Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic and Lemon Thyme Butter
You have to serve mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving. There are all sorts of ways to prepare potatoes but on this turkey day, gravy poured over mashed potatoes is a must. I know, I’ve tried in years past to serve au gratin, roasted, stuffed….and I see it in my family’s eyes, as they glance across the table searching for the mashed potatoes. And even if the gravy is only poured over the turkey and stuffing, those creamy mountains of potatoes are still missed.
I’m more a purist in my mashed potatoes. There are endless recipes out there with an assortment of add-ins to choose from… flavored butters, a drizzle of pesto, a small amount of fresh herbs, a soft, gentle cheese, caramelized shallots or bits of roasted garlic. But please, not all at once!
The choice of potato for mashing is a matter of preference too. I like Yukon gold for its buttery flavor. It is less starchy and holds up to boiling better without absorbing a lot of water. I find that Russets really fall apart when boiled making for oober creamy mashed potatoes and red skinned hold their shape for a fairly chunky mash. And speaking of skin…leaving it on or off is the next question. I prefer to peel my potatoes when serving with tender turkey but leave it on for a rustic dish when being served with steak or grilled meats. And, if you want to surprise your guests with some WOW color, check out Sports Glutton for some purple potatoes!
Adding milk or cream? I like organic cream; it gives the mash a rich creamy feel and taste. Whole organic milk , 2% or buttermilk can be used but in my opinion non fat is definitely a no-no! I have used a small amount of turkey stock to cut back on the cream in the past but regardless of what is used, warming it slightly is better than shocking the potatoes with a cold liquid. And start out adding the cream in slowly as you can always add more to get it to the right consistency.
Lots of organic butter, sour cream in some recipes, Kosher salt and white pepper, not black, unless you like specks of black pepper through your mash. Taste as you go to season to your liking.
Lastly, what to use to mash. A ricer is “known” to be the preferred choice, but if you’ve ever used one, it’s a lot of work especially with a big pot of potatoes! I like to use a simple potato masher giving me the control of mashing to my desired creaminess. Just be aware that over mashing or using a mixer could cause the potatoes to become gummy and heavy.
Mashed potatoes can be made up to 2 hours ahead and left at room temperature or if you prefer to make them the day before, gently reheat them in a large pan adding milk to adjust the consistency.
Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic and Lemon Thyme Butter
Makes 10 servings
Recipe adapted from Epicurious.com
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) butter, room temperature
4 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced
1 tablespoon minced lemon peel (yellow part only)
4 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 1/2 cups organic cream, gently heated
1 roasted garlic bulb
Kosher salt and white pepper to taste
Mix butter, thyme, and lemon in small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. (Butter can be made 3 days ahead or made a week ahead and frozen. Wrap tightly and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.)
Place potatoes in large pot. Add enough cold water to cover. Bring to boil. Cover partially and cook until potatoes are very tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. Return potatoes and roasted garlic (squeezed from cloves) to same pot and mash. Stir warmed cream slowly into the potatoes, continuing to gently mash. Set aside 2 tablespoons thyme-lemon butter to top later. Mix in remaining butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer mashed potatoes to large warmed bowl. Top with 2 tablespoons butter and serve.
These mashed potatoes are part of my Thanksgiving Countdown. If you’d like to share your favorite appetizer potatoe dish for Thanksgiving, please use Linky Tools below.
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spicegirlfla
I love being in the kitchen. Early mornings, soft music, a hot espresso. Easing into the preparation of delicious meals. Glancing through cookbooks, gathering inspiration and planning my day. I look forward to the cycles of the seasons, the pleasures of tasting and savoring and sharing this with those dear to me. Weekends are special to me as my week days are often rushed, but still I create the ambiance, light the candles, set the table and uncork the wine.
39 Comments
Kristy
Now I have another mashed potato recipe to try. I like the additions of lemon peel and thyme in this one. It sounds like it would match wonderfully with the turkey. 🙂 I hope you’re enjoying the time with your daughter this weekend!
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide
You are so right. You just have to have mashed potatoes. One year we did scalloped and they were great, but it just wasn’t right. As to cream or milk, if we have cream on hand we use it and we usually have cream on hand over Thanksgiving. And yes, I love your recipe!
spicegirlfla
I do love scalloped potatoes and my son definitely does, but even he looks for the mash on Thanksgiving. I guess it’s like pb&j, a familiar combination that just works!
Charles
Few things can be as wonderful as mashed potato when done well, and yet so many people seem to fail on an epic level at doing it. Cold, uncooked lumps of uncooked potato, complete absence of any flavouring or even salt and pepper (incidentally, plain mash with nothing added on its own is great if done well – it’s common in Sweden but they call it “pressed potatoes” and they use a press for it, so it comes out in long noodle shapes, and they serve it in a pile of big potato noodle type things, not in a cloud, all mashed together). I love me a bit of garlic in the mash – and salt, yummy! I never tried it with lemon though – I’ll put it on my to do list for next time – sounds like it would make a delicious addition!
spicegirlfla
Hmm…those pressed potatoes sound interesting, and garlic, definitely!
Charles
Here’s a pic of one (they also call it a potato ricer apparently) – Ikea, yay 😀
Aimee@clevermuffin
Oh, you had me at mashed potato. They are my secret weakness. These looks so creamy and delicious… I’m intrigued by the lemon thyme butter! I usually just make mine full of butter and milk, I need to get more creative!
Yuri - Chef Pandita
Love the flavors in these mashed potatoes! My mom used to make me mashed potatoes with milk, butter and cheddar cheese grated on top. Comfort food at its best 🙂
spicegirlfla
Now adding cheddar cheese would be really lovely! That reminds me of a backed potato!
