When planning your Thanksgiving dinner menu, hosting friends for a meal, or even just figuring out what to make for supper during weeknights, coming up with the perfect side dish is the hardest task. The protein comes naturally: What are you in the mood for? Do you want something elegant, hearty or healthy? But finding the dish that pairs perfectly with whatever your choice is can be much more daunting. Luckily, there’s one side dish that will always fulfill all of these requirements: garlic mashed potatoes.
Yes, the humble mashed potato — with a hint of extra flavor — is the one and only side dish that will fit all of your dinner needs. It’s simple, creamy and pairs effortlessly with most meals, be it a simple salmon, Thanksgiving turkey, holiday ham or weeknight chicken dish. When you think comfort food, mashed potato recipes are right at the top of the list. Sure, hearty casseroles and slow cooker soups are good, but sometimes nothing quite hits the spot on a chilly day like a bowl of mashed potatoes. The fluffy, billowing piles of root vegetable are subtle, smooth and filling. With the right herb garnish, you can not only change the flavor of garlic mashed potatoes to fit the rest of your menu, but you’ll also have an elegant presentation. Rosemary, parsley, chives and oregano are all natural fits for a garlic mashed potato and can help to mold this already savory and satisfying dish into something truly next-level. Play around with the seasonings — you may be surprised by what combination ends up as your favorite….