The Creamiest Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe | Foodal (2024)

by Raquel Smith

I’m pretty sure I can say with confidence that everyone looks forward to mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving.

The Creamiest Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe | Foodal (1)

I mean, it’s a whole thing: if you have Thanksgiving, you have this iconic side dish. Smashed spuds are everyone’s favorite side, whether they admit it or not.

It’s one of those dishes that you give yourself an extra large heaping scoop, then look at your plate a little forlornly because it doesn’t look like quite enough. So you dive in for another.

The Creamiest Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe | Foodal (2)

It’s that dish.

The standard recipe has lots of tasty, fatty flavor components, like butter and cream.

But if you’re the kind of person who avoids those ingredients for whatever reason, making it can be… challenging.

The Creamiest Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe | Foodal (3)

So, I’ve tried many variations of a vegan version of this classic side dish. Some were okay (I mean, really, they’re carbs mixed with some kind of fat – they can’t be that bad). Some were pretty good.

But none have been as creamy as these.

The Creamiest Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe | Foodal (4)

I did something pretty crazy here to achieve that super creamy, melt-in-your-mouth taste that the traditional recipe has. I’ve tried all sorts of non-dairy milks and was never super impressed with the result. But this time, I succeeded. Two words:

Cashew. Cream.

The Creamiest Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe | Foodal (5)

That stuff has been my jam lately. Not like the fruity jam, but you get it. I am using it all over the place and LOVING it, like in my fresh pesto recipe and homemade caramels. It’s so good.

Aside from the cashew cream, my recipe has some vegan margarine, salt, roasted garlic, and crispy shallots.

Roasted garlic and crispy shallots! Love!

The Creamiest Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe | Foodal (6)

Even if you have no intention of ever making this non-dairy version, you must put roasted garlic and crispy shallots on your mashers next time.

Promise me…

Print

The Creamiest Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe | Foodal (7)

The Creamiest Vegan Mashed Potatoes

★★★★★4.6 from 9 reviews
  • Author: Raquel Smith
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Description

These vegan mashed potatoes use cashew cream for the ultimate creamy texture. With roasted garlic and crispy shallots, they can’t be beat.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup cashews
  • 2 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes
  • 4 cloves garlic, unpeeled
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil*
  • 4 tablespoons vegan margarine
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Boil 1 cup of water. Combine with the cashews in a large bowl, and let sit for 30 minutes.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. If preferred, peel the potatoes, or leave the skins on. Chop into 1/2-inch pieces. Carefully drop the potatoes in the boiling water, and boil for about 20 minutes, or until easily pierced with a fork.
  3. While the potatoes boil, place the garlic cloves in a heavy, dry skillet. Cook on medium-high heat, turning every now and then, for about 15 minutes, until they have brown spots on all sides. Let cool, then remove the skins and trim the ends.
  4. Peel the shallot and mince finely. Heat the olive oil in a small skillet and add the shallots. Cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown and crispy. Remove from the heat.
  5. Add the cashews and their soaking water to a blenderwith the peeled roasted garlic cloves. Blend until smooth, 1-3 minutes depending on your blender. It’s best to let the blender stop and cool down every minute or so.
  6. When the potatoes are done cooking, drain in a colander. Add to the bowl of your stand mixer and fit with the whisk attachment. Alternatively, add to a large, wide bowl and use a potato masher.
  7. Add the cashew cream, margarine, and salt. Beat for about 5 minutes for slightly lumpy potatoes, and up to 10 minutes for smooth potatoes.
  8. Serve topped with the crispy shallots.

Notes

*If your skillet is large, you may need to use more olive oil. You want to have plenty in there for the shallots to cook in, otherwise they may burn instead of browning.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Vegan

Keywords: mashed potatoes, vegan, Thanksgiving, side dish, cashew cream

How to Whip ‘Em Up

To make these super creamy, I used my KitchenAid mixer to whip them. It is by far the easiest way to make them nice and fluffy.

The Creamiest Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe | Foodal (8)

If all you have is a potato ricer or masher, that’ll work too, but will take a little more time. You’ll also have nice toned arms afterward!

The masher is also a great option if you prefer a chunkier side dish – I do really enjoy biting into perfectly al dente chunks scattered amongst the creamy base.

How do you like your pulverized spuds? Creamy or chunky? Skins or no skins? Do you have any special ingredients for making your own non-dairy substitute of this fall-favorite dish? Comment below, and rate my recipe!

And for more vegan potato recipes, why not try some of these:

  • Cabbage, Potatoes and White Beans
  • Potato and Chanterelle Soup with Fresh Arugula Pesto

Photos by Raquel Smith, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published on November 21st, 2015. With additional writing and editing by Nikki Cervone. Last updated: December 31, 2019 at 3:36 am.

Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.

The Creamiest Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe | Foodal (9)

About Raquel Smith

Raquel is a whole foods enthusiast, an avid mountain biker, and a dog lover. She works by day at Food Blogger Pro and formerly maintained her food blog "My California Roots" (now merged into Foodal).

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The Creamiest Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe | Foodal (2024)

FAQs

What is the best non-dairy substitute for milk in mashed potatoes? ›

Plant butter is a vegan butter made from plants, and it's a great substitute for milk in mashed potatoes. It is high in healthy fats and has a creamy texture that makes it perfect for mashed potatoes. The ratio of Plant Butter to milk in mashed potatoes is 1:1.

