Green Mashed Potatoes

Mashed russet potatoes mixed with a purée of parsley and green onions.

Green Mashed Potatoes
Elise Bauer

Here's something fun to add to your table on St. Patrick's Day—green mashed potatoes, why not? The Irish have a long tradition of mixing greens into their mashed potatoes.

In this recipe we purée raw parsley and green onions, which when mixed into the potatoes turn the mash a vibrant green. Perfect for a festive meal.

You could also experiment with baby spinach, mint, or other greens. In fact, I added some fresh mint to one of the mashes I made and served it with lamb, it was lovely. Enjoy!

Green Mashed Potatoes
Elise Bauer

Green Mashed Potatoes

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Servings 5 to 6 servings

Recipe adapted from a recipe for green mashed potatoes in The Country Cooking of Ireland, by Coleman Andrews, who in turn got his recipe from Ballyknocken House in Ashford, County Wicklow.

The Ballyknocken recipe uses olive oil instead of butter, and chives instead of green onions. I prefer butter in this recipe, I think it works better with the potatoes than olive oil.

Save time by prepping the parsley and green onions while the potatoes are cooking.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds russet potatoes (about 3 large or 5 medium-sized potatoes), peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks

  • Salt

  • 3 sprigs thyme (or a couple teaspoons dried thyme in a small bouquet garni bag or tied up with cheesecloth)

  • 1 bunch fresh parsley, leaves chopped (about 1 cup)

  • 3 green onions (scallions), white and green parts chopped (about 1/2 cup)

  • 1/2 cup milk, divided

  • 1/4 cup cream

  • 3 tablespoons butter, more to taste

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Special Equipment

  • Food processor

Method

  1. Boil the potatoes:

    Place the peeled and cut potatoes and the thyme in a medium (2 quart) saucepan and cover with cold water. Add two teaspoons of salt to the water.

    Bring to a boil and reduce heat to maintain a low simmer. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.

    green-mashed-potatoes-method-1
    Elise Bauer
  2. Purée parsley and green onions with milk:

    While the potatoes are cooking, chop up the parsley and the green onions. Place the chopped green onions and parsley in a food processor. Add a teaspoon of salt and the 1/4 cup of the milk. Pulse until smooth.

    green-mashed-potatoes-method-2
    Elise Bauer
  3. Drain potatoes, heat milk, cream, butter:

    When the potatoes are done, drain them in a colander and place them in a large bowl. Discard the thyme sprigs. Return the still hot, empty pot to the stove and add the remaining milk, cream, and butter. Heat on low heat until the butter is melted.

    green-mashed-potatoes-method-3
    Elise Bauer
    green-mashed-potatoes-method-4
    Elise Bauer
  4. Mash the potatoes:

    While the milk is heating, mash the cooked potatoes with a potato masher or use a potato ricer. (Do not over mix or the potatoes will turn gluey.)

  5. Stir mashed potatoes into heated milk and cream, stir in parsley purée:

    Return the mashed potatoes to the pot with the milk mixture and stir to combine. Turn off the heat. Stir in the parsley green onion purée. Add freshly ground black pepper, another teaspoon of salt, or more or less to taste.

    green-mashed-potatoes-method-5
    Elise Bauer
    green-mashed-potatoes-method-6
    Elise Bauer
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
248 Calories
10g Fat
35g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 248
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 6g 31%
Cholesterol 28mg 9%
Sodium 183mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 35g 13%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 28mg 138%
Calcium 81mg 6%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 953mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.