This is an ultra-creamy mashed potato as served at top tier restaurants and good steakhouses. It’s called Paris Mash, and it’s got a soft, almost pourable texture, it’s creamy yet fluffy, and it’s unapologetically rich.
It’s certainly not an everyday mash, so save it for special occasions to serve alongside grand centrepieces!
Paris Mash was made famous in Australia by Guillaume Brahimi, one of our country’s top French chefs. His Paris Mash is 25% butter, and it’s so rich, I could only get through a few spoonfuls… And that’s saying something for this Potato Monster!!
What is Paris Mash?
Just as Prime Rib is the king of all roasts, and Carnitas rule all tacos, Paris Mash is the mother of all mashed potatoes!
Legendary French chef Joël Robuchon is credited with the original creation of this mash, his simple but decadent pommes puree (“pureed potatoes”) becoming his signature dish at his many restaurants. It’s since spread far and wide, and you’ll find it on the menu of upmarket steakhouses and French restaurants around the world. Chef Guillaume Brahimi, one of Robuchon’s protégés, popularised the dish here in Australia, fittingly coining it Paris Mash!
Paris Mash is not like your typical mashed potato you make at home. It’s smooth, soft and creamy with a consistency almost like softly whipped cream rather than thick and pasty like regular mashed potato which holds its shape when you spoon it onto plates.
It’s made with alot of butter, and many chefs use cream as well. Sometimes as much as 40% butter and cream to 60% potato! 😱😱😱
This home style version I’m sharing today is not quite as indulgent – but certainly still very rich!
How to make Paris Mash at home
There are a few techniques that make Paris Mash different to other mash:
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Cook the potatoes whole – optional! This is how chefs do it – because it stops the potatoes from becoming waterlogged so you get a more intense potato flavour. But it does require a bit of a juggling act to peel the potatoes while hot!
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Potato ricer, grinder or masher – I use a potato ricer which is an easy way to make smooth mashed potato. If you don’t have one, just use a handheld masher. Tip: Potato mashers with round holes work the best because they mimic the effect of a potato ricer;
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Double sieve – To achieve a perfectly smooth Paris Mash the way it’s made in restaurants requires a lot of effort. After the first mash using a ricer or grinder, the potato is then pushed through a fine drum sieve.This requires serious effort – both time and strength! We have a drum sieve floating around in the RecipeTin Family and I’ve used it once for Paris Mash – and I’m not sure if I ever will again!In the absence of a team of sous chefs to sieve the potato for me, I skip the double sieve and accept that mine is not quite as smooth as restaurant versions – and that’s totally ok. While you might notice the lumps if you eat plain spoonfuls of the mash, once it’s on the plate and you’re eating it with steak or whatever you’re serving it with, you don’t even notice the minor imperfections.
How to make Paris Mash (cont’d)
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Dry out potato over low heat – once the potato is mashed, stir it over low heat to steam out any residual water which will intensify the potato flavour and start the process of making it really creamy;
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Cold butter – stir in cold diced butter a few at a time. The reason we use cold butter rather than soft or melted butter is because the butter melts as a whole so you get a more even distribution of the fat and milk solids throughout the potato. It makes the texture more luscious and enhances the intensely buttery flavour;
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How much butter?? I use 150g/5 oz for 1 kg / 2 lb of potato if I’m being a bit sensible. But if I’m really going all out, I use 200g/7 oz. Hey – I never said this was healthy! 😂
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Milk not cream! While many restaurants use cream in their Paris Mash, I adopt Guillaume Brahimi’s method of using milk instead because sometimes, the flavour of the cream can overwhelm. I prefer the pure unadulterated flavour of just potato and butter;
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Stir with a wooden spoon for a creamy-yet-fluffy Paris Mash, the way it’s is supposed to be!
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DO NOT use a food processor blender – this activates the starch and makes the mashed potato gluey (it’s inedible, I made that mistake in my youth!);
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DO NOT use a stand mixer or electric beater – again, this activates the starch and while it doesn’t become gluey, it does make the mash more dense-creamy rather than lightly-creamy which is the way Paris Mash is supposed to be.
And there we have it. Paris Mash, made at home.
Certainly not your usual mash. Save this one for special occasions to serve alongside grand centrepieces like Prime Rib and slow Roasted Pork with impossibly crispy crackling, a juicy Roast Turkey or thick steakhouse-style steaks smothered with Creamy Peppercorn Sauce!! – Nagi x
Suggestions for mains worthy of Paris Mash!
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Standing Rib Roast (Prime Rib) (pictured below)
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Slow Roasted Pork with perfect crackling – or any other roast
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A juicy steak with Creamy Peppercorn Sauce or Mushroom Sauce
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A juicy whole Roast Turkey – or any of these turkey recipes!
