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Garlic and Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on April 1, 2011

Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 6

Garlic and Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients

2 pounds russet potatoes, unpeeled and scrubbed5 medium cloves garlic, peeled2 teaspoons kosher salt plus ⅛ additional teaspoon½ cup extra virgin olive oil plus 2 additional tablespoons½ teaspoon ground black pepper 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon

Before You Begin

As this dish is denser and more intensely flavored than traditional mashed potatoes, our suggested serving size is smaller than you might expect. These potatoes make a fine accompaniment to simply seasoned grilled meats, fish, and poultry.

Instructions

  1. Place potatoes in large saucepan with water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-low and cook at bare simmer until just tender (potatoes will offer very little resistance when poked with paring knife), 40 to 45 minutes.
  2. While potatoes are simmering, mince 1 garlic clove (or press through garlic press). Place minced garlic on cutting board and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. Using flat side of chef's knife, drag garlic and salt back and forth across cutting board in small circular motions until garlic is ground into smooth paste. Transfer to medium bowl and set aside.
  3. Mince remaining 4 cloves garlic (or press through garlic press). Place in small saucepan with 1/4 cup olive oil and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until garlic foams and is soft, fragrant, and golden, 5 minutes. Transfer oil and garlic to bowl with raw garlic paste.
  4. Drain cooked potatoes; set food mill or ricer over now-empty saucepan. Using paring knife, peel skins from potatoes. Working in batches, cut peeled potatoes into large chunks and process through food mill or ricer into saucepan.
  5. Add remaining salt, pepper, lemon juice, and remaining 6 tablespoons uncooked olive oil to bowl with garlic and cooked oil and whisk to combine. Fold mixture into potatoes and serve.

Garlic and Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

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Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 6

Ingredients

2 pounds russet potatoes, unpeeled and scrubbed
5 medium cloves garlic, peeled
2 teaspoons kosher salt plus ⅛ additional teaspoon
½ cup extra virgin olive oil plus 2 additional tablespoons
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 pounds russet potatoes, unpeeled and scrubbed
5 medium cloves garlic, peeled
2 teaspoons kosher salt plus ⅛ additional teaspoon
½ cup extra virgin olive oil plus 2 additional tablespoons
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

2 pounds russet potatoes, unpeeled and scrubbed
5 medium cloves garlic, peeled
2 teaspoons kosher salt plus ⅛ additional teaspoon
½ cup extra virgin olive oil plus 2 additional tablespoons
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

To prevent the flavor of garlic from overpowering the potatoes in our garlic and olive oil mashed potato recipe, we created a mild flavor base by slowly cooking minced garlic in oil, then heightened the garlic flavor just a bit by adding 1 teaspoon of raw garlic paste. Adding a splash of lemon juice to the fluffy potatoes along with the garlic oil and garlic paste was the finishing touch for our garlic mashed potatoes recipe.

Before You Begin

As this dish is denser and more intensely flavored than traditional mashed potatoes, our suggested serving size is smaller than you might expect. These potatoes make a fine accompaniment to simply seasoned grilled meats, fish, and poultry.

Instructions

  1. Place potatoes in large saucepan with water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-low and cook at bare simmer until just tender (potatoes will offer very little resistance when poked with paring knife), 40 to 45 minutes.
  2. While potatoes are simmering, mince 1 garlic clove (or press through garlic press). Place minced garlic on cutting board and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. Using flat side of chef's knife, drag garlic and salt back and forth across cutting board in small circular motions until garlic is ground into smooth paste. Transfer to medium bowl and set aside.
  3. Mince remaining 4 cloves garlic (or press through garlic press). Place in small saucepan with 1/4 cup olive oil and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until garlic foams and is soft, fragrant, and golden, 5 minutes. Transfer oil and garlic to bowl with raw garlic paste.
  4. Drain cooked potatoes; set food mill or ricer over now-empty saucepan. Using paring knife, peel skins from potatoes. Working in batches, cut peeled potatoes into large chunks and process through food mill or ricer into saucepan.
  5. Add remaining salt, pepper, lemon juice, and remaining 6 tablespoons uncooked olive oil to bowl with garlic and cooked oil and whisk to combine. Fold mixture into potatoes and serve.

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