Mediterranean-Inspired Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes topped with olive oil and toasted pine nuts. White bowl and purple tablecloth.

These potatoes are a fun variation on the standard, but not too zhuzhed up that the taters get lost in the other ingredients. 

Ingredients

  • 5 lb potatoes, peeled 
  • 1 head garlic 
  • Zest of 1 lemon 
  • 1 – 1 ½ tsp salt, plus more to taste 
  • 1/3 cup plus 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided 
  • ½ cup pine nuts, toasted 
  • Fresh-ground white or black pepper 
  • Optional: Tahini for drizzling 

Directions

  1. Roast garlic: Preheat oven to 400°. Take off outermost papery layer of garlic skin. Cut about ¼ – ½ inch off the top, leaving all cloves slightly exposed. Drizzle/rub 1 Tbsp olive oil onto head and place on a piece of foil big enough to fully wrap it up. Toast in heated oven for 40-45 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Once cool, push garlic cloves from casings and set aside. 
  2. Place potatoes in a stock pot with water to cover. Bring to a boil, lower heat and cook about 15 minutes, or until tender. 
  3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk 1/3 cup olive oil, lemon zest, roasted garlic, 1 tsp salt until blended.  
  4. Drain potatoes, return to pan. Mash potatoes and then drizzle/gently fold in oil mixture. Add a few grinds pepper, adjust salt to taste.  
  5. Transfer to a serving dish and top with toasted pine nuts, remaining olive oil and tahini.