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Fall-apart Lamb Shanks in Red Wine Sauce or Port Braised Lamb Shanks
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Slow Cooked Beef Cheeks in Red Wine Sauce
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Paris Mash (Rich & Creamy Mashed Potato)
Ingredients
- 1 kg / 2 lb Dutch Cream, Desiree, Yukon Gold or Maris Piper potatoes (Note 1)
- 150 - 200 g / 5 - 7 oz cold unsalted butter , cut into 1.5cm / 1/2" cubes (Note 2)
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup (125 - 185ml) milk , warmed (Note 3)
- Salt
Garnish:
- Softened butter
- Finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Scrub potatoes clean.
- Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil then reduce heat and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes until the potatoes are very soft (depends on size).
- Alternatively, peel then chop into 2.5cm / 1" cubes (Note 4), cook 12 to 15 minutes until soft.
- Drain potatoes and return empty pot to stove.
- Using tea towels to handle the hot potatoes, peel them using a small knife (skin should slide off pretty easily).
- Mash the potatoes using one of these methods: Press them through a potato ricer or a food mill / grinder fitted with the finest disc, or mash in the pot using a potato masher (preferably with round holes, yields a similar result to potato ricer).
- Pro step: Then pass the potato through a drum sieve for 100% smooth mashed potato, like you get at restaurants. I do not do this (read in post)
- Turn stove on low and stir mashed potato for 1 minute (evaporate excess water).
- Add a few cubes of butter and a little splash of milk. Stir until butter melts and is incorporated.
- Repeat until all butter is used up, using milk to adjust the consistency to your desired taste towards the end. It should be soft and creamy, almost pourable.
- Season to taste with salt.
- Pour into serving bowl. Use a spoon to create swirls on the surface, top with small dollop of butter and a tiny sprinkle of parsley. Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
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Elizabeth says
Nagi, We have cow milk allergies, but can handle butter. Should I use almond milk or extra butter in this recipe?
Nagi says
Hi Elizabeth, I’d just use a different milk 🙂
Elizabeth says
Can I use a Vitamix to blend mashed potatoes? I do not have a potato ricer. I am also using red potatoes with the skins on. (I’ve never posted before, but have followed you for a while.)
Nagi says
Please don’t! NEVER use a blender for potatoes – they are too powerful and they will activate the gluten in the potatoes and turn it into glue. Trust me, I made that mistake years ago and it was horrid. INEDIBLE!!! 😂 If you have a beater, that will work – but don’t take it too far because it too can make the potatoes gluey! That’s why restaurants use a ricer then a sieve 🙂 N xx
Elizabeth says
Thanks! Another question: I can handle butter, but not cow’s milk. Should I use extra butter or almond milk instead of cow’s milk?
christy says
hi nagi!! sorry if this is double post, i think my last comment didn’t go through. have been following you awhile and you are truly my food soul sister:)
wanted to ask if this dish could be made a day in advance? mahalo:)
Nagi says
Hi Christy, thanks so much for the great feedback! You can definitely make ahead – the reheating instructions are in the notes ❤️
Lynn says
You can make this using the mash attachment on a stick blender. Works perfectly and you don’t need to sieve the potato.
Nagi says
Hi Lynn, when using a stick blender you break apart all the starch molecules and can turn your mash into a gluey mess! Best to never mix a stick blender and mashed potatoes – N x
Steph says
Omg, this is so good!!!! As Asian, I don’t have anyone in my family that can cook mashed potatoes, even my own mother doesn’t eat it! But I just loved those mashed potatoes I ate in the restaurants, but I couldn’t replicate it at home.
But now I can! Thanks to you! 💕
Nagi says
I love this!!
Suna Halil says
Oh my god Nagi! This was heaven.
Nagi says
Glad you loved it Suna! –Nx
Angela Sciurca says
I just bought a combo Convection Toaster Oven with an Ar Fryer element. Please tell me you are going to feature some Air Fryer recipes. Also, can you tell me what you think of them. Thanks.
Nagi says
Hi Angela, I don’t currently own an air-fryer, I can’t justify the space of another appliance at the moment, but possibly in the future 🙈
Sue Downs says
Nagi, your recipes are so gorgeous, and the photos make me want to eat them all, right now! Thank you so much for sharing your expertise! Please give Dozer kisses for me! He isso precious! Thank you for this chance to win the knife of my dreams (but not of my bank account). I love Japanese food and used to shop in Japanese food stores in New York City and then Portland, Oregon (both in USA). Now, we live in the middle of nowhere in Oklahoma, and a beautiful knife like yours lives in my dreams… Merry Christmas to you and yours!
nagendra says
It looks delicious and please tell in which time is best for eating. This is amazing recipe I have ever seen before.
Nagi says
I’d eat this any time! But I usually serve this as a side at dinner. ☺️