Mashed potatoes

About this recipe

Mashed potatoes are a familiar warm side dish served with vegetables, roast dinners and savoury sauces. Floury potatoes produce a light texture when cooked just until a fork slides through easily. After draining, a brief return to the hot pot removes excess water. The potatoes are then mashed and combined with milk and butter without prolonged beating. Too much mixing can release starch and make the mixture sticky. Salt and black pepper provide the simple seasoning of this version, without cheese, garlic or other additions. Serve the mash as soon as it is ready while it is still warm and soft. A hand-held potato masher lets you choose between a rustic and a smoother finish. This version uses slightly more milk than the starting recipe. Warming it separately and adding it after the butter makes the consistency easy to adjust. A hand-held masher helps keep the potatoes fluffy; prolonged beating can make them sticky.