heavenly side dish: smashed red potatoes & bacon

How To Make heavenly side dish: smashed red potatoes & bacon

• 
  1

  PREP/PREPARE
• 
  2

  Gather your ingredients.
• 
  3

  Cook the bacon, drain, chop, and reserve.
• 
  4

  Scrub the red potatoes clean, add to a pot, and cover with cold water.
• 
  5

  Bring the water up to the boil, and simmer the potatoes until cooked, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• 
  6

  Chef’s Tip: A pairing knife inserted into the potatoes should enter with little resistance.
• 
  7

  Take the butter and buttermilk and add them to a small saucepan, over low heat.
• 
  8

  Allow to heat up until wisp’s of steam appear but do not allow the mixture to boil.
• 
  9

  Chef’s Note: Alternately, you could use the microwave.
• 
  10

  Drain all the water from the pan, and then return pan to the heat with the potatoes.
• 
  11

  Chef's Note: Shift the pan back and forth a few times, until all the residual water has evaporated, about 2 minutes.
• 
  12

  Remove and quarter the potatoes.
• 
  13

  Add the potatoes to a large bowl, along with the warm buttermilk/butter mixture and the mayonnaise.
• 
  14

  Partially mash with a potato masher, or fork.
• 
  15

  Add some salt & pepper to taste… along with a pinch of cayenne, the paprika, and the bacon.
• 
  16

  Fold the ingredients until combined.
• 
  17

  Chef’s Note: I like my “smashed” taters to have a few lumps.
• 
  18

  PLATE/PRESENT
• 
  19

  Serve as a side dish along with your favorite protein, or just put them into a bowl and tuck in. Enjoy.
• 
  20

  Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
• Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
• Printable Recipe Card