The Creamier Milk Substitute For The Ultimate Mashed Potatoes

Some would call rich, creamy mashed potatoes the epitome of comfort food. In its simplest form, it only requires a few ingredients like butter and milk to attain a velvety consistency. Still, whether you are making dinner for friends with specific dietary needs or just need to pick up milk from the grocery store on your next trip a couple days from now, not looking to dairy alternatives when the time arises is a mistake preventing you from achieving mashed potato perfection. 

You have plenty of choices regarding creamy plant-based substitutes here. Yet coconut milk, in particular, has a high amount of fat that can make it even richer than traditional whole milk. You may also have to substitute regular butter for a dairy-free alternative if you're looking to eschew animal products entirely. Because those options are typically less creamy than the real deal, coconut milk is an ideal liquid to boost the buttery texture.

There is a caveat here: using coconut milk will give the dish an essence of coconut. How much coconut flavor is imparted will depend on how much of the liquid you incorporate, but instead of looking at this as a problem to overcome, why not use this knowledge to your advantage? By pairing ingredients that complement the taste of coconut with your mashed potatoes, you can make a version of this classic that is unlike anything you have ever tasted before.

While coconut-flavored mashed potatoes won't taste exactly like what you may consider to be a classic version of the dish, it does give the spuds a specific wow factor if you mix in ingredients that complement the taste. That doesn't mean you have to make it totally tropical by throwing in pineapple like a piña colada. Think more along the lines of additions you find gracing a pumpkin spice latte, like nutmeg and cinnamon. Bring a little heat to the recipe to balance the sweetness of the coconut with some chilis, or add a touch of curry powder for an Asian-inspired take on the classic side dish.

The same concept also works if you substitute sweet potatoes for your mash. Sweet potatoes welcome the flavor of warm spices that complement the taste of coconut, and the heavy fat content of the dairy alternative works just as well to achieve a creamy consistency. With either tuber, the key to finding the right balance of flavor and richness in your mashed potatoes comes down to taste-testing the dish often as you incorporate each ingredient.