Roasted Garlic Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes.
Had you asked me twenty years ago what my favorite food in all the land was, I would have loudly proclaimed POTATOES.
First, it pains me a little to be able to remember things that actually happened twenty years ago, that it’s even a possibility that I was alive twenty years ago and the fact that I reference things that happened so many moons ago is like… whaaat?
But truly. It was potatoes.
Potatoes were my favorite food all through childhood and the tween years. I’m talking ANYTHING with potatoes – but mostly potato specific dishes. Clearly, mashed potatoes and baked potatoes were there. Scalloped potatoes, my mom’s hash brown/potato chip cheesy casserole that she STILL makes to this day, the potatoes that were so oddly labeled “funeral potatoes” (only to be served with “funeral chicken”), the crazy loaded and stuffed baked potatoes from places like Wendy’s that I think I begged for once a week but probably only ate once or twice in my life. Things like that.
Imagine how blown my mind would have been had I known about hasselback potatoes back then? Cue major major freak out.
This was in the formative years of my life, the years where we thought it was a good idea to perm my hair to which then I overhead my mom telling my aunt on the phone that it looked like “Roseanne Barr’s hair,” when I owned so many Lisa Frank folders and notebooks but hated to actually use them because they were so PRETTY (I still have this issue), when I lived for flannel plaid skirts from Limited Too and just begged for my own darn pink clear plastic phone from Radio Shack so I could forever be DJ Tanner.
P.S. the year I did actually get a phone for Christmas was amazing, albeit not clear pink acrylic, but there was no phone jack in my room so I’d plug it in the upstairs hallway jack and lay with my feet up against the wall while talking for hours. Obviously the days before texting. That was sort of wonderful but, wow… you couldn’t pay me to talk on the phone for four hours today.
Yep. THOSE were the years that potatoes ranked up there as number one for me.
I’m still a potato lover, but not like I was back then. I don’t remember when they started to take a back seat but to things bacon and beans and pork and avocado and strawberries but it was most likely when I outgrew my ten-year old palate and started craving more flavor.
More flavor, like buttermilk bacon blue smashed potatoes!
Yes, when I look now, I seem to still have a bit of a potato obsession here on this rambly internet page. It creeps in every year around the holidays and hangs out through the freezing weather when only comfort foods will do.
These ones here, mashed in all their glory with tons of caramely roasted garlic cloves and creamy goat cheese, fall somewhere in the middle of the potatoes that I’ve shared in the past.
If you want to break all tradition on Thanksgiving, the buttermilk bacon blue ones will do. If you want to keep it simple, i.e. if your family just wants Thanksgiving to taste like it did in 1985 (which isn’t so terrible, I say), these brown butter mashed potatoes are where it’s AT. Because they are simple but have a little extra punch that makes you go… why the heck are these plain potatoes so good?
If you fall in the center like me, craving nostalgic tradition but always wanting something new and exciting, something “so not boring” and plain, then puhlease whip some goat cheese into your potatoes ASAP. The goat cheese adds the most wonderful creaminess, a tang that is somewhat reminiscent of sour cream or greek yogurt but is stirred into your potatoes instead of plopped on top. I don’t know how much explanation the roasted garlic needs because it’s pretty much flavor to the max. When mashed and mixed into with salty mashed potatoes and creamy goat cheese, it is undeniably incredible. I threw some chives on for looks and greenery – you can certainly stir more in or leave them out totally.
And obviously gravy is the BEST part (I learned this early on when my mom talked about eating fries covered in gravy in college, long before poutine was a thing here), but these potatoes can also stand on their own. Best of both worlds, right?
Garlic Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 3 bulbs of garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 6 ounces goat cheese
- 1/2 cup half and half or milk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- freshly snipped chives for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. To roast the garlic, slice the tops of the heads of the bulbs off. Use your fingers to rub the “paper” off of the sides – as much as you can get off is fine. Drizzle the exposed cloves with olive oil and wrap each bulb in aluminum foil. Roast for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the exposed cloves are golden and caramely. Remove and let cool until you can safely touch them. Once cool, squeeze the roasted cloves out of the bulbs, making sure to remove any paper.
