Carrabba’s Garlic Mashed Potatoes

This is the recipe for the authentic Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Garlic Mashed Potatoes. I got the recipe from my Carrabba’s Cookbook but I did change a few minor things. It tastes exactly like Carrabba’s restaurant. I recommend serving this dish with some steak or other meat of your choice, or some roasted or steamed vegetables. Although they are “garlic” mashed potatoes, they are actually not too garlic tasting at all because the garlic is roasted in the oven for 1.5 hours, and that gives it a sweetly unique taste, so don’t let those 2 heads of garlic in the picture throw you off! I could eat the roasted garlic just like that because it’s seriously so tasty lol. Enjoy! 🙂

Garlic Mashed Potatoes {Makes 4-5 Servings}

Ingredients:

• 2.5 LB Red-Skinned Potatoes, Scrubbed and washed But unpeeled, cut into 3/4 inch dice
• 8 Tablespoons (1 Stick) Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream, at room temperature
• *For the roasted garlic: 2 Large, Plump heads of garlic
• 1 teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Sea Salt/Pepper to taste

Directions:  

1) To make the roasted garlic, preheat a small conventional oven to 300 Degrees. Cut the top 1/2 inch from each garlic head to reveal the cloves. Discard the tops. Drizzle the extra virgin olive oil on the cut surfaces of the garlic heads, and sprinkle with a pinch each of salt/pepper.

2) Place the garlic heads, cut side up, in a small baking dish lined with foil. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake 1.5 hours on 300 degrees, until the garlic is deep beige and very tender when squeezed. Set aside when ready.

3) Put the potatoes in a large saucepan. Add enough water to just cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add salt to taste. Reduce the heat to medium low (I did 3.5) and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 20-25 minutes.

4) When the potatoes are cooked through and tender, drain out all the water, and return the potatoes back into the pot. Mash the potatoes using a potato masher.

5) In a small bowl, squeeze out the garlic cloves from the 2 heads of garlic. Mash the cloves with a fork. (They will be very tender.) Add the stick of butter and cream into the bowl. Mix very well using a fork and spoon. Until it becomes a creamy texture.

6) Add the roasted garlic, butter, and heavy cream mixture into the mashed potatoes. Mix very well. Mash potatoes again with the masher until they become as smooth as you prefer. Season with salt and pepper to taste. I did 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Transfer to a serving bowl or scoop into individual plates. Serve hot!

*To reheat: Heat a skillet on medium heat with some butter, add the mashed potatoes. Mix until heated up.