Lenkas Famous Mashed Potatoes Recipes

MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel, cut up and boil potatoes until tender.
• Drain water and put potatoes in a mixing bowl.
• Add margarine, sour cream and milk.
• Use an electric mixer and mix until desired consistency.
• The KEY here is to add salt and pepper to taste.
• You might add anywhere from a teaspoon to several tablespoons of salt, just depending on how much you like salt.
• Pepper is the same way, although use it more sparingly.
• Just remember to add a little at a time, until you get it where you like it.
• Once that is done, I usually put a couple of pats of margarine on top of the finished potatoes to let it melt.
• Then sprinkle parsley over it.
• This will make the best mashed potatoes I've ever found anywhere.

THE BEST MASHED POTATOES!

Steps:

• Feel free to peel your potatoes or leave the skins on. Then cut them into evenly-sized chunks, about an inch or so thick, and transfer them to a large stockpot full of cold water.
• Once all of your potatoes are cut, be sure that there is enough cold water in the pan so that the water line sits about 1 inch above the potatoes. Stir the garlic and 1 tablespoon sea salt into the water. Then turn the heat to high and cook until the water comes to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-high (or whatever temperature is needed to maintain the boil) and continue cooking for about 10-12 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the middle of a potato goes in easily with almost no resistance. Carefully drain out all of the water.
• Meanwhile, as the potatoes are boiling, heat the butter, milk and an additional 2 teaspoons of sea salt together either in a small saucepan or in the microwave until the butter is just melted. (You want to avoid boiling the milk.) Set aside until ready to use.
• After draining the water, immediately return the potatoes to the hot stockpot, place it back on the hot burner, and turn the heat down to low. Using two oven mitts, carefully hold the handles on the stockpot and shake it gently on the burner for about 1 minute to help cook off some of the remaining steam within the potatoes. Remove the stockpot entirely from the heat and set it on a flat, heatproof surface.
• Using your preferred kind of potato masher (I recommend this one in general, or this one for extra-smooth), mash the potatoes to your desired consistency.
• Then pour half of the melted butter mixture over the potatoes, and fold it in with a wooden spoon or spatula until potatoes have soaked up the liquid. Repeat with the remaining butter, and then again with the cream cheese, folding in each addition in until just combined to avoid over-mixing. (Feel free to add in more warm milk to reach your desired consistency, if needed.)
• One final time, taste the potatoes and season with extra salt if needed.
• Then serve warm, garnished with any extra toppings that you might like, and enjoy!

OUR FAVORITE HOMEMADE MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Scrub then dice potatoes, making sure they are similar in size. (We often leave the skin on the potatoes, but it is completely up to you).
• Drop potatoes in a large saucepan, add a tablespoon of salt and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce to a low simmer. Cook until the potatoes fall apart when pierced with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Heat the milk or chicken stock, and the butter until warm and the butter has melted. Drain then return the potatoes to the saucepan and cover with a clean dishtowel. Leave them for about 5 minutes to absorb excess steam that can make mashed potatoes watery.
• Pour in the warm butter mixture then mash the potatoes until creamy. (Don't worry if the potatoes seem a bit thin at first, they absorb the liquid after a minute or two). Stir in the pepper and splash of cream or sour cream (if using).
• Taste for seasoning and adjust with additional salt and pepper. Let stand for 5 minutes so that the potatoes thicken, and then serve.

BAKED MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add potatoes, and cook until tender but firm, about 15 minutes; drain.
• In a large bowl, mash potatoes with the butter and milk. With a hand mixer, beat in cream cheese and onion. In a small bowl, beat the egg with a little bit of the mashed potatoes. Stir into potatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a 2 quart casserole dish.
• Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until puffy and lightly browned.

CREAMY MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel and cut the potatoes into pieces that are generally the same size. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes. (When they're cooked through a fork should easily slide into the potatoes with no resistance, and the potatoes should almost, but not totally, fall apart.)
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Drain the potatoes thoroughly in a large colander. Place them back into the dry pot and put the pot on the stove. Mash the potatoes over low heat, allowing all the steam to escape before adding in all the other ingredients.
• Turn off the heat and add the butter, cream cheese and about 1/2 cup of half-and-half. Mash, mash, mash! Next, add about 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Stir well, and then taste and add more half-and-half, seasoning salt and pepper if needed.
• Transfer the potatoes to a medium-sized baking dish. Throw a few pats of butter over the top of the potatoes and place in the oven until the butter is melted and the potatoes are warmed through.

GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and quarter lengthwise; cut crosswise 1/2 inch thick. In a 5-quart saucepan, combine potatoes and garlic cloves; cover with water (about 8 cups) by 1 inch. Add 1 tablespoon salt.
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer until potatoes are easily pierced with the tip of a paring knife, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Drain; return garlic and potatoes to pan. Stir over medium-high heat until dry, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• In a small saucepan, bring milk to a boil; pour over potatoes. Add butter and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mash until smooth and creamy.

CREAMY MASHED POTATO

Steps:

• Place in a large pot with 1 tbsp salt. Add water so it's 10cm / 4" above potatoes.
• Bring to a boil over high heat then reduce heat so it's simmering rapidly. Cook 15 minutes or until potatoes are very soft (jab with fork to test, they should fall apart).
• Drain well, return into pot. Leave for 1 minute, shaking pot every now and then, to encourage evaporation of water.
• Add Flavourings then mash well, using milk to make it looser if desired.
• DO NOT use: a beater, stick blender, food processor or blender. You can pulse with a stand mixer or handheld mixer but be cautious, stop as soon as it's creamy (potatoes will quickly go from perfect to gluey using appliances).
• Transfer to serving bowl, make pretty swirls across the top and drizzle over butter. Sprinkle with chives then serve!

THE BEST DAMN VEGAN MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• For creamier mashed potatoes, peel your potatoes at this time. Otherwise, just halve your potatoes and place in a large saucepan or pot and cover with water by ~1 inch.
• Bring to a light boil over high heat and add 1 tsp of sea salt (as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size), and cook for 25-30 minutes or until very tender. They should effortlessly slide off a knife when pierced with a knife.
• While the potatoes are cooking, chop up your chives (optional) and measure your vegan butter.
• Once tender, drain your potatoes and place them back in the hot pot off the heat for 1 minute to evaporate any additional water.
• Mash your potatoes using a potato masher until fluffy.
• Add in vegan butter, garlic, salt, and black pepper and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
• Lastly top with chives (optional, stir and serve as is or with your favorite gravy (or mushroom gravy). Leftovers will keep in the fridge covered for up to a few days. Not freezer friendly.