Cook's Illustrated Recipes»Vegetables»American»Potato»Mashed Potatoes with Smoked Cheddar and Grainy Mustard Recipe

Simple but bold flavor combinations breathe new life into this classic

The Problem

Butter and half-and-half make for mashed potatoes that are rich tasting but not terribly exciting. Giving flavor second-tier status is fine if the potatoes are going to be smothered with gravy, but with just a bit of help they can stand proudly on their own.

The Goal

Jazz up the flavor of boring mashed potatoes.

The Solution

Adding too many ingredients served only to muddy the flavor of the potatoes. Tasters preferred simple pairings of contrasting but complementary flavors.