Mashed potatoes are pretty freaking fantastic. They’re warm, comforting, and really quite versatile. You can eat them as a side dish, as a base to a bowl meal, and you can flavor them with any number of seasoning combos. The problem, though, is that most mashed potatoes contain a hefty amount of dairy. Cream and butter do make mashed potatoes awesomely rich and creamy, but I really don’t want people who can’t eat dairy or choose not to eat dairy to miss out on the magnificence of mashed potatoes. So, I made this Olive Oil Mashed Potato Recipe to make sure we can all get our mashed potato on.

Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary

What Do Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes Taste Like?

It’s important to note that olive oil mashed potatoes are different than buttery mashed potatoes. It’s not one of those things where we’re trying to mimic the flavor of dairy mashed potatoes with non-dairy ingredients. No, this is a different beast. Olive oil mashed potatoes are super light and fluffy, and not super rich or creamy. They’re a nice lighter alternative to the usually heavy dish. Because they’re lighter, they balance nicely with richer sauces or gravies without making the whole meal overly heavy.

This particular recipe also contains good dose of garlic, rosemary, and black pepper because when you eliminate the rich creamy flavor element, you need something to give the potatoes a punch of flavor in its place.

What Kind of Olive Oil Should I Use?

This depends largely on what your goal is. For the recipe below I wanted the olive oil flavor to come through because the floral flavor of extra virgin olive oil pairs so nicely with rosemary and garlic. If you’re not a fan of the flavor of olive oil, you can use light olive oil, which will still give the good smooth mouth-feel, but not heavily flavor the potatoes.

Make Sure Your Olive Oil is Fresh

Before you begin, give your olive oil a sniff and a taste. The olive oil should not smell or taste bitter. If it does, that means your olive oil has gone rancid and it will make your mashed potatoes taste very bad. Olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil, can go bad faster than other refined cooking oils, so it’s important to always check before you use it!

How to Use Your Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

Like I mentioned in the intro, mashed potatoes are so versatile! Use these dairy-free mashed potatoes to make a Loaded Mashed Potato Bowl, use them as a bed for some Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms, or as a topper for a Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie.

What Kind of Potatoes are Best for Mashing?

I prefer russet because I find them to be lighter and fluffier, but if you prefer a slightly more dense mashed potato, Yukon Gold is your winner. Waxier potatoes like red potatoes don’t mash quite as well, and are a little better for dishes where you want them to hold their shape, like potato salad, or adding to soups. 

Scroll down for the step by step photos!

 

How to Make Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes – Step by Step Photos

Peel and dice 2.5 lbs. of russet potatoes into 1-inch cubes. Place them in a colander and rinse them well under cool water to remove excess starch (too much starch makes mashed potatoes gluey).

Place the rinsed mashed potatoes in a pot and add enough water to cover them by one inch. Add 1/2 tsp salt. Place a lid on the pot and bring it up to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, remove the lid and turn the heat down to medium. Let the potatoes boil for about 10 minutes, or until they are very tender.

While the potatoes are boiling, mince four cloves of garlic and add them to a small sauce pot or skillet with ¼ cup olive oil. Place the pot over medium-low heat. Let the garlic sizzle in the oil for only 1-2 minutes to take the raw spicy edge off the flavor. You don’t want the garlic to brown or for the oil to get too hot. Remove the garlic and oil from the heat and set it aside.

After the potatoes have boiled, drain them in a colander, and give them a brief second rinse with warm water. Transfer the drained potatoes back to the pot, and turn the heat off. Add the garlic and olive oil, ½ tsp dried rosemary, and some freshly cracked black pepper (about 10 cranks of a pepper mill). Add ½ cup warmed vegetable broth and begin to mash the potatoes…

Or you can whip the mashed potatoes using a mixer. Add more broth as you mash or whip as needed, to keep the potatoes soft and moist. I ended up using about ¾ cup, but it will depend on your potatoes and how you like them.

Taste the mashed potatoes and add more salt and pepper to your liking. Remember, adding enough salt helps the flavors pop. I added about ¾ tsp at the end, but it will depend on the salt content of your broth and your taste buds.

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