France
I’ve never added lemon to my potatoes and would have never thought of it on my own. But it sounds like a wonderful flavor to add to what is normally a bland side dish. Mashed with pizzazz.
ChgoJohn
Another great recipe, Lynda, and (I’m laughing here) I’ll be posting a similar one this week! You’e so right about it not being Thanksgiving without mashed potatoes and I know that first-hand. One year I covered the serving dish with the baking sheet used for the rolls and forgot the potatoes altogether. It wasn’t until a dinner guest said that he didn’t even miss having mashed potatoes that I realized mine were still in the kitchen. From bruschetta flambe to vanishing potatoes, people come to my dinner parties for the adventure!
spicegirlfla
OMG…I can so see that happening! Really there are so many things going on at once to get this dinner on the table that it’s hard to keep track! Sounds like your Thanksgiving will be fun and what really makes everyone have a good time is that the host is able to relax and enjoy the day thru the good and and bad!
Chica Andaluza
Lovely, lovely, lovely! And weird because last night I was telling some pals that I wouldn´t eat mashed potatoes until I was about 25 years old because I had horrible memories of the disgusting lumpy grey stuff they used to serve up at school lunches….now I adore them and make them often and yours sound sooooo good 🙂
spicegirlfla
That is so true. My son had an awful first taste of salmon (at someone else’s home) and just can’t get over his initial dislike. His sister and I beg him to try mine but he won’t….maybe when he’s 25 he finally will!!
JasmyneTea
That looks SO good, I love garlic! We don’t have Thanksgiving, but the same rule applies for Christmas in our family, and I’ll definitely be trying this recipe out!
gardenfreshtomatoes
I didn’t like mashed potatoes until I was an adult – who knew they didn’t come out of a box? 😉
We’ve done au gratin for T-day, but it takes too much babysitting. Mashed is easier, by far!
spicegirlfla
Lol…Do you ever notice in the grocery stores how many people grab boxes of instant potatoes and Stove Top??? Someday their children will remark on the same!!
bellini
Mashed potatoes are a must for the big meal. Love the flavoured butter!
Just A Smidgen
I love the addition of thyme and lemon.. this would be perfect with a turkey or roasted chicken. I’m a mixer girl but once made glue:P Lol!
spicegirlfla
LOL! To be honest I have used the mixer in the past from seeing recipes stating to do so. You just do have to be very careful!
David
Who doesn’t adore mashed potatoes? I especially like your tip about warming the milk before adding it. I usually warm the milk and butter togther. Definately makes for fluffier spuds than adding cold.
spicegirlfla
You’re absolutely right to add the butter to the cream to warm them together! This is why i love all my blogger friends!!
ceciliag
I am all for the butter and milk, but I always steam the potatoes that i will mash.. they are just tastier.. and I LOVE garlic in there. I am a mashed potato fiend! I am so glad you like them too! c
spicegirlfla
Steaming is a great idea especially for those potatoes that will absorb the water. I’m glad you mentioned this method.
Lisa @smartfoodandfit
I’m glad you posted this recipe! I bet the roasted garlic and lemon zest give it a nice flavor. I’m boring w/ my potatoes, I just use olive oil (sometimes butter) with skim milk! But for the holidays you gotta change things up a bit to make it special!
spicegirlfla
I know your super health conscious but you gotta go rich here and there for the holidays!! Then balance it out with some extra exercise!!
sportsglutton
Lemon thyme butter….ummmm that might be hard to top and I feel embarrassed that I have never tried that before!
Thanks so much for the shut out and my apologies for being belated. It’s been one busy weekend. 🙂
spicegirlfla
You’re very welcome. I hear you on a busy weekend…plus the rest of this week will be busy, busy!!
promenadeplantings
this sounds like a perfect combination of flavours. Delicious !
Kelly
Oh Linda, your lemon thyme butter has me licking my lips at 6:55 am!! Love the addition of the peel to these mashed wonders. I agree; so fitting at special dinners…I tend to use sweet potatoes but just love your recipe.
spicegirlfla
I’ve also used sweet potatoes with this lemon butter as well so if you’re more inclined to use them, it definitely matched well.
kitchenbelleicious
I agree. mashed potatoes or not holiday- that is just the rule:) I love the idea of lemon thyme butter- i mean such an easy way to add tons of flavor to the potatoes without alot of fuss! Great great idea!
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Karen
I love the idea of lemon and thyme in the potatoes. I always go back for seconds on mashed potatoes when you have turkey gravy to pour on top.
Food, Flowers, Herbs and Life!
I confess to breaking two Thanksgiving traditions this year – gee, they keep piling up! Not only did I serve sweet potatoes without marshmallows (per my daughter!) – I didn’t make mashed potatoes! With only 5 people I just couldn’t make two potato dishes! Perhaps since my sweet potatoes were mashed it would could as both? 🙂 But your recipe sounds lovely – I’ll fix these with some leftover turkey tonight! They’ll be much more appreciated! Thanks for a great recipe!
Sissi
Linda, you are incredibly productive! I have almost missed these luscious mashed potatoes! Lemon peel sounds incredible! Thank you for all other alternative ideas too.
thefooddoctor
I love the addition of lemon and thyme and ofcourse roasted garlic yum!
The Hook
My wife would eat mashed potatoes for every meal if she could! Thanks for sharing!
Stefanie
Amazing flavor combo!! These look like great mashed potatoes! And I completely agree with using a good ol’ masher instead of a ricer. They wouldn’t be mashed potatoes if they weren’t mashed! 🙂