Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Crispy Bacon

Ingredients

• 1 kg Potatoes (peeled and cut into pieces)
• Water (enough to cover the potatoes)
• Salt (for the water and to taste)
• 200 g Bacon (chopped and browned until crispy)
• 2 tbsp Butter
• 2 Garlic (finely minced cloves)
• 0.5 cup Heavy cream
• Black pepper (to taste)
• Nutmeg (a pinch)
• 0.5 cup Mozzarella cheese (shredded, plus extra for garnish)
• 1 tbsp Olive oil (for finishing)
• Fresh parsley (chopped for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Peel the potatoes and cut them into uniform pieces.

2. 2

   Cook the potatoes in a pot with water and salt until they are completely soft.

3. 3

   While the potatoes are cooking, brown the chopped bacon in a skillet over medium heat in its own fat until super crispy.

4. 4

   Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain the excess fat by placing it on paper towels; set aside.

5. 5

   Once the potatoes are soft, remove them from the water. Pass them through a sieve, pressing with the help of a fork to obtain a silky, lump-free puree.

6. 6

   In a separate pot over low heat, add the butter, minced garlic, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.

7. 7

   Add the mashed potatoes to the cream mixture and mix well to integrate the flavors.

8. 8

   Add half a cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and half of the crispy chopped bacon.

9. 9

   Continue stirring over low heat until the cheese melts and the mash has a smooth texture.

10. 10

    Serve the mashed potatoes on a plate and finish with a bit more mozzarella cheese on top.

11. 11

    Optionally, use a kitchen torch to gratin the cheese on the surface until golden brown.

12. 12

    Garnish with the rest of the crispy bacon, a drizzle of olive oil, and fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

The trick of passing the potato through a sieve is essential to achieve a professional, lump-free texture. If you don't have a kitchen torch, you can briefly put the mashed potatoes in the oven under the broiler setting.

Nutrition per serving

• side dish
• potatoes
• bacon
• cheese
• easy recipe
• lunch
• dinner