Mashed potatoes are the most soothing side dish. This basic yet delicious dish is so simple to prepare, and you can really personalize it with the seasonings and spices you choose – mashed potatoes don’t have to be boring! What are the greatest mashed potato seasonings? There are so many fantastic flavors to add to mashed potatoes; what you choose will depend on your personal taste. Garlic powder, salt and pepper, chives, mustard seeds, cayenne pepper, thyme, rosemary, onion powder, and other seasonings are among the best! Continue reading to learn about the best seasonings to use when making mashed potatoes to really bring out the flavor of this side dish.
Best Seasonings For Mashed Potatoes
The greatest seasonings for mashed potatoes are given below, each of which will give the side dish a distinctive flavor. The best part is that you may mix a few tastes to give the mashed potatoes additional depth, or you can pick and choose the ones you prefer most.
1. Garlic Powder
Garlic powder is a traditional seasoning for mashed potatoes since garlic and mashed potatoes mix so well together! The advantage of utilizing garlic powder rather than chopped garlic is that the garlic flavor is more subdued, rather than overbearing and overpowering. Using garlic powder instead of chopped garlic smooths out the mashed potatoes. The garlic flavor will be evenly distributed throughout the mash, not simply in pockets where there may be chopped garlic.
Garlic powder does not need to be boiled into the mashed potatoes; instead, add it near the end while the mashed potatoes are still hot to properly combine it. It does good to add some garlic powder to mashed potatoes.
2. Salt
There is no getting around the fact that mashed potatoes need salt! Mashed potatoes without salt will be tasteless and uninteresting. Even when you are also adding additional seasonings, salt should still be used. The natural flavors of the potatoes will be enhanced with just a dash of salt, making the dish more palatable as a whole.
Start with a small amount of salt, stir it in thoroughly, and then taste the mashed potatoes. Although it might be OK as is, extra salt might be necessary. After that, you can continue by adding more, a pinch at a time. It is generally advised to start modest and increase your spending gradually because it can be challenging to
3. Chives
Fresh chives are one of the most commonly used components in mashed potatoes (and for good reason). Chives, together with salt and pepper, add a tart, fresh flavor that complements the creamy mashed potatoes so perfectly. To add chives to mashed potatoes, wash and finely cut the chives, then sprinkle them on top or mix them into the mashed potatoes.
Many mashed potato recipes include chives to bring out the creamy flavor of the mash. When adding chives to mashed potatoes, you should also add some sour cream. Sour cream and chives are a delicious combination that can enhance the flavor of mashed potatoes.
4. Pepper
Pepper, like salt, is an excellent addition to mashed potatoes! Adding pepper to mashed potatoes adds a bite without being overly hot or overbearing. It also enhances the flavor of other ingredients like onion, chives, or garlic. For mashed potatoes, you can use either black pepper or white pepper. White pepper has a milder flavor, making it ideal for cooking mashed potatoes for the family.
Black pepper offers a stronger flavor and more of a kick, which may be what you’re looking for. Depending on the consistency and kick you desire from your mashed potatoes, use fine-ground black pepper or coarse-ground black pepper. When adding pepper to mashed potatoes, don’t forget to add salt as well – they complement each other nicely and make for a classic spice.
5. Mustard Seeds
Despite not being the most popular seasoning, mustard seeds are a fantastic addition to mashed potatoes. These tiny, rounded mustard plant seeds have a flavorful warm kick that goes well with smooth, creamy mashed potatoes. Each bite of mashed potatoes with mustard seeds provides a satisfying burst of flavor, and the tiny seeds can also provide some color. It’s a wonderful idea to use mustard seeds to give some texture, but you could also use mustard powder or traditional yellow mustard to combine the taste into the mashed potatoes.
6. Cumin
Cumin is a terrific spice to add to mashed potatoes for a warm, spicy flavor that is perfect for the cooler months! Adding cumin to mashed potatoes adds a depth of flavor and a warmth that complements the creamy mash perfectly. A seasoning blend of cumin, mustard, and turmeric is an excellent suggestion. This just creates a beautifully toasty flavor combination that elevates the mashed potato to new heights. This will also give the mashed potatoes a slight tint that will always look fantastic when plated!
7. Onion Powder
Without having to cut an onion or include actual onion in your mashed potatoes, onion powder is a wonderful way to add that onion flavor to mashed potatoes. Onion powder and mashed potatoes go well together. The potatoes’ flavor will be warm and slightly spicy thanks to the onion powder. Onion powder won’t, however, have an overpowering flavor or taste that might drown out the mash’s smoothness.
All you’ll need for a delicious side dish of mashed potatoes is some salt and onion powder. Just bear in mind that you only need a small amount of onion powder to provide taste. To add flavor to the mashed potatoes, you may also combine a small bit of onion and garlic powder. As you mash the potatoes, stir in the onion powder to ensure that it is well distributed throughout the mashed potatoes.
