Bacon Smashed Potatoes Food

BACON-CHEDDAR MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Simmer 2 pounds small potatoes in salted water until tender, about 20 minutes; drain. Cool slightly, then peel. Heat 1 cup milk with 1/2 stick butter. Mash the potatoes with the hot milk and stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar. Top with crumbled cooked bacon and sliced scallions.

BACON-AND-CHEESE SMASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Season generously with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until very tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, 7 to 8 minutes; transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Drain the potatoes and return to the saucepan over low heat; cook until any remaining water evaporates, about 2 minutes. Add the butter, then gradually mash in the sour cream with a potato masher. Stir in the bacon and chives, reserving 1 tablespoon of each. Transfer to a serving dish; top with cheddar and the remaining bacon and chives.

SMASHED POTATOES WITH BACON SALT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lay 4 bacon slices on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until golden brown and crisp, about 10 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels; let cool completely.
• Make the bacon salt (see below). Store extra in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks, or freeze up to 2 months.
• Put the potatoes and the remaining 2 bacon slices in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes. Drain, discarding the bacon slices.
• Combine the butter with the milk in the same pot and let melt over medium-low heat. Return the potatoes to the pot and mash them with a potato masher or fork. Add 1 tablespoon of the prepared bacon salt and stir to combine; transfer the potatoes to a bowl and top with more bacon salt.
• How to make Bacon Salt:
• Pulse the cooked bacon in a food processor until finely ground. Spread on paper towels and blot the excess grease.
• Combine the bacon and salt in a small bowl and rub between your fingers until incorporated.
• Photo by Con Poulos

BACON-GRUYERE SMASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat 1/4 cup butter over medium-high heat. Add onions, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; cook and stir 8-10 minutes or until softened. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 40-50 minutes or until deep golden brown, stirring occasionally and stirring in thyme during last 5 minutes., Place potatoes in a 6-qt stockpot; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, 20-25 minutes or until tender. Drain; return to pan. Add milk and remaining butter, salt and pepper. Coarsely mash potatoes with a masher, leaving small chunks. Stir in bacon and onions; sprinkle with cheese. Let stand, covered, until cheese melts. If desired, sprinkle with parsley.

MASHED POTATOES WITH BACON & GARLIC

Steps:

• Roasted garlic: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice off the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves; place in center of a sheet of foil. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the top and season generously with salt. Wrap in foil and bake in the oven until golden and tender, about 1 hour.
• Potatoes: Cut peeled potatoes into ½-inch dice. (Note: Potatoes can be peeled and diced 1 day in advance. Store completely submerged in cold water in the refrigerator, changing the water every few hours to prevent browning.) Place diced potatoes into a pot filled with cold salted water (as "salty as the sea"). Bring to a boil over high heat, 6-8 minutes. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook until fork tender, 15-20 minutes.
• Bacon bits: In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp and browned, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon bits to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve the bacon fat in a small bowl and set aside.
• Return the pan to stove over low heat, and add just enough half-and-half to coat the bottom of the pan. Use a wooden spatula to deglaze the pan, scraping up all the browned bits (or "fond"). When small bubbles form around the edges of the pan, add the rest of the half-and-half. Stir until warmed through, then remove from heat.
• Potatoes are done cooking when you can easily cut a piece in half with a fork. Drain potatoes in a colander, then add back to the pot. Turn heat to medium-low and let them dry, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 1-2 minutes. When the bottom of the pot is dry, turn off the heat: they are ready for the potato ricer. Transfer potatoes to a large bowl. Work all the potatoes through the ricer and back into the pot. Fold in half of the warm half-and-half and gently stir to combine; avoid overmixing the potatoes, which could lead to a gluey texture. Add another ½ cup of half-and-half, and stir again. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons reserved bacon fat, and stir to combine. Add more half-and-half as needed to reach desired consistency. Then season to taste with salt and pepper (keeping in mind that the bacon bits will also add salt).
• Squeeze roasted garlic out of its skin into a small bowl, and use a fork to mash it into a paste. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to thin out the paste and continue mashing. Fold the garlic paste into the potatoes and stir to distribute evenly; then add half the bacon bits and gently stir to incorporate. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a warmed serving bowl, garnish with remaining bacon bits, and serve immediately.

BUTTERMILK-BACON SMASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Add the potatoes to a pot and cover with water. Season with salt and bring to a boil. Once at a boil, cook until a fork can easily pierce through the potatoes, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and add to a bowl.
• Place the bacon in a cast-iron pan over medium heat. Allow the bacon to render and crisp, about 5 minutes. Reserve the fat.
• Put the buttermilk and heavy cream into a saucepan and scald. Reserve until needed.
• Smash the potatoes just a little bit, and then season with salt and pepper. Add the butter, a touch of the heated buttermilk/heavy cream, the scallions and 1 tablespoon bacon fat and smash. Taste and re-season if needed, adding more buttermilk/heavy cream if desired. Fold in the rendered bacon, reserving some for garnish. Garnish with the reserved bacon and scallions.

BACON-CHEDDAR MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Cook 1/2 pound chopped bacon until crisp. Make Classic Mash; replace half of the butter with 2 to 4 tablespoons bacon drippings. Fold in some bacon; sprinkle the rest on top.
• Add 1/2 pound grated sharp cheddar and 1/4 cup each minced parsley and scallions.
• Classic Mash: Cover 2 pounds whole russet or Yukon gold potatoes with cold salted water; simmer 45 minutes. Drain, peel and mash with 1/2 to 1 stick butter. Add 1 cup hot milk, and salt and pepper; mash until smooth and fluffy.

BACON-SPINACH MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Sauté bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until crisp; drain bacon on a paper-towel-lined plate.
• Boil potatoes and garlic(if not already roasted) in a large pot of salted water until potatoes are tender when pierced, about 15 minutes.
• Just before draining, stir in spinach to wilt.
• Drain potatoes, garlic(if you use the roasted - add it now), and spinach; return to pot and cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes to evaporate excess moisture.
• Add cream cheese, cream, butter, and bacon.
• Coarsely crush potatoes with a masher; season with salt and crushed red pepper flakes.

BACON MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain. , Transfer to a large bowl. Add the milk, mayonnaise, chives, garlic powder and pepper; mash potatoes. Stir in cheese and bacon.