- Add the potatoes to a large pot and fill it with cold water – enough to cover an inch or two above the potatoes. Bring to a boil and boil until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 25 minutes or so (depending on the size of your potato chunks). Once tender, drain the potatoes.
- Add the potatoes to the bowl of your electric mixer (you can obviously use a hand masher or a hand mixer if desired) fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix for a minute or two until the potatoes start to break down and come together, then add in the goat cheese (I like to leave a chunk out for topping) and garlic cloves. Mix on medium speed until the potatoes are creamy. Reduce the speed to low and mix in the half and half, butter, salt and pepper. Mix for another few minutes until totally creamy and no chunks remain. Taste and season additionally if desired – you may need more salt and pepper!
- Spoon the potatoes into a bowl and top with the chives and extra piece of goat cheese. Serve immediately.
Did you make this recipe?
Be sure to follow @howsweeteats on instagram and tag #howsweeteats. You can also post a photo of your recipe to our facebook page.
I appreciate you so much!
Cover my life in gravy please.
73 Comments on “Roasted Garlic Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes.”
Maybe they are called that because anyone on a diet better start planning a funeral for it! Jokes, a side These look totally mouth watering, addictive in the best way as you can never have too many go to potato recipes.
These mashed potatoes look so creamy and delicious!! I love that you used goat cheese, definitely a grown-up version of the traditional recipe!
we must be brain twinsies, because I JUST made goat cheese and garlic mashed cauliflower. BUT, yours have potatoes and carby goodness….so they obviously win. Pinned!
The best thing about potatoes? Taking a teaspoon to the leftovers in the fridge the next day … I bet the garlic will really come out then.
It looks delicious!
Goat cheese with mashed roasted garlic cloves is THE best! This looks amazing.
Even as a non potato lover, these would totally consume me! I would devour them with no shame!
Ok, I know you’re all about the brown butter and the gravy, but can we just talk about that steam shot and the roasted garlic? Oh my freaking goodness. I need these now (and I’m not even a big “potato person”!!)
Is it ok to just have these potatoes and the shallot bacon gravy for dinner? Just those.
And then maybe more of those. Wow.
Potatoes have taken a back seat over the years for me too, and like you, they DEF used to be my favorite food! I need more in my life and more variety. Totally trying this!!
Heyyyyyyy my “Meat & Potato” guy will love these!!!!!!!!!
Potatoes in every form are the best but mashed is classic for sure! I’m loving that goat cheese tang. Anything with goat cheese is better!
Totally… Full House was my favorite show, and I also begged my mother for my own phone line. I also begged her for all things Limited Too! Didn’t really get either! Haha.
Love goat cheese ANYTHING and everything! These look fabulous. That garlic looks so amazing… like candy!
I wouldn’t want to live in a world without potatoes! Seriously, I love them. Add roasted garlic and goat cheese? AMAZING!
Is it bad that potatoes are still one of my favorite dishes? Haha, but seriously, ever since hearing about these roasted garlic goat cheese mashed potatoes on twitter this morning, I’ve been thinking about them! Guess I know what I’m having for dinner!
Auuurrgg… I have the same issue — not wanting to use something because it’s so pretty … or too nice. The worst is hand creams — and then I wait waaaaayyy tooo long!! These mashed potatoes sound amazing!
Simple is sexy, and you’re killing me with the roasted garlic covering the screen.
What an amazingggg mashed potato idea!! Also, you couldn’t pay me to talk on the phone for 4 hours either… Not sure why I was so obsessed with it back in the day!!
Potatoes = still my favorite food (*hangs 28yo head in shame* *recovers from shame with bowl of potatoes*). And who doesn’t like an excuse to eat goat cheese or roasted garlic?! Love all this!
Great post! I had/wanted all those things 20 years ago too (including the permed hair)!
