Duchess Potatoes

If the potatoes are not peeled and mashed while hot and if the boiling milk is not added immediately, the Duchess potato will be lumpy and gluey.  If you only have egg whites they will be fine and will make a deliciously light mashed potato also.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs unpeeled potatoes, russet potatoes 

• 1 ¼ cups creamy milk

• 1-2 egg yolks or 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk

• ¼ - ½ stick unsalted butter

• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions:

Scrub the potatoes well.  Put them into a saucepan of cold water, add a good pinch of salt and bring to the boil with the lid on.  When the potatoes are about half cooked, 15 minutes approximately for “old” potatoes, strain off two-thirds of the water, replace  the lid on the saucepan, put on to a gentle heat and allow the potatoes to steam until they are cooked.  Peel immediately by just pulling off the skins, so you have as little waste as possible, put through a ricer or mouli legume while hot.  (If you have a large quantity, put the potatoes into the bowl of a stand mixer and beat with the spade)  Or mash by hand.

While the potatoes are being peeled, bring about 1 ¼ cups of milk to the boil.  Beat the eggs into the hot mashed potatoes, and add enough boiling creamy milk to mix to a soft light consistency suitable for piping, then beat in the butter, the amount depending on how rich you like your potatoes.  Taste and season with salt and freshly ground pepper.

Serves 4

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