Watercress Mashed Potato Recipes

THE BEST MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Generously salt the water and bring to a boil over high heat. Then lower the heat to medium and gently simmer until the potatoes are completely tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 30 minutes.
• Drain the potatoes well and return them to the pot. Place the pot over low heat and let any residual water steam off, about 2 minutes. Mash the potatoes well with a potato masher. Fold in the butter with a spatula until melted, and then fold in the cream. Season with salt and pepper.

MASHED POTATOES WITH WATERCRESS AND GREEN ONIONS

Steps:

• Bring medium saucepan of water to boil. Add watercress and blanch 10 seconds. Drain. Pat dry and chop watercress.
• Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until very tender, about 25 minutes. Drain. Return potatoes to pot. Stir over medium heat until any excess liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes.
• Bring milk almost to simmer in small saucepan. Add hot milk, butter, and oil to potatoes; mash until almost smooth. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let stand uncovered at room temperature. Rewarm over medium-low heat, stirring often, before continuing.) Stir in green onions and watercress. Season with salt and pepper.

WATERCRESS MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Season a pot of cold water with enough salt so that it tastes like seawater. Bring to a boil, add the watercress and leek, and blanch for 1 minute, then shock in cold water. Using your hands, squeeze out as much water as possible. Pulse the watercress, leek, and butter in a food processor until puréed, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Put the potatoes in a pot and cover with cold water. Add a dash of salt, bring the water to a boil, and cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 5 minutes. Drain, and push the potatoes through a ricer or mash them in the pot. Fold in the olive oil, then the puréed watercress and leek. Season with salt and pepper.

WARM POTATO SALAD WITH WATERCRESS

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut into 3/4-inch pieces, then cook in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan of boiling salted water , uncovered, until just tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain in a colander.
• While potatoes are cooking, whisk together vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and sugar in a large heatproof bowl until combined, then stir in shallots and let stand until ready to use.
• Toss potatoes with vinegar mixture, then add oil and watercress, tossing gently to combine.

WATERCRESS POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Coarsely chop watercress leaves and stems seperately. Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-low heat. Mix in onion, parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs, garlic, bay leaf, and watercress stems. Cover; cook until onion is tender, stirring occasionally; about 12 minutes. Add broth and potatoes; bring to boil. Reduce heat cover and simmer until potatoes are very tender, about 25 minutes.
• Discard parsley, thyme, and bay leaf. Purée soup in processor until smooth. Return soup to same saucepan. Add 1 cup milk and watercress leaves; bring to simmer, adding more milk if soup is too thick. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl. Chill until cold, about 4 hours.