These are the best garlic Parmesan mashed potatoes; you will just not be able to stop eating them!
Enjoy our delicious garlic Parmesan mashed potatoes. They're made with confit or roasted garlic for a delightful twist. They have a rich, buttery taste with a hint of sweet, roasted garlic flavor and smooth and velvety texture, making each bite creamy and comforting.
When it comes to potato dishes, I'm all in โ roasted, smashed, or plain boiled, they're all fantastic. But today, we're talking about something extra special, a must-try dish. Imagine creamy mashed potatoes infused with roasted garlic, bringing a whole new level of deliciousness to your plate.
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โWhat is garlic confit?
Let's break it down: Garlic confit is like a magic trick for garlic. It's when you cook garlic slowly in oil until it becomes soft and sweet. Imagine the strong garlic flavor turning into a gentle, roasted taste. This roasted garlic is what makes our mashed potatoes extraordinary.
Now, let's talk about why garlic confit is a game-changer. When you mix it with mashed potatoes, it's like a perfect partnership of flavors. The soft, sweet, roasted garlic blends with the creamy mashed potatoes. It's a delicious combination that's not too strong or mild.
This special ingredient makes your potatoes incredibly yummy, and it's the secret behind why they taste so good.
Check out more confit recipes: Duck Confit and Potato Confit.
๐Recipe ingredients
- Potatoes: Starchy potatoes are often called floury potatoes or mealy potatoes. They have a high starch content, which makes them ideal for making fluffy mashed potatoes, crispy French fries, and other dishes where a light, fluffy texture is desired.
- Common varieties of floury or starchy potatoes include Russet, Yukon Gold, Idaho, King Edward, Maris Piper, and Kennebec.
- Garlic confit: The secret to our rich, roasted garlic flavor. You will need whole bulbs of fresh garlic.
- Parmesan: This cheese adds a savory, slightly salty kick. I always recommend using freshly grated cheese from a wedge; it tastes and melts better.
- Full-fat milk: It's what makes our mash creamy.
- Butter in mashed potatoes provides flavor and creaminess and helps bind the potatoes together. It makes the mash taste better and gives it a smoother texture.
๐Variations and Additions
- Cheesy twist: Experiment with different cheeses like cheddar, gruyere, or blue cheese to create unique and delicious variations of your garlic confit mashed potatoes.
- Herbs and spices: Play with herbs and spices like rosemary, thyme, nutmeg, or paprika.
- Toppings: Sprinkle your garlic and Parmesan mashed potatoes with chives, extra cheese, or crispy bacon bits.
- Mix in greens like sautรฉed spinach, kale, or even roasted cauliflower. Check out our Spinach Mashed Potatoes or the Cauliflower and Potato Mash.
- Make it vegan: Swap the butter and milk with plant-based alternatives like olive oil and almond milk to create an equally satisfying vegan-friendly version.
๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ณHow to make mashed potatoes with roasted garlic and Parmesan?
How to roast garlic in the oven?
- Peel the cloves. Be careful of the smallest cloves if you're using a whole bulb. They roast faster and can get too dark, so it's best to leave them out.
Step 1: Place the cloves in a small ovenproof dish and add olive oil. You want them to be nicely coated.
Step 2: Roast the garlic until it becomes very soft (to be able to mash it with a fork).
Boil the potatoes
- Wash and peel them. Cut them into smaller, even-sized pieces.
- Place them in a pot and cover them with cold water. When the water starts boiling, add salt.
Step 3: Cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain well.
Step 4: Mash with the potato ricer or a regular potato masher.
Make the potato mash
- Heat the milk in a small pot or the microwave.
- Combine the potatoes with the milk, garlic, butter, and grated Parmesan. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Be generous with the salt, but adjust the quantity as required; you will need less salt if using salted butter for the mashed potatoes.
- Stir in the parsley or dill (or both).
โExpert Tips
Watch out for the tiny cloves in a whole bulb if you're roasting them. They tend to cook faster and might become overly dark, so it's a good idea to exclude them.
Starting with cold water when cooking potatoes ensures even cooking and prevents the outer layers from overcooking before the insides are done. This method also helps maintain the potato's desired texture, preventing them from becoming mushy.
Mashing technique: Use a potato masher or a ricer for a smooth mash. Avoid over-mashing to prevent a gluey texture.
Warm ingredients: Use room-temperature butter and warm milk when mashing for better absorption and creaminess.
โRecipe FAQ
Yes, you can use dairy-free options like almond milk and vegan butter for a dairy-free version.
Donโt overmix; excessive mashing can lead to a sticky texture. Gently mash until the desired consistency is achieved.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave. Add a splash of milk and stir before reheating.
You can do more with the roasted garlic cloves if you'd like. For example, you can make crostini by toasting Italian bread slices and spreading them with mashed roasted garlic.
To give them extra flavor, you can also mix the mashed roasted garlic into spreads, dips, soups, or stews. Try it on grilled meats, stir it into risotto, or mix it with mayonnaise.
๐ฝ๏ธWhat to serve with garlic mashed potatoes?
You can pair this dish with virtually anything โ who could resist a generous serving of these delicious roasted garlic mashed potatoes? Here are some suggestions:
Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Equipment
- Small oven-proof dish
- Large pot
Ingredients
- 2 medium garlic bulbs
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2.5 lbs starchy potatoes 1.2 kg
- 1 ยผ cups full-fat milk 300 ml, Note 1
- 2 tablespoons butter Note 2
- โ cup freshly grated Parmesan 35 g/ 1.2 oz
- fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley or dill
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 320ยฐF/ 160ยฐC.
- Prepare the garlic: Remove the tiny garlic cloves (much smaller than the rest of the garlic cloves from the bulbs) and use them for something else. Peel the other garlic cloves and place them in the small baking dish.2 medium garlic bulbs
- Roast garlic: Pour the oil on top and turn the cloves into it. Roast them for about 20 minutes, tossing again half time, or until the garlic cloves are lightly golden and very tender. Blend the garlic and their oil in a small processor or mash them finely with a fork and then the back of a spoon.3 tablespoons olive oil
- Boil potatoes: In the meantime, peel and cube the potatoes. Place them in the pot and cover them with cold water (Note 3). Bring to a boil, add salt, cover the pot, leaving a crack open, and cook the potatoes for about 15 โ 20 minutes or until fork tender. Drain very well.2.5 lbs starchy potatoes
- Mash potatoes with the potato ricer or a regular potato masher (Note 4).
- Heat the milk in a small pot or the microwave.1 ยผ cups full-fat milk
- Combine: Add milk, garlic, butter, and grated Parmesan to the potatoes. Mix to combine and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Be generous with the salt, but adjust the quantity as required; you will need less salt if using salted butter for the mashed potatoes. Mix well with a wooden spoon. Stir in the chopped herbs and serve immediately.2 tablespoons butter + โ cup freshly grated Parmesan + fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper + 2 tablespoons chopped parsley or dill
Notes
- Vegan or dairy-free alternative: Use vegan/dairy-free options like almond milk and vegan butter or margarine.
- Use room-temperature butter and warm milk when mashing for better absorption and creaminess. Starting with cold water when cooking potatoes ensures even cooking and prevents the outer layers from overcooking before the insides are done.
- Mashing: Use a potato masher or a ricer for a smooth mash. Avoid over-mashing to prevent a gluey texture.
angiesrecipes says
So creamy, tasty and very comforting!