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Mashed Potatoes with Anchovies

About as far from the classic “American” mashed potatoes as you can get, these are equally rich (especially with the butter), but far more flavorful. They’re great with simple roasted meat or poultry but are not for the faint of heart.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds waxy red or white potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
Salt and black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 ounces (1 small can) anchovy fillets, with their oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons butter, optional
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves, plus more for garnish

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put the potatoes in a pot with salted water to cover and bring to a boil. Partially cover and adjust the heat so the mixture simmers steadily. Don’t mess with the potatoes much, but check one of them with the point of a knife after 10 minutes or so and cook until soft. Drain and place in a bowl. Mash with a large fork or potato masher until mealy.

    Step 2

    Add the olive oil to a skillet, preferably nonstick, large enough to hold the potatoes. Place over medium heat, add the anchovies and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic begins to soften and the anchovies break up, just a minute or so. Turn the heat to low, add the potatoes to the pan, and stir until all the ingredients are well combined; add the butter if you’re using it and continue to stir. Taste and adjust the seasoning, stir in the parsley, garnish, and serve.

The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved. MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.
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