Creamy Southern Style Mashed Potatoes
Today we’re making the ultimate comfort food – Creamy Southern Style Mashed Potatoes! Mashed potatoes are the king of side dishes in every great holiday spread, and this vegan version adds a delightful twist to the traditional Southern recipe. Traditionally, the classic recipe for the best mashed potatoes will use lots of butter and cream. But with a focus on plant-based ingredients, we’ll create a velvety and flavorful dish that everyone can enjoy. So creamy Southern-style vegan mashed potatoes are the perfect complement to any festive occasion, offering a comforting and indulgent experience without the use of dairy or animal products!
It’s important to note that the variations in mashed potato recipes can be influenced by personal preferences, family traditions, and regional differences. However, the term “Southern-style mashed potatoes” generally refers to a version that prioritizes creaminess, richness, bold flavors, and a touch of Southern culinary flair.
Southern vs. Regular Mashed Potatoes
So, let’s dive into the basic recipe and discover how to achieve that classic Southern taste while keeping it vegan-friendly. But what’s the difference between regular mashed potatoes and Southern style?
When it comes to their difference, a few key factors set them apart.
Creaminess: While regular mashed potatoes can be creamy, Southern-style mashed potatoes take creaminess to another level. The addition of generous amounts of butter, cream, or plant-based alternatives creates an indulgent, velvety texture that’s characteristic of Southern cuisine.
Richness: Southern-style mashed potatoes are known for their richness in flavor. Traditional recipes often call for ingredients like cream cheese or sour cream, which add depth and decadence to the dish. In vegan versions, plant-based substitutes like vegan cream cheese or vegan sour cream can replicate that richness.
Seasonings: Southern-style mashed potatoes often incorporate a variety of seasonings to enhance their taste. Garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, or even herbs like thyme and rosemary can be used to infuse the potatoes with bold flavors and a touch of Southern zest.
Serving Style: While regular mashed potatoes typically serve as a versatile side dish, Southern-style mashed potatoes sometimes take on a more prominent role. They can be the star of the meal, served with delicious Southern gravies or paired with hearty stews, reflecting the Southern tradition of making comfort food the center of attention.
Now that we’ve explored the differences, let’s delve into the recipe and create a vegan-friendly version of delicious Southern-style mashed potatoes!
Why You’ll Love These Creamy Southern Style Mashed Potatoes
Nostalgic: Having vegan mashed potatoes maintains the comforting and nostalgic qualities of traditional Southern-style recipes that use dairy in the base. They capture the essence of Southern cuisine and provide a sense of familiarity and warmth. This makes them an ideal choice for gatherings, holidays (the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving day!), on a side for dinner time or specials occasions where you want to make a familiar dish. These potatoes are inclusive for everyone!
Easy to Make and Customizable: Just like traditional mashed potatoes, this vegan version is easy to prepare. The recipe typically involves boiling, mashing, and incorporating the desired ingredients. Additionally, you can customize the flavors by adjusting the seasonings. Adding your own twist with mix-ins like caramelized onions!
Substitutions: Potatoes
Potatoes: For the base of the mashed potatoes, you can use any variety of potatoes that you prefer. Russet potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes are the best type of potato due to their high starch content. This results in a fluffy and light texture.
However, red potatoes can also work well. The type of potatoes used should be suitable for mashing and have a creamy texture when cooked, which is usually the most starchy potatoes.
Substitutions: Butter, Milk & Cream
Vegan Butter: Look for plant-based butter, which usually has a base of oils like soybean, coconut, or olive oil. I use Melt Organics salted vegan butter sticks for all the recipes I make. Vegan butter options are widely available in large supermarkets (so many different companies are offering butter or butter-style spreads). You can use it in equal amounts as a replacement for dairy butter in recipes! Butter provides richness and contributes to the creamy consistency of the mashed potatoes.
You can also try using olive oil instead of butter.
Coconut Cream: To achieve the desired creaminess without dairy such as evaporated milk, heavy cream or whole milk, coconut cream is an excellent substitute. You can barely taste any coconut when everything is mixed together! It has a rich texture and subtle flavor that pairs well with the Southern-style flavors.
You can find canned coconut cream in most grocery stores. Or, you can refrigerate a can of full-fat coconut milk overnight. Then scoop out the solid cream that separates at the top – this is the coconut cream! I recommend Thai Kitchen full-fat canned coconut milk for this.
Oat Milk: Oat milk is a suitable plant-based milk option to create a creamy texture in mashed potatoes. Its slightly sweet and neutral flavor won’t overpower the other ingredients. Use unsweetened oat milk for the best results. Other plant-based milk alternatives like almond milk, soy milk, or cashew milk can also work well, depending on your preference.
Creamy Southern Style Mashed Potatoes Recipe Notes
- Taste the mashed potatoes as you season them. Adjust the amount of salt and pepper, or add some rosemary or onion powder, to suit your preferences. Feel free to experiment with additional herbs or spices to enhance the flavors further.
- If you desire an even creamier texture, you can add more vegan butter or oat milk gradually until you reach the desired consistency. Remember to adjust the seasonings accordingly if you increase the amount of liquids.
- Consider adding toppings or garnishes to enhance the presentation and for extra flavor in these creamy Southern mashed potatoes. Chopped fresh herbs like parsley or chives, a sprinkle of paprika, and a drizzle of vegan butter can add a delicious finishing touch.
- You can use a potato masher instead of a hand blender, but the potatoes don’t become nearly as fluffy. A blender is highly recommended to incorporate all the ingredients well.
More Recipes You’ll Love
Sweet Potato Lasagna with Tofu Ricotta
Roasted Rosemary Thyme Carrots
If you make this Creamy Southern Style Mashed Potatoes, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
Creamy Southern Style Mashed Potatoes
Equipment
- Immersion Blender / Hand Mixer
- Small Saucepan for the garlic butter mixture
- Medium Pot for boiling potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 medium clove garlic finely grated
- 1½ tbsp vegan butter
- 2 tbsp coconut cream room temperature
- 2 tbsp oat milk room temperature
- 3 medium boiled Russet potatoes peeled and chopped into large pieces
- ¼ tsp black pepper add more as needed
- ½ tsp pink salt add more as needed
- chives optional topping
- vegan butter optional topping
Instructions
To Boil the Potatoes
- Peel and cut potatoes into large chunks to allow for quicker boiling.
- Add potato pieces into a large pot of water. The water should fully cover the potatoes. Add a large pinch of salt, and bring the pot of water to a boil. Allow this to cook for about 12-15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. You should easily be able to poke them with a fork.
- Once ready, drain potatoes of extra water, and place these in a large bowl for later use.
To Make the Mash
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the vegan butter. When the pan is hot, add the garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes until the garlic is browning.
- Add the garlic butter mixture, along with the coconut cream, oat milk, salt and pepper to the bowl of cooked potatoes.
- Blend with an immersion blender until a fluffy mash forms.
- Add more vegan butter, seasonings or other add-ins as desired.
- Serve warm with plenty of butter and chopped chives on top!
Notes
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Storage
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