O-M-G! Mashed potatoes are my everything and this just made my year!
These potatoes are magical. I must try them.
That steam picture! You are the queen of those action food shots. These potatoes would be the first thing to disappear at our Thanksgiving table.
Holy YUM! I love goat cheese on anything. Definitely making these soon!
Pingback: Links for the Week -
My family would go NUTS for these! You make some mean looking taters :) Pinned!
Not a fan of potatoes but these look amazing and i’m going to give them a try!
http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/ipad-mini-giveaway-christmas-gift-guide.html
YES!!!!! I love potatoes and tons of garlic and goat cheese. So naturally I’ve been drooling since I read the title. For sure making these!
I want to do a cannon ball into the middle of that last photo. gah!
Roasted garlic and goat cheese is the most magical combination ever!
Lovely! Can’t wait for the updated crust recipe.
Oh my goodness, these taters have got it going on!
Goat cheese in anything is amazing. I’ve been melting it over sweet potato noodles for dinner all week. Have you tried the apple cinnamon kind from Trader Joe’s? Oh. My. God. So. GOOD.
Goat cheese must be a great addition to mashed potatoes!
Oh my gosh, yes, I was the same way about potatoes when I was a kid! Even into my early twenties it was a favorite food of mine. I’d even be cool with mashed potatoes made from flakes or scalloped potatoes made from the dehydrated ones in a box. And I totally had a clear phone :)
Damn I am soooooo on board with these, this combo sounds totally amazeballs!
I am constantly impressed and left with OMG i have all this and MUST make this ASAP! I am already a cult follower of your blog ; ) pre ordered the book like forever ago, and i STILL come across recipes recommended by other sites (Huff Post must love you also) from your archives that are TO DIE FOR / GLITZY / MOUTHWATERING / HOMEY / COZY / YUM!!! I adore you and your blog and always look forward to your creations, you are such an inspiration to me!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU and much foody love : )
I haven’t had garlic mashed potatoes in the longest time and now you have me craving them!
Oh my gosh I LOVE potatoes! I probably make potatoes three times a week! If I were to make this for thanksgiving, would I just double or triple the recipe?
http://www.goldpolkadots.com
Very easy and healthy, we are going to try it! Thanks!!!
http://inatrendytown.blogspot.com
I have got to say my favorite food is still potatoes. So I would be all over this
I am going to have to try these! I was the same way with with Lisa Frank (and Christian Riese Lassen). Funny story though… my mom is an avid hater of all things potato. Because of this, i did not have mashed potatoes or baked potatoes until I was in college! She never fixed it for us at home and we pretty much only went to Mexican food restaurants when/if we went out. I was pretty sheltered, but not anymore!
When I was pregnant I would have killed for potatoes! These look so delicious! I would probably kill for them even now :)
Pingback: Last Minute Thanksgiving Recipes: Main, Sides and Dessert | Mocha and Moccasins
I’ve never commented before… but LOVE your recipes. I’m a little confused about the amount of potatoes here! I’m making Thanksgiving and these are definitely on the menu. However, having trouble with if I should double or not. 6 pounds of potatoes feeding 4 seems like a ton, and the other two recipes you mention are 3 pounds and 3.5 pounds respectively, and both are listed as feeding the same amount. Could this be a typo?
Thanks so much!
i made a similar recipe on thanksgiving for 5 adults that called for 5-6 lbs of potatoes and i had LOTS left over. definitely if you are serving other sides (even if you aren’t!), one batch should be enough.
garlic, goat cheese, and potatoes – 3 of my favorite things :)
Pingback: Let's Give Thanks! - Fork vs. Spoon
Pingback: Friday Links: 11.21.2014 – i am a food blog
Pingback: Friday Favorites | Cupcakes and Commentary
Pingback: Reads and Recipes (Thanksgiving Edition)
Pingback: Thanksgiving Roundup: My Dream Primal Thanksgiving Menu - Primal Bites