8. Cayenne Pepper
Add some fire to your mashed potatoes with some cayenne pepper. The level of heat and intensity of the flavor imparted by cayenne pepper can be adjusted to suit individual tastes. Cayenne pepper, which is made from ground chili peppers, gives food a spicy kick that goes particularly well with the smooth texture of mashed potatoes.
Cayenne pepper adds a nice kick to mashed potatoes, and it can be used alone or in combination with other ingredients. You may either add the cayenne pepper to the mashed potatoes and mix it in well as you go, or you can use a pinch or two to sprinkle on top for a colorful garnish.
9. Thyme
Thyme is an excellent herb for seasoning mashed potatoes, and it works especially well with roasts. When making mashed potatoes, use thyme as a spice for the mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and roast meat to tie the meal together. It has a very fragrant flavor, and the earthy tones it imparts complement the smoothness of the mash perfectly. Make sure to add some salt to the mash along with the thyme, which will help bring out all of the flavors.
Fresh thyme is ideal for this recipe because it has an incredibly fresh flavor; simply harvest some thyme leaves and chop them up before adding them to the mashed potatoes. If you don’t have fresh thyme, you can substitute dried thyme, which will still contribute flavor but with less strength.
10. Parsley
Because it doesn’t have a strong flavor and still gives a fresh, herbaceous flavor that pairs well with creamy mashed potatoes, parsley is another excellent herb to use in mashed potatoes. The best part about using parsley is how well it complements a wide variety of other spices and seasonings and simply adds an earthy flavor that other seasonings could use. When using parsley in your mashed potatoes, you have two choices. You could use fresh parsley, but you would first need to wash and chop it before using it. As an alternative, you might use dry parsley flakes.
The usage of parsley flakes is quite handy because no preparation is required, but they do give a more subdued earthy flavor as opposed to fresh parsley, which is more flavorful and fresher. Both are excellent choices; it just depends on the flavor you want and the ingredients you have on hand.
11. Rosemary
Another herb that goes well with mashed potatoes is rosemary. Rosemary has a strong aroma and flavor that complements the subtle nuances and creaminess of mashed potatoes. The aroma and flavor of rosemary complement creamy items, which is why it goes so well with mashed potatoes. You can also use rosemary in mashed potatoes while cooking roast meats and vegetables to tie the meal together.
You can use fresh rosemary by cutting up rosemary leaves and adding them to the heated mashed potatoes (this allows the flavors and aromas to properly seep into the mashed potatoes). If you don’t have fresh rosemary, you can substitute dried rosemary, which tastes just as excellent but has a more earthy flavor.
12. Cajun Spice
When you want to give mashed potatoes an extra flavor boost, cajun spice is a terrific addition because it has such a strong flavor on its own. The best part about utilizing cajun spice is that it typically contains a variety of flavors, including salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. As a result, you don’t need to add any more spices while using cajun powder alone.
To gauge the level of heat, start out with a small bit of cajun spice. If you want more flavor, add more, but don’t use too much at first so that the mash gets too hot or spicy. After adding the cajun seasoning, you might need to add extra salt, but make careful to taste it first because cajun seasoning does contain some salt. The cajun seasoning’s spiciness does go nicely with creamy mash since it harmonizes the flavors.
13. Chat Masala
Chat masala may not be the most typical flavour for mashed potatoes, but once you try it, it may become your new favorite! Mango powder, ginger, black rock salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, and mint are all ingredients in chat masala. This results in a bright and warm spice flavor combination that may be used in a variety of ways!
Chat masala, unlike many other spice blends, does not need to be cooked before being added to food, so you can add it to your mashed potatoes as they are being mashed or stir it in after they have been mashed. Using chat masala gives your mash a complete taste profile, and you won’t need to add salt or other seasonings to have a nice flavor.
Final Thoughts
There are so many wonderful seasonings that can be added to mashed potatoes to enhance the flavor of this mouthwatering side dish. Because of their mild flavor and creamy texture, potatoes may effectively absorb a variety of flavors. In the list above, we’ve provided a variety of seasonings you can use on potatoes, both on their own and in combination with other seasonings to add depth of flavor. Consider the other items you will be serving your mashed potatoes with and your personal preferences for flavors before deciding which seasoning to use!
Related Questions
Now that we’ve covered the greatest mashed potato seasonings, here are some more questions we thought you might have.
How do you save bland mashed potatoes?
You can add additional ingredients to mashed potatoes to give them flavor if you have cooked a batch but they still taste dull. It’s a good idea to use some aromatics, such as fresh or dried thyme, garlic, onions, and other herbs. To enhance the flavors of all these components, add some salt as well.
What do mashed potatoes go well with?
Mashed potatoes complement a wide range of dishes. Pork chops, meatloaf, pork sausages, roast chicken, slow cooker chicken, and other dishes go well with mashed potatoes.