Meals Side Dish

Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Tangy mashed potatoes with enough structure to hold gravy, pan sauce, or braised meat.

  • Cuisine: American
  • Dietary: Vegetarian
Prep
15 min
Cook
25 min
Total
40 min
Yield
6 servings

Ingredients

Potatoes

  • 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

Finish

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup warm buttermilk
  • 1 garlic clove, finely grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Method

  1. Add the potatoes and salt to a large pot, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce to a strong simmer and cook until the potatoes are fully tender and break apart with little resistance.
  3. Drain well, return the potatoes to the warm pot, and let residual heat steam off excess moisture for 2 minutes.
  4. Mash with the butter first, then add the warm buttermilk, garlic, and pepper in stages until the texture is smooth but not gluey.
  5. Taste and adjust the salt, then cover loosely until serving.

Notes

Yukon Gold potatoes keep the texture creamy without needing a ricer. The buttermilk gives the mash enough acidity to balance richer main dishes, which is why this recipe works especially well with pan sauces and roasted meats.