top. Ina Garten's mashed potatoes, with their silken texture and tangy flair, are perfect for zhuzhing up.
Cheese is a great start for augmenting mashed potatoes. Something zesty, like pepper jack or goat cheese, will bring out the zip in the buttermilk that Garten adds. Another cream component, like crème fraîche or sour cream, adds additional zest as well. Unless you are a plant-based eater, you might want to throw in some meat: Chopped bacon (not the kind from a bag!), sloppy joe ground beef, diced ham, or even hot sausage. Is gravy your passion? Ina Garten's potatoes will hold their own against any ladleful, whether white or brown. We love the bite that spring onions lend to potatoes, but sweet caramelized Vidalia onions are another great choice. Don't forget something a little crispy, like french-fried jalapeños or onion straws!