Turn Basic Mashed Potatoes Into A Mediterranean Masterpiece With Only 2 Ingredients

Mashed potatoes' creamy and buttery flavor makes them undeniably one of the most comforting side dishes. But their predictable taste can leave you in the mood to experiment. When prepared from a basic recipe, their mild flavor welcomes bolder additions and twists that will pull them from the side of the table into the spotlight. To give your mashed potatoes a Mediterranean-inspired makeover, try adding feta cheese and garlic. These two additional ingredients will give your mash a flavor makeover that is noticeable enough to be worthwhile without drastically changing this beloved side dish.

Feta and garlic regularly feature together in Mediterranean recipes, and the duo's contrasting elements work especially well in mashed potatoes. Garlic's pungent, umami notes and mild sweetness when cooked add a savory depth to the dish. Feta's bright, salty, and slightly acidic flavor cuts through the fattiness of the butter and milk in the mashed potatoes, balancing out all the flavors on the plate. Feta also doesn't melt like cheddar or other cheeses, and that's a refreshing change. If you add it at the right time, you'll get the textural contrast of a nice, tender chunk of cheese against the smooth mashed potato. 

The best part about this upgrade is that you will not need to change much in your usual mashed potato cooking technique apart from adding only two ingredients. But even though it's only two additional steps, a little care with how you prepare and add them makes all the difference to the flavor and texture.

The secret to mellow, restaurant-level garlic in a batch of Mediterranean-style mashed potatoes starts with sizzling three to four minced garlic cloves in butter for about 30 seconds. This pulls the sweet, savory aromatics straight into the butterfat. Stirring in your milk right afterward allows you to heat the dairy before adding it to the spuds — a key tip when cooking mashed potatoes. This gives the dish a silky-smooth texture and enhances the buttery-garlicky taste.

For best results, use a whole block of feta and crumble it yourself before adding it to the mash instead of using the pre-crumbled version. Pre-crumbled feta tends to be extra salty and dry, as it lacks the brine. To preserve the textural contrast of tender chunks of feta against the smooth potato, fold in about ¾ of it after you've added your dairy, and finish by topping with the rest. 

Once you've salted and peppered your mashed potatoes to taste, keep the Mediterranean vibes flowing with other herbs and seasonings. You can grate a pinch of nutmeg into your warm milk and butter, and add some dried oregano or fresh rosemary. This distinctive dish makes a great side for grilled chicken, lamb, or a tray of roasted vegetables. But it goes particularly well with baked or grilled fish, especially if it's paired with some lemon and parsley, and a grilled romaine and corn salad with herby mustard dressing.