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If you like garlic roasted mashed potatoes............
............ you're gonna LOVE these yummy potato swirls. If you're a regular visitor at The Cafe, you may have noticed that I enjoy preparing mashed potatoes in this fun swirly style. It's a wonderful trick to have up your sleeve for more reasons than one; not only can you prepare these potatoes early in the day, you can actually prepare them a day, a week or even a month ahead of time and store them in the freezer (no, no, that's not why they have that green color!).
Another wonderful reason to swirl your potatoes is that it makes them look so special. Simple grilled meat, fish or poultry turns into party fare when paired with these lovely swirly spuds! And guess what? With a batch tucked away in your freezer, you can turn any weekday family night into party night - why not make your family feel as special as they really are?!
All you need is a pastry bag or a heavy-duty zippered freezer bag and a large star decorating tip. If using a plastic freezer bag, just snip off a corner, insert the decorating tip and load up the bag with the potatoes. Twist the top shut and start swirling! It's fun and if you make a mistake or don't like the way your swirls look, just stuff them back in the bag and start again. Before you know it you'll be a swirling expert!
Parmesan & Pesto Potato Swirls
Ingredients:
3 pounds yukon gold or russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces
2 tablespoons butter
1-2 teaspoons sea salt, to taste
¼ cup whole milk or half & half
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons pesto*, extra for drizzling
extra virgin olive oil, to thin pesto for drizzling
Directions:
1. Place potatoes in a medium-large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer and cook until potatoes are very tender, 15-20 minutes. Drain well and return to pot.
2. Add butter, sea salt and milk (start with 2-3 tablespoons) and mash with a potato masher till smooth and fluffy. Stir in parmesan and pesto. Add more milk as needed - the amount will be determined by the density of your potatoes. Also, for swirling, you want the mashed potatoes fairly loose but not runny.
3. Butter 8-10 small dishes or ramekins. Insert a large star tip into a medium size decorating bag (available at craft stores, kitchen stores and many Super Walmart's in the cake decorating section), Alternatively, cut a small snip off of the corner of a large heavy-duty zippered plastic bag and insert a large star decorator tip. I use a Wilton 1M and spread the points just a bit to make the opening larger. I prefer the decorating bags as they are much stronger and potatoes can put a lot of pressure on the bag.
4. Place the decorator bag or zippered bag with the tip inserted into a deep, narrow bowl with tip end down. Folding top edges over the rim of the bowl, fill bag about ¾ full with potatoes. Twist the top of the bag a few times to enclose potatoes and pipe into small bowls, as equally as possible. Bake at 350˚F for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through and just starting to brown. Combine 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil with 1 teaspoon of pesto. Drizzle swirls with the pesto mixture Serve immediately or allow to cool and freeze, uncovered. When frozen wrap well with plastic wrap or foil.
Pola M says
How beautiful! They must also taste great!
France@beyondthepeel says
Don't those look fancy. Beautiful for company or any week night too!
Dining Alone says
I have never used a piping bag, but this looks like an easy way to start, and a tasty way!! 😉
Lizzy says
Yummy and beautiful, Chris!!! Your piping skills are marvelous~
Lyndsay Wells says
I LOVE this idea! Am going to swirl some potatoes tonight!
Aimee Christian says
This is GREAT. I love pesto and I make it every summer. I love potatoes. Why not put the two together?? Brilliant. Maybe I can get my crazy kids to eat white potatoes this way, since they only like sweet potatoes, go figure. I'm making these asap.
Mary says
What a treat for the eyes.These look wonderful and I'll wager they are delicious. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
Ginny says
What a really great idea!! I will have to try it, and these look just like spring!
lena says
pretty!i'm smiling here looking at these beautiful swirls, these be a great idea at parties too!
raquel@eRecipe.com says
This potato swirl will be a big hit in the house. Another way of enjoying potatoes, enticingly delicious. They looked like an ice cream. Yummy! =)
The Mom Chef says
We had mashed potatoes for dinner last night and I can honestly say that they didn't look (or taste) anything like those. They were a blob on the plate. 🙂
I love the flavor additions you've put in here too, though I'm sure Dudette will be dubious about the green.
Chatty Crone says
They are so pretty. sandie
Vicki Bensinger says
These are so pretty and I love how they swirl. I remember your other post with just the cheesy swirled potatoes and loved those. They definitely make a statement when presented this way. Great tip for how to freeze them.
due bionde in cucina says
this looks and tasty so delicius!
bellini says
I like the swirl but I also love the pesto in this tasty side dish.
Kim says
I realise I never made such potatoes and it's true that these are easy and looks perfect!!!! I'll certainly give these a try!
Happier Than a Pig in Mud says
Very pretty! The swirly potatoes sure do look special:@)
Stephanie says
You definitely have the touch 😉 It's 5:39am and I would dive into those potatoes 🙂 They really look good. Thanks for sharing, I'll have to try these. Like the idea of preparing them in advance. Don't they get a "freezer" taste though? Have a great day!
Veronica Miller says
I love your swirly potatoes! 🙂 I once tried to use a ziploc bag for my pastry bag and it was a mess. My frosting wasn't even stiff but I had to hold one hand firmly squeezed around the tip and one hand squeezing the bag so that the tip wouldn't be forced out--the bag just wasn't strong enough to hold the tip in, no matter how small the hole I cut for it in the bag. And the swirls were really pathetic, nothing like your beauties!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
I love your swirly potatos! I'm going to try that next time I maked mashed potatos. It's a wonderful idea! I love the recipe for the pesto potatos, I just wish Hubby liked pesto. I guess I can make a batch for me than freeze it! Love this recipe!
Hovkonditorn says
Beautiful! I would love to have one, or two 🙂