Milk-Simmered Mashed Potatoes

Milk Street came up with the genius idea of cooking potatoes in milk to create rich and delicious mashed potatoes without adding cream. Don’t worry- there was still plenty of butter. 🙂

This recipe was adapted from Milk Street, contributed by Diane Unger. I modified the proportions and cooking time. Fabulous.

The original recipe notes that it is important to use whole milk because low-fat milk could break during the simmering process. Also, the potatoes should not be rinsed or soaked in water once cut. Doing so will wash off the starch, which is crucial for their creamy texture.

Yield: 8 servings

• 4 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 5 cups whole milk, plus more as needed
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 8 tablespoons salted butter (one stick), cut into 8 pieces

1. In a large saucepan, combine the potatoes, milk and 2 teaspoons of salt. (I used a Dutch oven.)
2. Bring to a simmer over medium, then reduce to low and cook, uncovered and stirring often, until the potatoes are beginning to fall apart and most of the milk has been absorbed, 40 to 50 minutes.
3. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the butter and, using a potato masher, mash the potatoes into an almost-smooth puree.
4. If desired, thin with additional milk. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Crispy Thick-Cut Oven Fries

I am not sure that I would have tried this recipe if I hadn’t seen these fries made on an episode of America’s Test Kitchen. The method is unusual- the cut potatoes are coated in a cornstarch slurry prior to being baked. This coating allows a crust to form on the outside of the fries just like a deep-fried fry. They were crispy and delicious. I’ve made them twice already! 🙂

This recipe was adapted from America’s Test Kitchen, via Brit.co. I doubled the recipe with the exception of the oil, used Maine gold potatoes, and cut the slices smaller than suggested.

Yield: Serves 4 to 5

• vegetable oil spray
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil (I used canola oil)
• 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes or Maine gold potatoes, unpeeled
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt, or more, to taste

1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 425°F, preferably on convection roast.
2. Generously spray rimmed baking sheet with vegetable oil spray. Pour oil into prepared sheet and tilt until surface is evenly coated with oil. (The oil spray contains a surfactant called lecithin, which prevents the oil from pooling and, in turn, prevents the potatoes from sticking. Using the oil spray also decreases the total amount of oil to 3 tablespoons, just enough to evenly coat the fries.) Note: If halving the recipe, do not modify the amount of oil used to coat the pan.
3. Halve potatoes lengthwise and turn halves cut sides down on cutting board. Trim a thin slice from both long sides of each potato half; discard trimmings.
4. Slice potatoes lengthwise into 1/3- to 1/2-inch-thick planks. (each potato slice should have 2 flat sides)
5. Combine 2/3 cup water and cornstarch in large bowl, making sure no lumps of cornstarch remain on bottom of bowl.
6. Microwave, stirring every 20 seconds, until mixture begins to thicken, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and continue to stir until mixture thickens to pudding-like consistency. (If necessary, add up to 1 tablespoon water to achieve correct consistency.)
7. Transfer potatoes to bowl with cornstarch mixture and toss until each plank is evenly coated.
8. Arrange planks on prepared sheet, leaving small gaps between planks. (Some cornstarch mixture will remain in bowl.)
9. Cover sheet tightly with lightly greased aluminum foil and bake for 12 minutes. (Covering the fries with foil ensures that they are fully tender by the end of the baking time.)
10. Remove foil from sheet and bake until bottom of each fry is golden brown, 7 to 15 minutes.
11. Remove sheet from oven and, using thin metal spatula, carefully flip each fry.
12. Return sheet to oven and continue to bake until second sides are golden brown, 7 to 15 minutes longer.
13. Sprinkle fries with 1 teaspoon salt. Using spatula, carefully toss fries to distribute salt.
14. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate and season with salt, to taste. Serve.

Rice & Potato Tahdig

I have an overwhelming collection of tahdig recipes. I have always wanted to make this Persian rice dish!

The dish is named for the crispy layer of rice that forms at the bottom of the pot is known as tahdig, which means “bottom of the pot.” This version also has thinly sliced potatoes in the crispy layer. This was my first attempt, and although delicious, it was a little bit too crispy and dark on the top. I modified the cooking times in the recipe below.

This recipe is from Antoni in the Kitchen by Antoni Porowski. I used Yukon gold potatoes and seasoned the finished dish with sprinkled sumac.

