How can you improve comforting mashed potatoes? Flavour them with mellow roasted garlic and sweet-pungent spring onions, blended into a potato mixture enriched with cream and margarine or butter.
Preparing Garlic
Place the unpeeled garlic cloves in a heatproof glass baking dish. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of oil, then toss the cloves to coat them in the oil. Cover tightly with foil. Bake in a preheated 400 degree F/200 degree C oven for about 25 minutes, or till garlic is tender when pierced. Remove garlic from oven; cool slightly.
Peeling Garlic
Hold the top end of a slightly cooled clove between thumb and index finger. Squeeze the garlic to force the clove out of the papery skin through the root end.
Mixing Potatoes
Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl, including the peeled roasted garlic. Mash lightly with an electric mixer (do not overmix or potatoes will be sticky), or use a fork.