Did I mention I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year? For the first time ever my Mom is giving up her hosting duties back home and my parents and sister Grace are joining the rest of us here in NYC for a city feast! I was feeling a bit bummed about not being able to travel at Christmas this year and getting to have my entire family in the same room for the first time since my wedding was something that really needed to happen.
I come from a family of food people, so we’ll all be helping and working together to create a delicious feast. I already said I’d do desserts and bread, but have been working on some sides as well. My Dad is an amazing cook, so I’ve been thinking about what I could make that he likes. Being Middle Eastern, garlic is a standard in all of the food that passes our table, so I thought I’d experiment with a creamy, super garlicky “smashed” potato dish to serve up on Turkey Day. This my friends- is the one and only mashed potato recipe I’ll ever need, it is everything I love in my favorite Thanksgiving side and more.
The recipe starts with taking 2 lbs of baby reds, (or red bliss potatoes,) and making them into “salt potatoes”. Are you unfamiliar? Rebecca did a wonderful post about them here– and I have been obsessed with this concept since last summer when I tried my first creamy, salt crusted bite. You basically boil the potatoes in heavily salted water which makes the temperature super high, resulting in creamy potatoes with a salty crust. I smashed those with some butter, milk and a whole head of sweet roasted garlic (which I could eat plain by the way.) The final result was really and truly delicious, especially if like me you enjoy your potatoes creamy with a little texture.
Stay tuned for a beautiful dessert recipe later this week and then an ENTIRE week of Pie Recipes to kick off Thanksgiving season! Hooray!
- 1 head of garlic
- drizzle of olive oil
- 2 lbs. of red potatoes
- ¾ cup salt (for boiling-not topping don't worry!)
- 5 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- 1 cup milk (I used 2%)
- freshly ground black pepper
- fresh herbs rosemary, thyme etc. (optional)
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Cut the bottom off of an entire head of garlic and place it cut side up in a small ramekin or heat-proof dish. (If the top of the head is super uneven slice that off as well so that it will sit flat.)
- Drizzle clove with olive oil, make sure all surfaces are covered, and top with tin foil.
- Roast for 30-35 minutes- garlic will be soft and easy to squeeze right out of the skin and into the potatoes when ready.
- Boil 6 cups of water in a medium-large saucepan. When boiling, stir in the salt and gently add the potatoes.
- Bring to a boil again and then reduce heat to medium-high. Cook potatoes for 15-20 minutes or until tender. (A fork will easily be able to go all the way through.)
- Drain potatoes and in a large bowl, smash them with a potato masher or something similar. Add in the butter, milk and roasted garlic, smashing some more until your desired consistency is reached.
- Add fresh black pepper and other fresh herbs if you desire. (They should be plenty salty, but add more to taste if desired.)
- Top with another pat of butter to serve.
Sarah | The Sugar Hit says
OH LAWD. These potatoes look delicious – and totally perfect to serve alongside Turkey! Roast garlic, potatoes and Turkey are surely meant to be together.
Rebecca {foodie with family} says
Oh my GOSH, Audra!!! These sound and look ahmaaaaaaaaaaaazing! I feel like I need to make these today. Now, maybe.
How wonderful that you get to have your whole family with you for Thanksgiving!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Those smashed potatoes need to be on my Thanksgiving table. Really gorgeous.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
*gulp*
I AM SO HUNGRY NOOOW! These look phenomenal. omg
Annie @ Annie's City Kitchen says
THIS is how mashed potatoes should be made! Chunky and full of flavor. My aunt always makes super whipped and bland mashed potatoes. These look worlds better.
Rachel @ Bakerita says
I’m a roasted garlic fiend, and I LOVE mashed potatoes. I definitely need to make these soon – I’ve been craving mashed potatoes like a mad woman! Pinned :)
Ally @ The Cheery Baker says
These sound like the perfect mashed potato recipe for Thanksgiving! I love using red potatoes… those are my favorite. I’m in charge of mashed potatoes for our family this year so these might have to be the ones I bring!
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says
Ohh congrats on hosting Thanksgiving that is huge. I hosted for the first time a couple years ago and I LOVED the hustle and bustle of it.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Garlic smashed potatoes are the freaking best!! YUM!
Coco in the Kitchen says
This IS comfort food!
Love it. I could eat the whole bowl.
Tracey says
Hooray for hosting Thanksgiving – it’s so nice your whole family can come celebrate! These potatoes sound wonderful, I’m obsessed with all things roasted garlic!
francesca says
These look delicious. We’re having a friendsgiving (also with garlic-laden everything) and these are gonna make it to our table :D
Elisa @ Insalata di Sillabe says
I’m so into mashed potatoes during this time of year and this recipe sounds amazing to me. A truly particular (and flavorful, I guess!) twist on a classic!
xo; Elisa
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
how exciting that you are hosting thanksgiving :) these potatoes are def. going to be a crowd pleaser
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
Ordinarily, I pass on the mashed potatoes (or just take a tiny bit) to save stomach real estate for more flavorful dishes (sacrilege I know), but THESE potatoes I would pile high. Good bye bland sticky mashed potatoes; hello salty, garlicky, baby red bliss!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
Love salt potatoes and love mashed potatoes! These are perfect!
Cheri says
We made these for dinner tonight. They are the best smashed garlic potatoes we’ve ever had. Thanks for sharing your fantastic recipes.
Audra says
Aw thanks so much Cheri! I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know :)
Lynna says
If I could lick my computer screen to get JUST taste of these right now…….I`ll be one very happy girl!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
Perfect for Thanksgiving! I would love to have a heaping helping of these potatoes!
tara says
Mmmm mashed potatoes. These look delicious!
Renee @ Awesome on $20 says
These sound pretty comforting. I love super garlicy potatoes.
Nutmeg Nanny says
So so excited to taste these :) I just love mashed potatoes, especially when garlic is in the mix!
Baked Potato Ovens says
The color of this dish look so yummy…:) And yeah me and my friends love mashed potatoes.Hope my friends like my dish after getting tips from you mate.. :)
Clyde says
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What may you recommend about your submit that you simply made some
days in the past? Any positive?