Description
This French Onion Mashed Potatoes recipe elevates traditional mashed potatoes with deeply caramelized sweet onions, rich Gruyere cheese, and creamy butter and heavy cream. Perfect as an indulgent side dish for family dinners or special occasions, these mashed potatoes combine creamy texture with savory, sweet onion flavor for a crowd-pleasing comfort food classic.
Ingredients
Scale
Caramelized Onions
- 6 tablespoons Simply Nature Organic Unsalted Butter
- 4 sweet onions, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt, to taste
Mashed Potatoes
- 5 pounds russet or Yukon gold potatoes, washed and peeled
- 12 tablespoons Simply Nature Organic Unsalted Butter
- 1 ½ cups Friendly Farms Heavy Whipping Cream
- 8 ounces Emporium Selection Le Gruyere Cheese, freshly grated
- 1 to 2 teaspoons salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize the Onions: Heat 6 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and a generous pinch of kosher salt. Cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes until the onions soften. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 45 to 60 more minutes until deeply golden and caramelized. Adjust time for desired caramelization.
- Prepare the Potatoes: Wash, peel, and cut potatoes into uniform chunks for even cooking. Optionally soak in cold ice water in fridge for 12 to 18 hours. Place potatoes in a large pot with cold salted water over medium heat. Bring to boil and cook until fork tender, about 12 to 15 minutes.
- Warm Butter and Cream: While potatoes boil, warm 12 tablespoons butter and 1 ½ cups heavy cream together in a saucepan over medium-low heat until warmed through.
- Mash Potatoes: Drain potatoes and return to pot. Mash using a masher or ricer to preferred texture. Stir in half of the warm butter and cream mixture with 1 teaspoon salt. Optionally use a hand mixer on low speed briefly to break up chunks, avoiding overmixing.
- Add Cheese and Onions: Add remaining butter and cream mixture and stir well. Mix in grated Gruyere cheese slowly to melt evenly. Stir in half of the caramelized onions. Season with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper, tasting frequently for balance.
- Serve: Spoon mashed potatoes into a serving dish and top with remaining caramelized onions. Adjust serving size by halving for 4 servings or doubling for 12 to 16 servings, carefully adjusting seasoning as needed.
Notes
- Soaking potatoes in cold water overnight helps remove excess starch for fluffier mashed potatoes.
- Use russet potatoes for fluffier texture or Yukon gold for creamier taste.
- Caramelizing onions low and slow develops deep sweetness and rich flavor.
- Gruyere cheese adds a smooth, nutty complement but can be swapped with other melting cheeses like fontina or white cheddar.
- Adjust seasoning gradually, especially salt, because cheese and butter add saltiness.
- For a lighter version, reduce butter or substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
