Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes and gravy are a heavenly combination. I became a fan at the first taste. Very easy to make and tastes amazing. You can make it fat rich or low fat and still you won't compromise on the taste. Mine is the low fat version. There are numerous ways in which the mashed potatoes and gravy are made. I generally make them like this. I Also make a cranberry sauce, will post the recipe when I make it next time. Make and enjoy. Makes a good combination with steamed green beans and chile. I will post the recipe of Bean Chile soon.

Prep time: 40 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Servings: 3 to four

Ingredients:

For mashed potatoes:

1. 5- 7 medium sized golden or red potatoes

2. Scallions - 2 finely chopped [optional]

3. Chives - 2 tbsp dry or finely chopped fresh [optional]

4. Oil - 1 tsp

5. Garlic - 1 tsp minced, grated 

6. Salt - to taste

7. Ground Pepper - to taste

8. Milk - upto 1/2 a cup

9. Butter/oilve oil - 1 tbsp

For gravy:

1. Onion - 1 medium, finely chopped

2. Garlic - 1/2 tsp minced, grated

3. Soya Sauce - 2 tbsp

4. Corn Starch - 1/2 tsp mixed in 2 tsp cold water 

5. Brown sugar - 1 to 2 tsp [optional]

6. Cayanne/chilly/peprika powder - 1/2 - 1 tsp

7. Salt - to taste (soya sauce also has a lot of salt, so be careful)

8. Parsley - 1/2 tsp dry or finely chopped

9. Water - 1 to 1/2 cups

Method:

For mashed potatoes:

1. wash and boil potatoes untill well done. Turn the stove off, drain all the water and put the potatoes back on the stove for a few more seconds till the water evaporates. Keep in mind that, potatoes need to be hot to work further.

2. You may remove the skin or keep them, it is upto you.  I keep the skin. Mash them into a smooth paste.

3. In an other vessel which can hold all the mashed potatoes, heat oil and saute garlic in it. Simmer the flame and add mashed potatoes, oilve oil, salt and pepper and mix in. Add half of the milk and mix in well, if it can take more add little more and mix. keep adding little and mixing till potatoes can absorb the milk. Remember, it should not look like pan cake batter or become too runny.  Add scallions and chives or just any one of them and mix in well till they are evenly distributed. Turn the stove off and serve with a simple gravy.

Method to make gravy:

1. Heat oil in a pan and saute onions till they turn slightly golden brown. 

2. Add the garlic and saute for a few seconds. Add dry parsley and saute for a few seconds.

3. Add water soy sauce and let it boil for 3 minutes. 

4. Add salt, cayenne and brown sugar and let it boil for a couple of minutes.

5. Add the dissolved corn starch and boil till it thickens a little bit. Dissolve some more corn starch and add to get the right consistency. It must be like soup, slightly thick, but not too much. Add fresh parsley now if you are using it instead of dry. Cook for a minute more and pour on the potatoes and enjoy.

Tips:

1. I make the low fat version by using just olive oil or using "I can't believe it is not butter" and 1% fat milk. Amount of fat you put into these potatoes is totally upto you.

2. To make Mashed potatoes vegan, use soy/rice/almond milk instead of usual milk.