Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy is some of the best side dishes to serve, especially with grilled vegetables, steaks, fried chicken, and fries. Mashed potato (American) is also known as mashed taters or “mash” in Britain, is a well-known dish made with mashed boiled potatoes, usually with some added ingredients like butter, milk, salt, and pepper.

What do mashed potatoes taste like? A perfect mashed potatoes dish taste creamy and soft and it is best for dunking in with fries and fried chicken.

I will be sharing one of the most classical mashed potatoes and gravy recipes that taste great and delicious, suitable for both adults and kids. Before that, let’s learn a bit more about mashed potato and its history, shall we?

Where did mashed potatoes and gravy come from?

The recipe of mashed potatoes with butter, cream, and other dairy products was first documented in the hardcover printed cookbook “The Art of Cookery” by Hannah Glasse in the mid-eighteenth century, which was a bestseller for a century after its first publication in Britain.

On the other hand, some people believed that the recipe of mashed potatoes is originated in the 1770s from a French man named Antoine Parmentier who is a famous vocal promoter of the potato as a food source for human beings in France and throughout Europe.

Recipe Ingredients:

Mashed Potatoes

• 2 x medium potatoes (peeled and cut)
• 30 ml fresh milk
• 1/2 tbsp butter
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Gravy

• 1/4 red onion
• 1/2 cloves of garlic (chopped into cubes)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1/2 tbsp corn starch
• 1/2 chicken stock cubes
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp white pepper
• 3/4 cups of water

The Main Ingredient – POTATO!

Since potato is the main ingredient for mashed potatoes and gravy recipes, choosing the right type of potato is critical.

It is recommended to use starchy potatoes like Russets or at least an all-purpose potato like Yukon Gold which has medium starch content for the dish. This is because starchy potatoes are high in starch content, have lower moisture content, floury texture, and a creamy taste that fits with the mashed potatoes ingredient requirement.

Avoid using waxy potatoes like Kipfler, Nadine, and Dutch Cream potatoes for making mashed potatoes. Waxy potatoes tend to hold their shape and are more likely to produce a chunky mash.

How to make the Mashed Potatoes and Gravy?

Mashed Potatoes

1. Remove the skin and cut them into 4 for each potato. Boil the potatoes in a pot of water (for about 15 minutes) until they sink into the bottom of the pot.
2. Drain the potatoes.
3. Add butter and mash the potatoes.
4. Add in salt and black pepper.
5. Add in the milk bit by bit until the mashed potatoes become creamy and fluffy.
6. Finally, mash up the potatoes again.

Gravy

1. In a pan, melt some butter and add in onions and garlic until they turn fragrant and caramelized.
2. Add in wheat flour (or corn starch) and mix well until the flour becomes well incorporated and turn brown.
3. Next, add in some water while mixing until you get desired consistency.
4. Then, put the gravy over medium heat and let it simmer before adding in chicken stock cubes, black pepper, and white pepper.

What other ingredients can be included in Mashed Potatoes?

If you are looking to make more flavourful or fancy mashed potatoes, you can add in the following ingredients:

• Bacon/Ham – Enhance the flavouring of the mashed potatoes with some smoky taste.
• Cream cheese– Add in cream cheese for extra cream and cheese-like flavour for the mashed potatoes.

What to serve/pair with the mashed potatoes and gravy?

• Fried Chicken – Fried chicken and mashed potatoes is one of the most classic pairing of all time (even KFC has sets of fried chicken with mashed potatoes). The smooth and creamy starch mashed potatoes are best side dish with the crispy and mouth-watering fried chicken.
• Beef Wellington – I like to pair this classic party or special occasion dish with the buttery and smooth of mashed potatoes. It elevates the magnificent taste of the dish significantly.
• Barbeque – Barbeque during summer is one of my favourites. Barbeque chicken or pork has strong smoky, sweet, and savoury tastes. The starchiness of mashed potatoes is the best side dish to balance the rich and decadent taste of barbeque meal.
• Pork Chops – The creamy and smooth mashed potatoes is also best pairing with pork chops. Sometimes pork chops can be dry in the texture, having mashed potatoes as a side can help balancing the dish with its creamy texture.
• Meatballs – Meatballs are great with rich gravy, smoky barbecue sauce, or tangy cranberries. Mashed potatoes on the other hand give meatballs a different combined texture and they taste great together.
• Steak – Grilled steak is mainly protein, the starchy mashed potatoes is the best complement to the meaty dish.

Is Mashed potatoes and gravy healthy?

Mashed potatoes can be healthy if you make them right. Mashed potatoes are generally less healthy than other types of potato dishes due to the amount of butter included in the recipe. The amount of butter in certain mashed potatoes and gravy recipes could cause excessive saturated fats in the meal. Home-made mashed potatoes and gravy are always more nutritious and healthier because you can control the ingredients included.