Mashed Potatoes with Za’atar Butter
By sharon moskal
This is one of those brainstorms that you aren’t sure how it will turn out. Well, this was a hit with everyone who has tried it. That little touch of spice and zing of the Za’atar Blend is just what a good mashed potato needs. A delicious spice blend mixed with something already delicious: butter. Who knew? And Za'atar butter also works on roasted potatoes and baked potatoes. It's also delightful on anything else that calls for butter, like croissants or popovers.
Mashed Potatoes with Za’atar Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Yellow Gold or similar type of Potato
- 1 cup Milk
- ½ cup Buttermilk
- 1 cup (two sticks) room-temperature Butter
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tbsp Za’atar Blend
Instructions
- Peel and cut Potatoes into 1 ½” pieces
- Place Potatoes in a pot that will hold them and has at least 3” clearance above the water that will cover them.
- Cover Potatoes in cold water and bring to a gentle boil. Boil approx. 30 minutes or until a fork encounters slight resistance when pushed into a Potato.
- Drain cooked Potatoes and return to pot, which should still be warm.
- Add 1 stick of Butter, Milk, Buttermilk, and Salt.
- Using a hand beater or potato masher (using an immersion blender will result in gluey potatoes), blend everything together at low speed until everything is incorporated.
- Serve right away or cover pot for reheating later. Add ¼ cup of additional milk if potatoes seem stiff and stir in while reheating.
- Za’atar Butter
- While the potatoes are cooking, place remaining stick of Butter in a small mixing bowl.
- Add Za’atar Blend and mix in until Za’atar is evenly distributed.
- Put Za’atar Butter on a piece of plastic wrap large enough to hold all of it and have enough room to roll Za’atar Butter into a 1” column.
- Twist ends of plastic wrap and place Za’atar Butter in fridge.
- When ready to serve Potatoes, cut Za’atar Butter into ¼” slices and top Potatoes with it.