When it comes to potatoes, mashed is always a pretty good option – especially during the colder months.
After all, they’re warm, comforting and totally delicious. They make a great side dish for a lot of winter meals.
The only thing is the hearty dish can sometimes be tough to get right. They can easily go lumpy, stodgy or even too wet in some cases.
Simple errors can lead to all sorts of problems. But, according to a chef from Fallow Restaurant, there’s a simple way to get them perfect every time.
In a recent TikTok video he revealed all as he demonstrated how to do it. Apparently, you should never boil the potatoes while cooking.
In a clip explaining what to do, he said: “Today we’re doing the ultimate mashed potato, like a chef. We’re just going to put on some coarse salt, and put the potatoes on here.
“I’m just going to pop it in an oven between 160 to 180 – cook them until the potatoes are completely soft all the way through. Just going to brush off the salt.
“Cut the potatoes in half, and it’s much easier to pass the potato while it’s still warm. Here I’ve got a fine chinois, and you’re just going to take the potato. Using the skin, you can use it to push the potato through like so.
“I’ve got my butter and my milk warm there, my potatoes warm here and then I’m going to add my first bit of liquid. So now here I have a thick mash. You can add a bit more milk if it’s starts to thicken up.”
He said you should always check the seasoning before you serve, and you can even use the skins to make a garnish if you want to. The chef showed how to do this in the video too so you don’t have lots of waste.
The video has been viewed over 30,000 times since it was shared, and people were quick to comment too. They had all sorts of thoughts on the recipe.
One person said: “Looks yummy.” Another added: “Looks great, but white pepper in mash surely?”
A third replied: “Never knew about the salt trick.” Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “Lamb shank on the side – bosh!”
If you’ve never seen anyone cook potatoes in salt before, there’s actually a reason why some people do it. Basically, salt acts as an insulator, which helps the potato to cook evenly.
As potatoes aren’t always perfectly symmetrical, it can be a good perk. It slows down the cooking time to ensure the food stays moist and tender.
