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Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Butter, sour cream, and milk make Creamy Mashed Potatoes flavorful and fluffy. They are the best Thanksgiving side dish!
Servings: 8 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 large russet potatoes, about 3 pounds
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley, for garnish
  • salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Peel and cut potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Make them uniform in size, so that they cook evenly. Add the potatoes to a large pot of cold water, along with two teaspoons of salt.
  • Bring the potatoes to a boil and continue cooking over medium heat for another 10-12 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Drain the potatoes thoroughly and return them to the pan.
  • Add the butter and mash until combined. Add the sour cream and the milk and continue mashing until the potatoes are smooth and creamy. Do not overmix them.
    mashed potatoes
  • Season with salt and ground black pepper to taste. Serve with a main dish like turkey, ham or roasted chicken. Recipe makes 8 servings.

Equipment

  • 1 large saucepan, or small Dutch Oven
  • 1 potato masher, or potato ricer, or food mill

Notes

Tips on making perfect mashed potatoes:
  1. Always salt the water when boiling potatoes. Add two teaspoons of salt to the water. It sounds like a lot, but most of it will get drained off of the potatoes before mashing them.
  2. Drain the water completely from the potatoes. Excess water will make your mashed potatoes thin and watery.
  3. Salt and pepper your potatoes to taste before serving. They should taste great as a stand alone dish. Do not rely on your gravy to make them delicious.
  4. Never use an electric mixer to beat your mashed potatoes. They will become starchy and pasty when beaten too much. No one likes mashed potatoes that taste like paste. I know it may seem convenient, but you should use a potato masher, potato ricer or food mill to mash your potatoes.

Nutrition

Calories: 335kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 7gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 27mgPotassium: 1205mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 388IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 78mgIron: 2mg