Description
These Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes are a creamy, tangy twist on a classic comfort food. Made with Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, enriched with butter and whole buttermilk, and flavored with fresh chives, they make the perfect, velvety side dish for pork chops, steak, turkey, or ham. Easy to prepare and irresistibly delicious, this recipe delivers smooth, fluffy mashed potatoes with a delicate balance of buttery richness and bright buttermilk tang.
Ingredients
Scale
Potatoes
- 2 pounds potatoes (Yukon Gold or Russet), peeled and cut into 1″–2″ chunks
Dairy & Butter
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- ½ cup whole buttermilk, at room temperature
Seasonings & Herbs
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, divided
Instructions
- Prepare the Potatoes: Place the peeled and cut potatoes into a large pot, then cover them with cold water. Add a pinch of salt to the water to season the potatoes as they cook.
- Cook the Potatoes: Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat, then lower the heat to medium-low and let the potatoes simmer. Cook until they are fork-tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Drain and Mash: Drain the potatoes thoroughly and return them to the empty pot. Add 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the hot potatoes and mash them using a potato masher until the texture is smooth and creamy.
- Add Buttermilk and Seasoning: Pour in the room temperature buttermilk, add kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, and mix everything together until fully incorporated. If the mash feels too thick, add a little more buttermilk gradually to reach the desired consistency.
- Adjust Flavor and Add Chives: Taste the mashed potatoes and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the chopped fresh chives to infuse a fresh oniony flavor.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the mashed potatoes hot, topped with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the final tablespoon of chopped chives for a beautiful and flavorful garnish.
Notes
- These mashed potatoes are creamy and tangy due to the buttermilk, offering a refreshing flavor compared to traditional creamy mashed potatoes.
- They make an ideal side dish for a variety of main courses such as pork chops, steaks, holiday turkey, or ham.
- Use Yukon Gold for a naturally buttery flavor, or Russet for a fluffier texture.
- Butter can be adjusted or substituted with olive oil for a lighter version, though it will alter the classic taste.
- Serve immediately for the best texture, but you can keep covered and warm for up to an hour before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 395 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 229 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 51 mg
