It’s ok to be fancy. If you want to be, that is. So many gals demurely deny their inner fanciness when it comes to cooking, homemaking and hospitality. Why would you? There’s no shame in enjoying your time in the kitchen or making others feel at ease in your home. Don’t feel bad about it! Cast off that “I’m not fussy like that” badge, and get your fancy on! I’m a true fan of fancy myself. I like special. Special Days. Special friends. Special meals. Everything deserves a touch of special, even regular ol’ everyday mashed potatoes. Yes, mashed potatoes. If you’ve got 30 minutes, you’ve got just what it takes to take any meal from “well…” to “whoa!” this week with these Horseradish Mashed Potatoes loaded with cream cheese and garlic!
And who wouldn’t want these whipped wonders on their table? With rich cream cheese and just a hint of horseradish, these potatoes are full of flavor and add a whole other dimension to steak or pot roast. A lot of times, side dishes are something we do to “round out the meal,” but why not make them something that adds to the meal instead? Why must sides be always the bridesmaid and never the bride?
Get your side dishes off the sidelines and out of the shadows and give them that little bit of fancy both you and they deserve.
Horseradish Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese & Garlic
What You’ll Need:
- Russet potatoes
- butter
- half and half
- cream cheese, softened
- creamy prepared horseradish
- salt and pepper
Let’s Get Started:
Mashed potatoes really are an easy side dish. The secret is the right boiling time and to mash the potatoes while they are still hot. Believe you me, I have missed it at times on one step or the other and created something more akin to wallpaper paste than light and fluffy potatoes piled high on my plate. Worried about lumpy potatoes? I got you cover on that too. Throw out that potato masher and use a hand mixer. Remember, we’re embracing fancy here.
Now, no matter how fancy we get, I hate to say, we’re still going to have to peel potatoes. So whether you prefer a peeler or a knife, it’s up to you, but washing, peeling, and cubing 5 medium to large Russet potatoes has to be done. Get those cubed potatoes in a boiler with some salt and let them boil for about 20 minutes, or just until they are fork tender. You want to be able to easily pierce them or half them with a fork. Don’t boil them too long though. You don’t want them to be falling apart.
When they’re ready, take them from the stove top and drain them. Set your empty hot boiler to the side. Go ahead and put your butter in it so it can start melting. Let your potatoes sit and drain in a colander for only a minute or two. You don’t want them or the boiler you cooked them in to cool off.
When all the extra water has drained off the potatoes, put them back in your warm boiler. Your butter should be about completely melted. Adding these hot potatoes will finish the job. Grab your hand mixer and mix the potatoes and butter together. Your potatoes should whip up pretty easily. Don’t overwork them or worry about getting them completely smooth right now. Little pea size pieces of potatoes in the mix is just fine. We’ve got more ingredients to add anyway!
In a small bowl, mix together your horseradish and softened cream cheese. Again a chunky mixture is fine. I use a fork for this job because it just makes it easier. Pour in your cream, add your salt, pepper, and garlic and give it all final stir before you add the whole kit and caboodle to your potatoes.
You are in the homestretch, my friends. Your dreamy horseradish mashed potatoes are just about ready to be served. But first, pick up that handmixer again and mix your horseradish and cream into your potatoes. This last good mixing should give you the fluffy potatoes you’ve been dreaming of. When you get it all whipped together, it never hurts to give them a little taste. Add a little more salt if you need to.
I’ve garnished these potatoes with a bit of small green onion top for a bit of color and extra flavor. I have to be honest, I even drizzled a little extra butter over the top. Go ahead. Your family will thank you. And besides… that’s right… your inner fancy. You’re getting the hang of it now.
*** Pin these easy-to-make (but oh-so-fancy) Horseradish Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese & Garlic here!***
Want more delicious side dish ideas? Try these ASD favorites.
Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits & Shrimp
Catch this and other great recipes at Weekend Potluck, Meal Plan Monday, and Full Plate Thursday.
Horseradish Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 5 medium- large Russet potatoes
- ¼ C butter
- ¼ C half and half
- 3 tablespoon creamy prepared horseradish
- 2 tablespoon 1 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Peel, cube, and boil potatoes (with 2 teaspoon salt-not in ingredients list) until fork tender.
- Remove from heat and drain potatoes for 1-2 minutes. Set aside hot boiler.
- Add butter to empty boiler to melt while potatoes are draining.
- Put potatoes back into boiler when drained. Using a handmixer, mix the potatoes and butter.
- Mix together horseradish and cream cheese. Stir in half and half, salt, pepper, and garlic.
- Add to potatoes. Mix well.
- Add extra salt to taste, if needed. Also more half and half can be added to achieve desired texture.
Notes
The flavors of these Mashed Potatoes will have me coming back for seconds, just delicious! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen
Thanks, Miz Helen! I am a horseradish fan. I don’t think we get to use it enough, do you? Ha! I love your visits. Thank you so much for stopping by!