Mashed potatoes are a simple yet delicious dish that can evoke nostalgia and unlock sweet memories.
Making mashed potatoes is very simple, and cooking the potatoes in the microwave and oven can really trap the flavour and allow for a smooth consistency without becoming too gooey.
The crispy skin adds a crunchy texture to this classic dish. Mashed potatoes can be served as a delicious side dish or used to top a cottage pie or a Shepherd’s pie. For more side dish made using potatoes, try our delicious potatoes salad or oven-baked sweet potatoes fries.
Ingredients
For about 4 people, prep time 10 minutes, cooking time 30 – 40 minutes.
- 4 large potatoes (~1kg)
- 50g butter
- 250 – 500ml milk (tepid)
- Salt
- Herbs to garnish
Method
1 – Wash the potatoes very well and pierce them a few times with a fork. If available, cook them in the microwave for about 10 minutes using the vegetables or potato’s function. Then, bake them in the oven for a further 20 minutes.
2 – Once the potatoes are well cooked and soft, peel them, add them to a large bowl with some butter, and place the skins onto a baking tray.
3 – Mash the potatoes with a fork or a masher and slowly add the warm milk. Keep adding milk until it reaches the desired consistency. In the meantime, put the skin back in the oven for further cooking until crisp. Serve the mashed potatoes warm with some crispy skin and herbs on top.
Tips
- Baking the potatoes in the microwave first will reduce the cooking time, whilst baking them in the oven gives an extra nutty flavour. Alternatively, bake potatoes either in the oven or the microwave, whichever is available.
- Potatoes can also be boiled in water or steamed, but these latter methods tend to dilute the flavour of the potatoes.