Is it better to use milk or heavy cream in mashed potatoes? ›

As always, better quality ingredients equals better tasting food. Heavy Cream - While you, hypothetically, could use whole milk or something, I don't recommend it. Part of what makes these the creamiest mashed potatoes is the CREAM!

What is a substitute for cream in mashed potatoes? ›

Whole milk and light cream are the two components of half-and-half, so it's not that far off from the real deal. Use half-and-half as a 1:1 substitute for heavy cream. It can work nearly as well for bringing creamy texture and flavor to sauces, soups and stews, mashed potatoes, quiches, and casseroles.

Why add cream to mashed potatoes? ›

Ingredients for creamy mashed potatoes

Heavy Cream – This adds to the richness of the perfect potatoes. Crème Fraîche – I love adding something tart so it cuts some of the richness.

Is oat milk or almond milk better for mashed potatoes? ›

Unsweetened Almond Milk: Almond milk is what's going to help our mashed potatoes become super creamy and luscious! You can also use soy milk, oat milk or your favorite non-dairy milk alternative. Just make sure it's unsweet.

What is a good substitute for cream cheese in mashed potatoes? ›

8 Easy Ways to Make a Cream Cheese Substitute
  1. Greek Yogurt. Greek yogurt is yogurt that's been strained to remove the liquid whey, resulting in a thicker yogurt that's higher in protein and lower in fat. ...
  2. Sour Cream. ...
  3. Cottage Cheese. ...
  4. Neufchatel. ...
  5. Mascarpone. ...
  6. Ricotta Cheese. ...
  7. Kefir. ...
  8. Cashew Cheese.
Apr 6, 2021

Why add butter before milk in mashed potatoes? ›

Waxy potatoes (such as new, red, or white varieties) require more mashing to become creamy which could result in gluey, pasty spuds. Butter before milk: Always add the butter first so the butter fat coats the potato starch molecules. Then, add the hot milk to make them creamy.

What is the US equivalent to double cream? ›

The British use double cream in recipes the way we use heavy cream or whipping cream here in the US, but they also allow it to accompany dessert the way we might use ice cream.

Is cream cheese or sour cream better in mashed potatoes? ›

Sour Cream: The sour cream helps keep the mashed potatoes fluffy. Cream Cheese: This adds a bit of creaminess without being too overpowering. Heavy Cream: Increases the creaminess and helps thin out the potatoes a bit.

What to substitute for heavy cream vegan? ›

The 5 Best Vegan Substitutes for Heavy Cream
SubstituteWhat We Add to ItHow We Like to Use It
Coconut Milk*no additional ingredients needed (details below)Sweet
Hemp MilkCornstarch or Silken TofuSavory
Oat MilkCornstarch or Vegan Butter or Tofu or Olive OilSweet/Savory
Soy MilkOlive Oil or Silken TofuSavory
1 more row
Nov 5, 2022

Can I use sour cream instead of heavy cream? ›

Sour cream is an easy replacement for heavy cream. It can be easily stirred into a dish and offers another flavor profile to soups, stews and sauces. Plus, using it as a heavy cream substitute is a great way to use up that lingering tub in the fridge.

Why are my mashed potatoes not creamy? ›

When too much starch gets released, the potatoes become gummy, gluey, and unappetizing. Overworking the potatoes can happen in a couple ways: either by simply handling them too much, or by using a food processor, blender, or similar tool, which mixes the potatoes too aggressively.

Why do restaurant mashed potatoes taste better? ›

Garlic and herbs are added to boost flavor

Instead of boiling a few potatoes and mashing them plain, a lot of restaurant chefs like to apply a little more finesse. Garlic and herbs infused in butter and cream add a flavor boost without overpowering.

What makes mashed potatoes glue like? ›

Overcooking was a pitfall I addressed when developing my recipe for the Fastest, Easiest Mashed Potatoes. The typical strategy for cooking spuds to mash is to cut them into chunks, with some recipes calling for a rinsing step after the cook to rid the potatoes of the excess starch that causes a gluey texture.

What is the closest non-dairy milk alternative? ›

In terms of nutrition, soy milk is the closest non-dairy substitute for cow's milk. This is because it contains a similar amount of protein to cow's milk, but it contains half the amount of fat, calories, and carbohydrates. An average 100ml portion contains 44 calories, 1.9g of fat, and 3g of carbohydrate.

What is a good replacement for dairy milk? ›

What is the best alternative to milk?
  • Soy Milk. Soy milk has been the most popular non-dairy substitute for decades because its nutrition profile closely resembles that of cow's milk. ...
  • Almond Milk. Almond milk is a great dairy alternative when you are looking to cut calories. ...
  • Rice Milk. ...
  • Coconut Milk. ...
  • Hemp Milk. ...
  • Cashew Milk.
Jul 19, 2021

Can I substitute almond milk for milk in instant mashed potatoes? ›

Almond milk is a great substitute for dairy milk in mashed potatoes. Use an unsweetened plain almond milk for the best flavor. What is a substitute for butter in mashed potatoes? You can use plant-based butter or olive oil to substitute the butter for a dairy-free alternative in mashed potatoes.

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