Make Mashed Potatoes More Fun By Piping Fancy Shapes
There's just something about mashed potatoes that create a warm fuzzy feeling around the dinner table. Those creamy taters make one of the best side dishes when served with your favorite roast steak or creamy pork chops. But if you're like us and prefer serving meals that look as delightful as they taste and not just plain bowlfuls of spuds that end up as boring scoops on everyone's platter, then fear not, we've got you covered.
The trick is to transform your mashed potatoes into a fancy and fun spread by piping them. Using a pastry bag (a ziploc will do in a pinch) and a star tip, you simply pipe out fancy-shaped single portions of mashed potatoes onto each plate, adding a splendid twist to any plain-looking mound of mashed potatoes in no time. You can pipe them in simple, classic swirls, add adorable dollops around the rim of the plate, or get creative with your handiwork (and your piping tips) to make different shapes with your spuds.
Take your piped mashed potatoes to the next level by baking them
Elevate your piped mashed potatoes even further by making duchess potatoes. But it's not just the fun designs made by piping that make duchess potatoes great. The extra ingredients — egg yolks, butter, and nutmeg — guarantee a much richer flavor in your spuds.
To make them, start by preparing your potatoes for a regular mash. After adding butter, heavy cream, and seasoning, this is the point where you incorporate the extra ingredients — three egg yolks and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg for extra flavor. The egg yolks are the secret ingredient that makes duchess potatoes much richer, while also guaranteeing your fancy shapes hold up.
Once the potato prep is well mixed, you can grab your pastry bag and a large star-shaped tip or cut the corner of a freezer bag to create unique tater shapes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pipe the potatoes in a swirling motion to form circular portions with pointy peaks. Finally, gently brush the taters with melted butter, then bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.