Holiday Mashed Potatoes Recipe
These holiday mashed potatoes are perfect for any family gathering!
I questioned very much if I should share this recipe. I know there are many of you out there that still subscribe to the “fat-is-bad” idea. So I wasn’t sure what the reaction to this recipe would be. But…
It is clean.
Clean eating is about avoiding processed foods. If you purchase organic, pastured dairy products, then the fat just becomes a healthy part of your eating plan. Yes, fat is healthy. We need fat. Good fat. Tasty fat.
I make these mashed potatoes once a year for Thanksgiving. I have no guilt in eating them either. Yes, there’s a ton of fat. So much so, I won’t even bother posting nutrition data for this one. I mean honestly, if you’re going to eat these, just enjoy them. (Yes, I’m being stubborn about the fat. I refuse to post the nutrition data here on principle alone. There are plenty of recipe calculators on the web if you really must know.).
This is the one dish that my family requests that I bring no matter where I’m going for the holidays. And since I’m cooking this year, you can bet it will be on my table for everyone this year too. No guilt, no regrets. Just happy faces around the table. And what better way to share clean eating than with something that tastes so sinfully good?
And for those trying to avoid fat or at the very least, cut back on it, you can always substitute a lot of the fat with chicken broth and some coconut oil for smoothness and flavor. If you do this, you may also want to try mixing in a little garlic powder for extra flavor.
Also, if you need to cut down on the glycemic effect, try blending in some steamed cauliflower. You can replace about half the potatoes with cauliflower, then proceed with the recipe as instructed.
Note that I give you an option below to slightly cut back on the fat content. However, I do not use the potato water. I use the cream. And yes, it’s good. Really good. Fat and all.
More Healthy Holiday Recipes
Holiday Mashed Potatoe Recipe
Holiday Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 5 lb. russet potatoes (peeled – you can leave the skins on if you like skins in your MPs)
- 8 oz. butter (2 sticks)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream (or 2 cups if not using the potato water)
- ½ cup reserved water (from boiling potaotoes, plus extra if needed – OR omit water and use 2 cups heavy whipping cream)
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes in a large stock pot.
- When the potatoes are soft and falling apart, drain the water, being sure to reserve at least 1 cup incase you need it.
- Allow the potatoes to cool enough that you can handle them.
- Once cooled, use a dull-edged knife to peel the skins. You can leave them on if you prefer skins in your mashed potatoes.
- Mash the potatoes, butter and whipping cream together. Test the consistency. If you like it, you only have salt left to add. If you don’t like it, add more cream or some potato water (as you wish) until you reach your desired consistency.
- Serve with…. BUTTER!
Huzzah!! Pretty much the way my Mom and I (and my late grandmother) prepare mashed potatoes. We use whole milk and still have fabulous results.Obscene amounts of butter… I think if our guests saw what happens in the prep they would run screaming into the night. 😀 Life is too short to eat crappy mashed potatoes! Especially at Thanksgiving. A little of the ‘good stuff’ goes a long way.
Thank you for everything you do! You make my clean eating adventure much easier!
Jessica W – Haha! Yes, you have to enjoy good mashed potatoes at least once a year. No way around it. 🙂
Sounds absolutely divine! And I agree with the whole fat thing. I will definitely try these sometime.
Melissa – Let me know how you like them!
This is exactly my grandma’s recipe for potatoes. It is simple and delicious and, mostly importantly, you can actually taste the potatoes. It’s not bogged down by crazy ingredients and complements any Thanksgiving meal!
Emily – Exactly! I do enjoy actually tasting the potatoes! 🙂
Sounds wonderful and yummy! Cannot wait to try this recipe. Thank you.
Lori – I hope you enjoy it!
Just wondering if you have though about using cauliflower in replace of potatoes for those who are worried about some of the starchy content?
RandiH – I have and it’s totally doable. You can follow the same recipe here but just add the cream and butter to your liking.
Could I use half n half instead of cream?
Amy – Sure!
So can you boil the potatoes with or without the skins? You say to peel but then to peel after they have boiled. Any preference? thanks.
Jen – I always peel mine after boiling. It just works better for me.
YUM 🙂 This is how my Gram made mashed potatoes too! Russets and tons of butter 🙂
I am just starting this clean eating thing and your entire website is the cornerstone of my change. I appreciate your website SO MUCH!!! You are one awesome chef and person for doing all this!! <3
Dian – Awww, thank you so much! That’s so sweet of you to say. 😀
We are new to clean eating in my household and the one thing we’ve been wondering about is ” mashed potatoes “. They are a staple in my house and we eat them usually once or twice a week :/ . I do use milk instead of cream ( although with the cream they are much better ), so we were wondering if we should we cut back or not be eating them at all in the ” clean eating lifestyle “? My husband is very opposed to ruling them out completely and he hates whenever I mix them with cauliflower to try and lighten them up lol. Thanks!
Cherelle – Potatoes, in and of themselves, are clean. They are unaltered as they are. Not processed (in their natural state). But potatoes contain a ton of starch and sugars, so most clean eaters avoid them or limit them. If you eat them twice a week, try cutting back to once a week. It takes time to make these adjustments. It’s okay if you don’t do this overnight. The truth is, if the cream is organic and grass-fed (whole foods sells it), then it’s completely clean. But if your goal is fat loss, then obviously, you don’t want to overdo it. That being said, you never want to use reduced fat milk as that is processed. So if you use milk, get the organic/grass-fed (Organic Valley) full fat. And if you can’t find or afford that type of milk, the next step would be to simply use full-fat (vitamin-d) milk in moderation.
How many people will this feed?
Alexis – It makes 10 cups.