There must be something about February that makes me want mashed potatoes, because the last mashed potato post I did was in February too.
In that Truffled Mashed Potato Gratin post, I talked about how everyone has their favorite way to make mashed potatoes, and I wrote about how I made them with milk and just a little bit of butter. Oh, how things have changed in a year!
I've been making my mashed potatoes differently now. I happened upon Steamy Kitchen's Very Best Mashed Potatoes recipe last summer, and I gave it a try. I liked it a lot, but since I prefer my mashed potatoes a little bit chunky and with the skin on, I tweaked it a little.
Like the Steamy Kitchen recipe, I steam the potatoes instead of boiling them. I used to always boil, but steaming seems to keep the potatoes much lighter. I now omit the milk and mash the potatoes with more butter than I used to. (I mean, we only have mashed potatoes once every 2 or 3 months--a little extra butter is okay!) Instead of putting the potatoes through a ricer like the Steamy Kitchen recipe suggests, I mash them by hand--this keeps the mashed potatoes a little lumpy, which I like, and it lets me keep the skin on.
You can stop there and serve your mashed potatoes with some mushroom gravy, but I like adding in other crazy ingredients too. So with this particular batch, I added cheddar cheese, green onions, and a healthy amount of Cholula hot sauce.
Yes, Cheddar & Cholula Mashed Potatoes. Yes, these are totally like something you would order at TGI Friday's and they'd have a name like Blazin' EXXtreme Cheeze Smashed Taters. And then you'd order them and feel really embarrassed to say the name out loud.
"I'd like the Very Vegalicious Ooey Gooey Quesadillas, and on the side I'll have the Blazin' EXXtreme Cheeze Smashed Taters. And then I'll also have the Razz-A-Tazz-Tazzberry Mojito, thank you."
And a little bit of your dignity is lost that day.
So yes, they're a little bit over-the-top with the Cholula and the cheddar and the carbs, but they are worth every bit of EXXtreme cheezy carbiness. Chris and I quibbled a little bit about the amount of Cholula in the recipe; my personal opinion is that 2 tablespoons is plenty, but you can always serve Cholula on the side and add a little extra (like spicy, spicy gravy!) if needed.
This post was originally published on February 11, 2013.
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered
- 3 tbsp. salted butter
- 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ c. thinly sliced green onions
- 2 tbsp. Cholula Original hot sauce
- salt to taste, optional--I didn't use any
Instructions
- Place potatoes in steamer basket set over about 2 inches of boiling water. Cover and steam over medium-high heat for about 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. (If water boils off before potatoes are done, add more.)
- Transfer steamed potatoes to a large bowl. Add butter and mash with a potato masher. Fold in cheese, green onions, Cholula, and salt. Serve with additional Cholula and garnish with extra green onions, if desired.
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
I've been trying to spice up my mashed potatoes. Typically I throw in herbs, garlic, cheese and lots of pepper, but I've never been fully satisfied by the results. This, however, looks like it'd hit the spot.
Cassie | Bake Your Day says
You just won my husband over with these, Kiersten! He loves Cholula!
shelly (cookies and cups) says
Hot sauce in mashed potatoes? Why haven't I thought of that? So smart 🙂
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Oh momma, do those ever look good! I love your potato masher...
Virginia from That Bald Chick says
I like my mashed potatoes a little bit lumpy, too!
Natalie says
LOVE choula sauce! This is my kind of recipe!
Nichol says
I have to make these. We are a Cholua family (it is the best hot sauce ever)! Hubby loves his potatoes lumpy, though I prefer them creamy:) Sounds delish.
Kiersten says
I hope you like them if you make the recipe! You can always peel the potatoes and put them through a ricer or whip them with a hand mixer if you want them creamy. 🙂
Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama says
I never make mashed potatoes the same way twice. I think every time there is something different getting thrown in the pot. I have never tried steaming them however.... and hot sauce YES!
Kiersten says
I'm the same way. Even when I was a kid, my mom would make mashed potatoes and I'd mix in corn, green beans, whatever. 🙂
Natalie @ Once Upon a Cutting Board says
I've never heard of Cholulua before - I thought it was some kind of weird vegetable when I just read the title of the post! I love the idea of adding hot sauce and cheese to mashed potatoes though, and your potato masher is so cute!!
Natalie @ Once Upon a Cutting Board says
*Cholula (not sure how to edit/delete my post and don't like leaving spelling mistakes up, even if it's for a word I've never heard of haha)
Kiersten says
Ha! I make so many spelling/grammar errors in my comments. My fingers type faster than my brain works...
Kiersten says
I used to think Cholula was a sausage! I have no idea why. Then we went to a restaurant where they had Cholula potato chips and I realized that it was a hot sauce. 🙂
a farmer in the dell says
I put Cholua on EVERYTHING! This looks amazing!
ea-the spicy rd says
All I can say, is, WOW~I want a big ol' bowl of these right now! Love your masher too~so fun 🙂
Kiersten says
Thank you! The masher is a cheapo plastic one that I bought from Target several years ago. Nothing fancy, but it does the job! 🙂
Meg @ Beard and Bonnet says
Oh yum! Seriously, these spuds are calling my name:) I even think my mashed potato hating husband would like these.
Kiersten says
Yeah, these are a little bit more exciting than regular mashed potatoes. 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
A super satisfying mashed potato recipe, Kiersten.
Diane {Created by Diane} says
these look DELICIOUS!
Rochelle @ WheatlessRochelle.com says
Okay, I'm pretty sure this is what I'm making for lunch now. It looks great. Thanks!
Maryann says
my husband would LOVE these.
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says
These look delicious! I'm going to switch out the potatoes for sweet potatoes since I now get heartburn from white potatoes -crazy huh.
Kiersten says
Really?! I thought you were supposed to eat potatoes when you get heartburn because they're bland!
Jackie @ Domestic Fits says
I could eat mashed potatoes every day. And next to Sriracha, Cholula is my favorite spicy red sauce, totally better than Tapatio.
Kiersten says
I almost made these with Sriracha! But I decided to mix things up and use Cholula instead. 🙂
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says
These spicy cheddar mashed potatoes look so delicious, Keirsten! Super yummy, easy recipe!
Daria says
|I love my mashed potatoes with some butter, and dill:) Another way is with carmelized onions:)
Kiersten says
I've put caramelized onions in mashed potatoes a few times and it was so good--I need to make them like that again soon! 🙂
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
Oh yeah, that's what I need! Love me some comfort food, but I also love that kick!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
These sound absolutely wonderful!
Russell van Kraayenburg says
Holy moly yum! These could just be the best darn mashed potatoes out there!
nicole @nicky_olea says
Holy hot potato that looks good! I've never heard of that brand of hot sauce. Love the branding and I'm sure if it's on your blog it's got to taste smokin' hot! Will look for it!
Kiersten says
It's so good! They sell it at most supermarkets, I think, so you should be able to find it. 🙂
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
This is my hub's dream food. He'd go ga-ga for this 🙂