You may not believe it, but buttermilk mashed potatoes are just as fluffy as regular mashed potatoes made with heavy cream. The only difference is a pleasant tangy taste that the buttermilk imparts to the potatoes. To enhance the flavor of the mashed potatoes, I added some homemade Pecorino basil pesto. There is nothing subtle about this dish; it is absolutely bursting with color and flavor.
I was inspired to make this dish during our Christmas trip to Las Vegas. We went to our favorite eatery, ”The Buffet at Bellagio”. They served pesto mashed potatoes, but without buttermilk. It was so good I had to replicate it but of course, I wanted to add my own twist. I recently made a large batch of Pecorino basil pesto, so I thought it would be a good time to try my hand at the dish. I hope you like it!
1. Info for Pesto Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
- Cook Time: unavailable
- Total Time: unavailable
- Servings: 8
- Calories: unavailable
2. Ingredients for Pesto Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
- 3 pounds Russet potatoes (about 5 large)
- 1/3 cup milk, at room temperature
- 6 tablespoons butter, diced
- 1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons sea salt (or regular salt)
- 3/4 teaspoon white pepper, freshly ground
- 1/3 cup homemade Pecorino basil pesto, as needed
- 3 tablespoons Pecorino cheese
3. Directions:
- Peel the potatoes, cut them into 2-inch chunks and place them in a large pot. Fill it with cold water until the potatoes are barely covered. It’s important to start with cold water so the potatoes cook evenly. Bring to a boil, add 1 teaspoon of salt and reduce the heat to medium-high (if you cook the potatoes at a roaring boil, they might fall apart). Cook for about 20-25 minutes. The potatoes should be fork-tender. Drain the potatoes thoroughly and let them cool a little (do not rinse and let the liquid evaporate).
- Once the potatoes are cool enough to handle and have dried thoroughly, return them to the pot over low heat (to ensure there is as little liquid as possible). Turn off the heat. Using a potato masher or a potato ricer, mash the potatoes. Add milk, butter and 3 tablespoons of pesto. Stir well, using a wooden spoon. Add the buttermilk until you reach the desired consistency. Season with salt and white pepper. Finish with the Pecorino cheese.
- Top the potatoes with the remaining pesto and stir slightly to create a swirl. I served the mashed potatoes with a white fish but it would go great with beef or chicken as well.
- Serve warm
- Bon appétit!