Yield: Serves 8 as a side dish

• 2 cups white Basmati rice
• Kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp crumbled saffron threads
• 4 T (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, divided
• 3/4 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 small Russet or 1-2 small Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/16-inch thick
• 1 T coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 T dried cranberries, coarsely chopped, optional
• sumac, for sprinkling, optional

1. Place the rice in a large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon salt and cold water to cover by 1 inch; stir. Let stand for 30 minutes.
2. Drain the rice in a strainer and rinse under cold water until the water runs clear.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the saffron with 1 tablespoon of hot water; set aside.
4. Place the rice in a large saucepan. Add 8 cups water and 2 tablespoons salt and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the rice is slightly softened on the outside, 3 to 4 minutes.
5. Drain the rice in a sieve and rinse under cold running water, then shake well to remove excess water. Set aside.
6. Cut out a round of parchment paper to cover the bottom of a 10-inch wide or other wide heavy pot with a lid, such as a Dutch oven. (I used a 10-inch enameled cast iron Dutch oven.) Line the pan with the parchment round.
7. Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the pot and melt over medium-low heat, then remove from the heat and stir in the turmeric and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
8. Arrange the potatoes, overlapping, on the bottom of the pan.
9. Add the rice and 1/4 teaspoons salt to the bowl with the saffron water and gently stir to combine.
10. Spoon the rice on top of the sliced potatoes (do not press or pack down). Using a fork, gently spread the rice in an even layer.
11. Cook, uncovered, over medium or medium-low heat, until the mixture is fragrant, about 7 to 10 minutes. (I cooked it for 10 minutes over medium heat but would reduce the time to 7 minutes next time- possibly over medium-low heat.)
12. Wrap a clean dishcloth or flour sack towel around the lid and tightly cover the pan, folding the cloth over the edges of the lid.
13. Reduce the lowest possibly setting and cook, undisturbed, until the potatoes are crisp (you can peek by lifting up the mixture at an edge or two with a large serving spoon), 1 1/2 hours to 1 3/4 hours.
14. Uncover and dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
15. Remove the pan from the heat. Invert the dish onto a serving plate, then lift off and discard the parchment paper.
16. Sprinkle with the parsley, cranberries, and sumac, as desired.

Curly Fries

I am not a huge French fry person, but I do love curly fries. 🙂 When my husband surprised me with a spiralizer, I planned to use it to make zucchini noodle dishes… Somehow, curly fries moved to the top of the list. Zucchini noodles will be next!

This recipe was adapted from Ree Drummond, via Food Network.com. I think that they were especially delicious because of the seasoned batter. This recipe would be amazing with sweet potatoes too.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

For the Potatoes:

• 3 large potatoes (I used Yukon gold)
• Vegetable oil, for deep frying (about 3 liters- I used a combination of sunflower and canola oil)
• Kosher salt

For the Batter:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt (I used Slap Ya Mama creole seasoning)
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. For the potatoes: Using a medium-size spiralizer, cut the potatoes into fries and soak in water in a container for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
2. For the batter: Combine the flour, paprika, seasoned salt, cayenne, some salt and pepper and 1 cup water in a measuring cup and pour into a large resealable plastic bag.
3. Drain the fries in a colander and pat dry. Break the long strands into smaller portions.
4. Put the cut potatoes in the bag with the batter and massage to make sure they are coated thoroughly with it. Set aside for 30 minutes so the fries can absorb all the flavors.
5. Prior to frying, drain the batter-soaked fries in a colander set over a bowl.
6. Heat about 3 inches of oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat to 365 degrees F. (I used a deep pasta pot and a deep-frying thermometer.)
7. Cook the fries in batches until golden and crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes per batch.
8. Remove with a slotted spoon or Asian kitchen spider and drain on a paper towel-lined plate or rimmed baking sheet.
9. Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately.

Cheesy Hasselback Potato Gratin

This dish was part of our Thanksgiving feast as a second potato dish to compliment my son’s mashed potatoes. (He almost exclusively eats potatoes on Thanksgiving Day!)

This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by J. Kenji López-Alt, from his book titled “The Food Lab.” I substituted unpeeled Yukon Gold potatoes for the peeled russet potatoes and added extra garlic and cheese. 😉 I actually added the cheese at the wrong time (oops!) and was thankfully still quite pleased with the results.

Yield: Serves 6 to 8

Time: about 2 hours

• 3+ ounces finely grated Gruyère or Comté cheese
• 2 ounces finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 4 medium cloves garlic, minced
• 1 T fresh thyme leaves
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 1/2 to 5 pounds unpeeled Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced 1/8-inch thick on a mandoline
• 2 T unsalted butter

