I think I should begin with the acknowledgement that just as there are many ways to peel a potato, there are also many ways to make mashed potatoes. Sometimes I love to make mashed potatoes with a potato masher, the skins on and just a bit of olive oil, herbs and lemon zest. And there are other times (once a year in fact) when I make these potatoes at home and love every bit of this French style take on pomme puree.
Technically, the way I learned from my French chef instructors at school over 20 years ago was a ratio of 2:1:1. Meaning 2 part potatoes, 1 part milk (or cream) and 1 part butter. This recipe is already my most decadent take on potatoes and I’m not even going that far. But if you want to go for it, simply increase the butter and half & half to 2 cups each.
This recipe for poblano potato puree results in smooth, luscious potatoes, no lumps in sight. Let’s talk about ingredients! If you leave out the salt and pepper, there are only five ingredients, so each one matters.
Choosing the Right Potatoes for the Best Puree
When choosing potatoes, try to choose potatoes that are similar in size. This will help ensure that they cook evenly. If your potatoes vary in size, no worries! Just keep an eye on them throughout the cooking process, pulling potatoes as they reach the point of being fully cooked. And I have learned the hard way, make sure the potatoes are fully cooked, otherwise it will be difficult to pass them through the food mill.
The reason these potatoes are so luscious and smooth is because we spend a lot of effort removing as much water as possible. This is why we boil them whole as opposed to quartering them. This is also why we spend time stirring them in a hot pan after they’ve gone through the food mill to cook off any water remaining in the potatoes. Because of this, using a high quality butter (with a higher butterfat and lower water content) is a good idea.
Selecting the Perfect Green Chile for Your Dish
When it comes to green chiles, the choice is about what you love and how much heat you prefer. My love for poblanos is never ending. Their flavor and amount of heat easily takes the prize. But more importantly, what chiles do you have? What do you like and how hot do you want it? You could even use pints of frozen green chile just be sure to defrost, drain and press out as much water as possible before adding it to the cream and butter. How much to add? Trust your judgment and taste as you are warming up the cream mixture if needed to help you along.
The other thing that’s important to mention is the many different ways you can actually make these potatoes. If you don’t have a food mill, it’s ok! You can use a potato masher for the whole process. It might not be as smooth but it will taste just as good. Another option is to use a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. This is easiest to do with hot potatoes. Place the fully cooked and peeled potatoes in your stand mixer and slowly add the cream mixture until it all comes together.
PrintPoblano Potato Puree
Discover the perfect blend of creamy French-style pomme puree and spicy green chile in this Green Chile Potato Puree recipe. Learn how to achieve smooth, luscious mashed potatoes with a flavorful twist of poblanos and garlic.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1.5 hours
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Thanksgiving
- Method: simmer
- Cuisine: New Mexican
Ingredients
- 3 lb. yukon gold potatoes, similar in size and washed well
- 1 1/2 c. (3 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 c. cream, half & half or whole milk
- 4 fire roasted poblanos, seeded, stemmed
- 3 large garlic cloves, sliced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
How to Cook and Prepare the Potatoes
In a saucepan, cover the potatoes with cold water and season generously with salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until tender when pierced with a paring knife, about 40 minutes (the length of cooking time entirely depends on the size of your potatoes). Drain well. Let the potatoes cool just enough so they are safe to touch, then slip off and discard the skins and quarter them.
Making the Poblano Cream Mixture
While the potatoes are cooking, place the butter, half & half, poblanos and garlic in a saucepan. Once the butter is melted and the mixture is hot, turn off the heat and carefully blend until smooth. Reserve.
Processing the Potatoes through the Food Mill
Once the potatoes are peeled and quartered, working in batches, process them through the food mill arranged on top of a medium saucepan. Once the potatoes are all milled, place the pot over medium heat. With a heat proof rubber spatula, stir the potatoes for a few minutes, allowing any remaining water to cook off but being careful not to burn them. Turn the heat to low.
Bringing it All Together: Mixing and Tasting
Slowly pour in a bit of your poblano cream at a time, whisking into the potatoes until they fully absorb the liquid before pouring in some more. Continue this until all of the cream has been added.
Optional Steps for the Smoothest Potato Puree
This next step is optional, but at this point you could pass the potatoes through a fine mesh strainer or mesh sieve (this will result in the smoothest of smooth potatoes). Taste the potatoes and season them with salt and pepper as needed.
Storing and Reheating
Store in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 1 month. To reheat, defrost the potatoes overnight in the fridge and then transfer them to a baking dish with a couple tablespoons of butter and a splash of cream. bake at 350 F. for 30 minutes before serving.
