Mashed Potatoes Are More Flavorful When You Add This Creamy Ingredient

Among the many tips you need for cooking delicious mashed potatoes, adding ample dairy to this simple side dish is a great way to add richness and flavor. While you're likely accustomed to infusing mashed potatoes with milk, buttermilk, and sour cream, there is one ingredient you need to try if you want your potatoes to have a lighter, tangier taste. Believe it or not, a dollop (or two) of Greek yogurt can give your next batch of cooked spuds a lighter, creamier texture and a brighter, more acidic flavor.

To add Greek yogurt to mashed potatoes, use your favorite variety, keeping in mind that full-fat Greek yogurt gives potatoes a more luxurious taste and consistency. Once your potatoes are cooked, mash them with a few spoonfuls of room-temperature Greek yogurt along with salt and pepper to taste. Unlike other spud-enhancing dairy products like buttermilk or sour cream, Greek yogurt is an everyday fridge staple that many people already have on hand.

Among the many types of yogurt you can buy at most conventional supermarkets, Greek yogurt is thicker than standard varieties. This dense, protein-rich staple is made by straining the whey from cultured yogurt for a thick, velvety consistency. Given Greek yogurt's ultra thick texture and bright-tasting flavor, you can also combine it with other flavorful ingredients when making mashed potatoes to create a more balanced, well-rounded side dish.

If you're used to making mashed potatoes with regular milk and butter only, swapping these ingredients for Greek yogurt can be an adjustment for your taste buds. Therefore, making mashed potatoes with Greek yogurt, milk, and butter may be a good place to start. Milk has a mildly sweet flavor that balances the acidic taste of Greek yogurt, while butter gives these spuds a dose of savory richness. 

If the recipe you're following calls for 2 pounds of potatoes, use ½ cup of full-fat Greek yogurt as well as ½ cup of whole milk. Then, add half a stick of butter to ensure your potatoes have a salty, buttery finish. If you only have nonfat Greek yogurt on hand, feel free to use it, though it won't provide quite as much creamy depth as the full-fat variety.

Additional ingredients you can use to balance the tangy flavor of Greek yogurt are chicken or vegetable broth and shredded or grated cheese. You can also infuse your recipe with fresh herbs like dill, rosemary, and chives. Alternatively, a one-ingredient mashed potatoes upgrade like roasted garlic can add some savory base notes. Whether you're making mashed potatoes with Greek yogurt only or with a combination of yogurt with one or two additional ingredients, your new and improved mashed potato recipe is sure to be delicious.