Grandma's culinary secrets: Mastering mashed potatoes with onions
A traditional dinner at grandma's consisted of potatoes, meat, and a salad. This classic combination has many advantages—it effectively satisfies the appetite and provides a good supply of protein and vitamins. Sometimes, a cutlet was on the plate; other times, it was a stuffed cabbage roll. The salad could be made from white or red cabbage or sometimes from leeks or carrots. One thing remained constant—creamy mashed potatoes with delicious fried onions.
26 November 2024 21:16
Our grandmothers often used the fat from the pan in which they had previously fried the meat to pour over the potatoes. Most often, these would be pork chops or minced meat patties. They would throw finely chopped onions onto this fat, provided it wasn't burnt. Everything was done in one pan, which was quick, practical, and economical.
How to make potatoes with onions?
The recipe is simple, but to make it as tasty as grandma’s, be careful not to burn the onions. They should be lightly browned, so the temperature in the pan should not be too high. For frying, you can use clarified butter, rapeseed oil mixed with a tablespoon of regular butter, or lard.
Ingredients:
- 1 kg of potatoes,
- 1 large onion,
- 1 tablespoon of oil,
- 1 tablespoon of butter,
- salt and pepper to taste.
Recipe for mashed potatoes like grandma's:
- Peel and wash the potatoes, then place them to boil in salted water.
- When they are soft, drain the water. You can use the potato water for other household tasks.
- Mash the potatoes using a potato masher.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add finely chopped onion. While frying, add a tablespoon of butter.
- Add the onion and the fat to the potatoes when it is browned.
- Season the potatoes with onion, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix everything with a spoon.
Mashed potatoes with garnish – a quick dish with frozen stuffing for dumplings
If you have a supply of stuffing for dumplings in the freezer, you can also use this addition for mashed potatoes. Heat a portion of fried onions with bacon in the pan and add to the purée.
Want a richer version? Add diced fried sausage to the garnish. Those who enjoy spicy dishes can opt for a bit of chilli pepper or a sweet-spicy Thai-style sauce.
