Potato Basil PurÉe Recipes

INA'S POTATO BASIL PURéE

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water and add about a couple teaspoons of salt. Bring this to a boil over high heat.
• Fill a large bowl with water and ice.
• Lower the basil leaves into the boiling water for 15 seconds.
• With a slotted spoon remove the leaves and put them immediately into the ice water to stop the cooking and to set the beautiful green color.
• Remove the leaves from the ice water and lay on paper towels to drain. Set aside.
• Bring the water back to a boil and add the potatoes.
• Boil gently for 18 to 25 minutes until the potatoes are fork tender.
• Drain the water off the potatoes, return to the burner and turn it down to low. Cover and let the potatoes steam for a moment to dry them a bit.
• Put the cream and the Parmesan cheese together in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the cream is simmering.
• In a food processor with the steel blade, chop the basil leaves.
• Pour the hot cream mixture through the feed tube and process until smooth.
• Beat the hot potatoes with a handheld mixer or potato masher until they lightly mashed.
• Then slowly add the hot cream mixture and the salt and the pepper.
• Continue beating until the potatoes are smooth and creamy.
• Take a taste of this glorious concoction and add salt and pepper to your taste.
• Serve hot with a sprig of fresh basil for garnish.

POTATO BASIL PURéE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and fill a bowl with ice water. Add the basil leaves to the boiling water and cook for exactly 15 seconds. Remove the basil with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge the leaves into the ice water to set the bright green color. Drain and set aside.
• Peel the potatoes and cut them in quarters. Add the potatoes to the same pot of boiling water and return to a boil. Cook the potatoes for 20 to 25 minutes, until very tender. Drain well, return to the sauce- pan, and steam over low heat until any remaining water evaporates.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the half-and-half and Parmesan cheese until the cream simmers. Place the basil in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and purée. Add the hot cream mixture and process until smooth.
• With a handheld mixer with the beater attachment, beat the hot potatoes in the pot until they are broken up. Slowly add the hot basil cream, the salt, and pepper and beat until smooth. If the potatoes need to be reheated, cover and cook gently over low heat for a few minutes. Pour into a serving bowl, sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese, season to taste, and serve hot.

POTATO-AND-CHEESE PURéE

Steps:

• Cover potatoes with salted water > by 2 inches in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot and simmer until very tender, about 40 minutes. Drain in a colander.
• Mince garlic and mash to a paste with 1 teaspoon salt using side of a large heavy knife.
• When potatoes are cool enough to handle when held in a kitchen towel, peel and force through ricer into cleaned saucepan. Add butter, garlic paste, and milk and cook over moderately low heat, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon, until fluffy and heated through, about 2 minutes. Add cheese and pepper and cook, stirring vigorously with a heatproof rubber spatula or wooden spoon, until cheese is melted, smooth, and almost taffylike, about 10 minutes.
• Preheat broiler. Butter baking dish. (If using 6 individual gratin dishes, butter and put on a baking sheet.)
• Transfer potato mixture to baking dish, smoothing top.
• Beat cream in a bowl with an electric mixer until it holds soft peaks, then beat in horseradish and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Spread horseradish cream over potato mixture and broil 4 to 5 inches from heat, rotating gratin if it isn't browning evenly, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes.

POTATO PUREE

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with about 2 inches water. Set steamer basket in pot (water should not come through the holes). Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a rapid simmer.
• Add potatoes to steamer basket and steam until tender when pierced with a knife, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Simmer, whisking occasionally, until the butter is deep golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Place the thyme and garlic in a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth. Strain the butter over the garlic and thyme into a medium bowl, add cream, and whisk to combine.
• Remove potatoes from steamer basket. Drain, and immediately press through a medium mesh sieve into a large bowl using a rubber spatula. Fold the cream mixture into the potatoes. Press mixture through a fine mesh sieve. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

POTATO BASIL PUREE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and fill a bowl with ice water. Add the basil leaves to the boiling water and cook for exactly 15 seconds. Remove the basil with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge the leaves into the ice water to set the bright green color. Drain and set aside.
• Peel the potatoes and cut them in quarters. Add the potatoes to the same pot of boiling water and return to a boil. Cook the potatoes for 20 to 25 minutes, until very tender. Drain well, return to the saucepan, and steam over low heat until any remaining water evaporates.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the half-and-half and Parmesan cheese until the cream simmers. Place the basil in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and puree. Add the hot cream mixture and process until smooth.
• With a handheld mixer with the beater attachment, beat the hot potatoes in the pot until they are broken up. Slowly add the hot basil cream, the salt, and pepper and beat until smooth. If the potatoes need to be reheated, cover and cook gently over low heat for a few minutes. Pour into a serving bowl, sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese, season to taste, and serve hot.

POTATO BASIL PUREE

Steps:

• bring a large pot of salted waterto a rolling boil and fill a bowl with ice water. Add basil to the boiling water and cook for exactly 15 seconds. Remove basil & plunge into ice water. Drain and set aside.
• Cut potatoes in quarters and put in boiling water. Cook 20 - 25 minutes until very tender. Drain well. Return to saucepan and steam over low heat until any remaining water evaporates.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the half and half with Parmesan until the cream simmers. Place the basil in a food processor and puree. Add the hot cream and process until smooth with salt and pepper.
• With handheld mixer, beat potatoes until they are broken. Slowly add the hot basil cream and beat until smooth.
• Zap if they need to be reheated. Serve sprinkled with more Parmesan.