cheese and onion mash

The other week, I got my hands on a Masha. It’s a new potato mashing device that looks pretty much like a hand blender. I’m sure you’ve heard the horror stories when using a stick blender on mashed potato: you get glue. The fibres tear, leaking starch everywhere and the whole thing coagulates.

This gadget comes with a fabulous verb though. It extrudes. In other words, it pushes the potato through some holes. Doesn’t sound that revolutionary but it really does make some pretty fine mash. Sexy looking device too, and it washes up dead easy to boot.

Would I use it much? Probably would actually. I surprised myself. I was absolutely certain this was going to a once-only toy but the speed and ease with which it makes smooth mashed potato is impressive. I prefer mine smooth to chunky and this is much quicker than mucking about with a sieve, which is my usual weapon of choice.

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Cheese and onion mash

Something a little different from regular mash.

Course Side Dish

Servings 2

Author Gary @ BigSpud

Ingredients

• 250 g white potatoes peeled and chopped good old Maris Piper would be great
• ½ onion sliced
• 1 star anise
• 20 g Comté cheese grated
• Butter and milk to taste

Instructions

• Put the oven on to 180°C. Put the onion slices in a baking tray with the star anise, drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper. Pop in the oven for 20 - 25 mins, stirring every now and then until starting to catch.
• Meanwhile cook the potatoes in boiling salted water, for 15 - 20 mins until knife-tender. Drain well, add a knob of butter, a splash of milk and use a Masha for a few seconds to mash. Stir in the butter and onions (discard the star anise) and season to taste.