Instead of butter, use this condiment to make fluffy mashed potatoes.
With the holidays come indulgences, but that doesn't mean you can't fit in quick workouts and make healthier versions of your favorite Thanksgiving foods. In this series, Julia Heffelfinger, a Denver-based recipe developer, shares culinary tips for reinventing classic comfort foods.
"Mashed potatoes can easily be transformed into a better-for-you version by using garlic confit instead of butter," says Heffelfinger. "The cloves are cooked slowly in olive oil until soft and caramelized, yielding a slightly sweet, flavor-packed condiment. You can incorporate it directly into your mashed potatoes, or puree it into a creamy paste to spread on biscuits, blend it into gravy to help thicken the sauce (and add depth), or even combine it with herbs and rub it under the skin of your turkey before roasting," she says. Plus, as an extra bonus, "you also get a delicious oil when making the confit that’s great for vinaigrettes, drizzling over roasted vegetables, or whisking into homemade aioli." Here, Heffelfinger shares how to use it in a healthy side dish recipe featuring vitamin A-rich sweet potatoes.
Creamy Harissa Sweet Potatoes
Serves 10 to 12
"Garlic confit's mellow sweetness perfectly complements the subtle kick of heat from the harissa, a chile paste used in North African and Middle Eastern cooking," says Heffelfinger. Pro tip: buy pre-peeled garlic to save on time and a potato ricer, a tool that gives you a smooth texture without excessive mashing, which can make the dish gummy.