Quick and Easy Mashed Potatoes Ideas

Everyone loves mashed potatoes, and many families often have their own special recipe, be it a simple dish of creamy, smooth potatoes, or embellished with clumps of roasted garlic, or garnished with onions and chives.

Potatoes are a versatile vegetable, able to be complimented in a variety of ways with a wide assortment of additional ingredients and garnishes. Mashed potatoes can be enjoyed nearly every night in many different ways with a few simple ideas that can take bland mashed potatoes and transform them into tasty, exciting side dishes.

The holidays are an especially important time to be ready with a delicious mashed potatoes recipe, since mashed potatoes often accompany holiday dinners and many other feasts during the colder months. These quick mashed potatoes ideas can help you create tasty mashed potatoes dishes quickly and effortlessly.

Of course, garlic mashed potatoes are always a favorite. To make delicious garlic mashed potatoes, have ready an amount of minced garlic (depending on how garlicky you would like your potatoes, and simmer the garlic in a few tablespoons of butter and 1 cup of lowfat milk until heated. Then, mix with the mashed potatoes, adding more milk if necessary.

As an alternative, you can roast the garlic for a slightly different flavor, or leave in larger pieces before simmering if desired.

For fat free mashed potatoes with an extra touch of flavor, take your peeled and boiled potatoes, mash them, and add up to a 1/2 cup of skim milk until your potatoes have reached your desired smoothness. Garnish with an herb seasoning.

In keeping with a holiday theme for either Thanksgiving or Christmas, these holiday style mashed potatoes are a unique treat. Peel and cut 8 pounds of potatoes into pieces, season with salt, and add to a large pot (a dutch oven is preferable) with water. Bring the potatoes to a boil and then simmer until soft. Drain the water and add a can of chicken broth (you can also purchase chicken broth with garlic and herbs if desired) a 1/2 cup of butter, a cup of sour cream, and 2 teaspoons of mixed herbs (sage, thyme, parsley, oregano) and salt to taste. Beat the mixture until smooth. Serve and garnish with paprika.

Mashed potatoes with onions are also a common desire at the dinner table. For delicious mashed potatoes with caramelized onions, thinly slice the desired amount of onions and cook in a tablespoon of butter over high heat until browned, about 20 minutes. When done, stir the onions into the mashed potatoes.

Mashed potatoes are also great garnished with red pepper flakes, cajun seasoning, garam masala, sesame seeds, or mixed with a tablespoon or two of Dijon mustard. The possibilities are endless.