Description
Creamy creme fraiche mashed potatoes elevate classic comfort food with French-inspired luxury. Silky, rich potatoes deliver a smooth, indulgent side dish that will delight your palate and impress dinner guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Creme Fraiche Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes:
- 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) Yukon gold potatoes, peeled or unpeeled and cubed
Dairy:
- 4 ounces (113 grams) 1 stick salted butter, diced
- 8 ounces (226 grams) crème fraîche, at room temperature
- Heavy cream (if needed)
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 3 tablespoons minced chives
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Submerge diced potatoes in a medium pot, generously salted, with cold water. Heat over medium flame until liquid gently bubbles and potatoes become tender when pierced with a fork, approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Carefully drain potatoes in a colander, then transfer back to the original cooking pot. Introduce room temperature butter and pulverize using a potato masher or electric hand mixer until a soft, slightly chunky consistency develops.
- Fold in luxurious crème fraîche, continuing to blend until the mixture achieves a creamy, almost velvety texture. Incorporate finely chopped chives for a delicate herbal note.
- Assess the seasoning, introducing salt and freshly ground black pepper according to personal preference. Should the mashed potatoes appear overly dense, incrementally introduce heavy cream to achieve desired smoothness.
- For optimal flavor complexity, select premium cultured butter and authentic crème fraîche from specialty markets or gourmet grocers like Trader Joe’s.
- Alternative preparation method includes utilizing a potato ricer for an exceptionally smooth potato texture, which can enhance the overall silkiness of the dish.
- Serve immediately while the potatoes remain warm and maintain their sumptuous, creamy consistency.
Notes
- Use a hand mixer or potato masher gently to achieve a smooth yet slightly chunky texture without overworking the potatoes.
- Always start with cold water and potatoes to ensure even cooking and prevent mushiness.
- Select high-quality cultured butter for richer, more complex flavor that elevates the entire dish.
- Try adding roasted garlic, fresh herbs like thyme, or sharp cheese to create unique variations of this classic side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg