Geoffrey Zakarians Mashed Potatoes Recipes

TURKEY SHEPHERD'S PIE WITH SWEET POTATO

Steps:

• For the mashed sweet potatoes: Scoop sweet potato flesh into a large bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher. Mix in the cream, butter, coriander, ginger and egg yolks. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Scrape into a pastry bag and set aside.
• For the topping: Mix the cheeses, breadcrumbs and fresh thyme together in a bowl. Set aside.
• For the shepherd's pie: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Render down the bacon in a large saute pan or braiser over medium heat until crispy. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the pan. Add the ground turkey to the pan, and cook, stirring often and breaking apart with a wooden spoon, until evenly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside. Add the onion, leek and sage, and cook until caramelized, another 7 to 10 minutes.
• Stir in the pine nuts, flour, tomato paste, coriander and ginger and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the chicken stock, carrots and meat, then return to a simmer and cook until reduced and nappe (when it thickly coats the back of a spoon), another 10 to 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning.
• Top with an even layer of the sweet potato mixture. Sprinkle evenly with the breadcrumb topping. Bake until golden brown, about 1 hour. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.

YUKON GOLD POTATO GRATIN WITH HORSERADISH, GRUYERE AND SWEET ONION

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Put the cream, half-and-half, horseradish, nutmeg, garlic and onion in a medium saucepan and slowly bring the mixture to a simmer. Be sure to stir on occasion to prevent scorching. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, spoon a thin layer of the cream and onion mixture onto the bottom. Layer the potatoes, followed by a sprinkle of cheese. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Repeat this process until the dish is filled and the gratin is moist. Combine the breadcrumbs and thyme and sprinkle on top.
• Bake until the potatoes are tender and the gratin is caramelized on top and bubbly on the edges, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

GRILLED RAMP AND ASPARAGUS QUICHE

Steps:

• Make the dough: Place flour and butter in a large bowl. Using your hands, mix until small beads form; do not overmix.
• In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons water, lard, and salt; slowly add water mixture to flour mixture and mix until a smooth dough has formed. Do not overmix. Form dough into a disk; cover and transfer to refrigerator to chill for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Roll out dough on a lightly floured work surface to a 16 inches in diameter. Carefully transfer dough to a 9-inch-round, 2 3/4-inch-high springform pan. Transfer to refrigerator or freezer to chill for 30 minutes.
• Prick holes all over bottom using the tines of a fork. Cut six 8-inch squares of cheesecloth. Fill each piece of cheesecloth with 1 cup dried beans; tie with kitchen twine to enclose. Place each bean bag close to the inside edge of pan to keep sides from falling down. Transfer to oven; bake for 50 minutes. Remove bean bags and continue cooking until golden brown, about 15 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
• Make the filling: Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; generously salt water and return to a boil. Meanwhile, prepare an ice-water bath. Add asparagus to boiling water and cook for 30 seconds. Drain and immediately transfer to ice-water bath to cool. Drain and set aside on paper towels.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Place ramps in a medium bowl, and add olive oil and season with salt; toss to combine. Place ramps on grill and cook, turning once, until leaves are slightly charred, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
• Heat canola oil in a medium skillet over high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Add spring garlic, shallots, and butter; cook until butter is frothy. Stir in marjoram and remove from heat. Let cool slightly. In a large bowl mix together asparagus, ramps, and mushrooms; set aside.
• Place cream, milk, eggs, egg yolks, and mace in the jar of a blender; blend on high until combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place half of both cheeses in an even layer in the bottom of prepared crust. Top with half of the vegetable mixture and half of the custard. Repeat layering process.
• Place quiche on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to oven; bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the quiche comes out clean and top is browned, about 2 hours and 20 minutes to 2 hours and 40 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
• Using a serrated knife, trim away excess crust from top edge of pan. Unmold and serve at room temperature.