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees, preferably on convection.
2. Combine cheeses in a large bowl.
3. Transfer 1/3 of the cheese mixture to a separate bowl and set aside.
4. Add cream, garlic, and thyme to cheese mixture.
5. Season generously with salt and pepper.
6. Add potato slices and toss with your hands until every slice is coated with cream mixture, making sure to separate any slices that are sticking together to get the cream mixture in between them.
7. Grease a 2-quart casserole dish dish with butter.
8. Pick up a handful of potatoes, organizing them into a neat stack, and lay them in the casserole dish with their edges aligned vertically.
9. Continue placing potatoes in the dish, working until all of the potatoes have been added. The potatoes should be very tightly packed. (If necessary, slice an additional potato, coat with cream mixture, and add to casserole.)
10. Pour the excess cream/cheese mixture evenly over the potatoes until the mixture comes halfway up the sides of the casserole. (You may not need all of the excess!)
11. Cover the dish tightly with foil and transfer to the oven. Bake for 30 minutes.
12. Remove the foil and continue baking until the top is pale golden brown, about 30 minutes longer.
13. Carefully remove from oven, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and return to the oven. Bake until deep golden brown and crisp on top, about 30 minutes.
14. Remove from oven, let rest for a few minutes, and serve.

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

I have been waiting almost a year to share my 2018 Thanksgiving recipes. 🙂

These mashed potatoes were so delicious, my son is planning to make them himself this year as his contribution to the feast. (…and to ensure that they make it back on the menu!) He has also requested scalloped potatoes.

This recipe was adapted from Bon Appétit, contributed by Chris Morocco. I prepared the potatoes in advance, earlier in the day, and kept them warm in a slow-cooker until the rest of the meal was ready to be served.

The beauty of this recipe is that the potatoes can be made up to TWO days before Thanksgiving. The finished dish can be gently reheated with just a little more dairy. The science behind this is that because the butterfat coats the potato starches, it prevents them from becoming sticky or gummy. If you are apprehensive to make this dish so far in advance, the potatoes can be prepared through step 6 (riced) and the remaining steps can be completed just prior to serving.

Yield: 8 servings

• 4 lb. medium Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed
• Kosher salt
• 2/3 to 1 cup heavy cream
• 2/3 to 1 cup whole milk
• 1 1/4 cups (2½ sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• freshly ground black pepper

1. Place potatoes in a large pot and pour in cold water to cover by 1″.
2. Add a large handful of salt (water should taste briny, like the ocean) and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are very tender but not crumbly, 30–40 minutes.
4. Drain and return potatoes to warm pot to dry (off heat).
5. Meanwhile, heat 2/3 cup cream and 2/3 cup milk in a small saucepan over medium until just about to simmer. Reduce heat to low and keep warm until ready to add to potatoes.
6. Pass hot potatoes and butter through ricer into a large bowl (this will help combine them quickly; most of the skins should stay behind but pick out any small pieces that get through if you want); season generously with salt.
7. Mix with a potato masher until butter is melted and combined.
8. Mixing constantly, gradually add warm cream mixture to potatoes, then mix in sour cream.
9. Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired.

Do Ahead: Potatoes can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. To serve, transfer potatoes to a pot and add 1/3 cup heavy cream and 1/3 cup whole milk; reheat over medium-low, stirring often to prevent scorching.

Chile-Butter Chicken With Vinegared Potatoes, Scallions, & Herbs

One of my friends is always encouraging me to roast a whole chicken for dinner. Well, needless to say, I have a couple fabulous roast chicken dishes to share! I am so happy that I always take her advice. 🙂

I loved all of the fresh herbs in this first dish- especially because I had tons of CSA cilantro and parsley at the time. The chicken is also roasted over a bed of sliced potatoes- which soaked up a lot of the wonderful pan drippings. Delicious! This wonderful sheet pan recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by Alison Roman. I used a larger chicken and increased the amount of potatoes and garlic.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

• 1 (4 1/2 to 5 pound) chicken, or 4 1/2 to 5 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken parts
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
• 2 teaspoons red-pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika
• 4 garlic cloves, finely grated
• 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed and sliced 1/4-inch thick (I used a mandoline)
• ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup cilantro and/or parsley, tender leaves and stems, coarsely chopped
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced

1. Heat oven to 425 degrees, preferably on convection roast. Season chicken with salt and pepper; set aside.
2. Melt butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small pot over medium heat. Add red-pepper flakes, paprika and grated garlic and swirl to combine. Let sizzle a minute or 2 to really infuse the butter, and remove from heat.
3. Layer the potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with vinegar, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with a bit of olive oil.
4. Place chicken on top of potatoes, breast side up, and drizzle with the chile butter, drizzling any extra butter onto the potatoes.
5. Place in oven and roast until chicken and potatoes are deeply golden brown, and chicken is cooked through, 45 to 55 minutes for a whole chicken, 40 to 45 minutes for parts. (I used the oven temperature probe and cooked the whole chicken until the temperature in the thickest part of the breast reached 165 degrees.) 
6. Remove from oven and let chicken rest on potatoes for a few minutes so the juices mingle with the potatoes. Carve the chicken (or slice the pieces) and transfer to a large plate or platter along with potatoes.
7. Scatter with herbs and scallions before serving.