Delicious Dairy-Free Mashed Potato Recipe With Roasted Garlic

Creamy, dreamy, and buttery, these super garlicky vegan mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food. It’s hard to beat classic golden spuds dressed generously with roasted garlic, perfect for supporting a meatless roast with gravy on Thanksgiving, a simple tofu steak on a weeknight, or just a spoon any day of the week. Everyone loves this dairy-free mashed potato recipe, it’s best mashed potato recipe you’ll find!

Why You Should Make These Plant-Based Mashed Potatoes

A better question to ask would be, “why shouldn’t you make it?” The reasons to serve up a heaping helping are endless, but the top 4 are as follows:

• Garlic! – There’s simply no such thing as too much garlic. You have full license here to throw an entire head of the stuff into pan without holding back. Side bonus: The vampires will stay far away from you and your family tonight!
• Simple ingredients – No funny business here. You can find everything you need at the standard grocery store without making a special trip.
• Easy – Cooks of all ages and experience can whip up incredibly fluffy spuds with ease. Most of the cooking time is inactive, so you have plenty of opportunities to take breaks along the way.
• Allergen-free – Dietary restrictions won’t keep anyone from digging into this dish. Just double-check your vegan butter; ingredients can vary by brand and may include soy or nuts. If need be, you can substitute extra-virgin olive oil, plain vegan yogurt, or pure, unrefined coconut oil instead. It will change the flavor a bit but still taste every bit as rich in these dairy-free mashed potatoes.

Nutritional Benefits of Potatoes

For many years, potatoes were demonized as high-carb, empty calories, but there’s so much more going on beneath the peel. Exact nutrients vary depending on the variety, but you can count on finding certain vitamins and minerals in every sort of spud.

• Vitamin C – Boost your immune system with potatoes? You bet! One medium Yukon gold potato fulfills half of your daily recommended dose of vitamin C.
• Antioxidants – Neutralizing free radicals before they can wreak havoc in the body, antioxidants help prevent many degenerative cellular diseases, like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
• Fiber – Providing a sense of satiety, potatoes are very filling. This is what makes them great for
  rounding out a meal to make sure everyone walks away from the table full and happy.
• Resistant starch – Taking more time to digest when it reaches the large intestine, this specific type of starch nourishes the beneficial bacteria in your gut. This helps aid in digestion and in some cases, reduce blood sugar.

Tips for Making the Best Mashed Potatoes Ever

Anyone can make good vegan mashed potatoes right off the bat, but with a few simple tips and tricks, you can make AMAZING, crave-worthy mashed potatoes every time.

1. Start with cold water to make sure the potatoes cook at the same rate.
2. Bring to a boil and cook until fork-tender, but not falling apart.
3. Drain thoroughly because no one likes watery mashed potatoes.
4. For completely silky-smooth mashed potatoes, press the pieces through a potato ricer fitted with the finest disk. I prefer mine with a bit more texture, so I just use a good old fashioned potato masher.
5. Whatever you do, do not use a food processor, stand mixer, or blender, which will only create a gluey, sticky texture.
6. To avoid dirtying more dishes, mash the potatoes right in the pot and add vegan butter, allowing it to melt from the residual heat.
7. Follow that with salt and pepper, and mash away!

More Garlic, Please! 

This deliciously dairy-free mashed potato recipe is made by garlic lovers for garlic lovers. It’s packed with bursts of roasted garlic from an entire head of roasted garlic that you’ll squeeze out into the potatoes before fully mashing them to creamy perfection. If you’re one of those “double the garlic, please!” type of people, these are for you! 

Not a fan of garlic? You can leave the garlic out of this recipe and it will still be delightful. Just pass that garlic over here, would you? I can always use more!

How to Level Up Your Dairy-Free Mashed Potato Flavors

It’s hard to beat a pure garlicky mashed potato, but if you want a flavorful change of pace, try one of these ideas for spicing things up:

• Curry powder – Heat one tablespoon of neutral vegetable oil and add 1 teaspoon of mild yellow curry powder. Cook for 20 seconds, until aromatic, and then pour it over mashed potatoes. Mix well.
• Caramelized onions – Everything goes with caramelized onions and there’s no limit to how much you can add. Prep the onions in advance so you can quickly stir them in at the end.
• Capers or olives – For a briny, salty finish, top you mountain of ‘taters with roughly chopped capers and/or olives. Bonus points if you take an extra minute to pan-fry the capers first for an extra little crunch.
• Meatless bacon bits and shredded vegan cheese – Just like a loaded baked potato, but creamier!
• Sriracha, soy sauce, and black vinegar – This combination is my favorite dipping sauce for vegetable dumplings, but it’s also fantastic swirled into golden spuds for extra umami flavor
• Lemon zest and rosemary – Bright and zingy, the bold citrus and warm earthy tastes balance out brilliantly for a fresh take on the standard mash.
• Vegan kimchi – For those who like it hot, drain and finely chop a handful of your favorite kimchi before mixing it into your potatoes. Since not everyone is up to such intense spice, you might want to add this to individual portions, rather than the full batch.

What Type of Potato Masher Should You Use?

No kitchen is complete without a potato masher lined up next to the knives. Beyond mashed potatoes, it’s an essential tool for making creamy guacamole, homemade refried beans, quick banana bread, and so much more.

There’s a wide range of designs to pick from, so which is the best? A lot of it comes down to a matter of personal preference, but my favorite model to use for this dairy-free mashed potato recipe has a flat, perforated plate that ensures even, complete coverage as you mash. Zigzag or “s” type models have a lot more open space for chunks of food to slip through, making you do twice as much work. Beyond that, make sure the grip is comfortable so you can press down with force and not worry about your fingers slipping.

What Can I Do With The Peeled Potato Skins?

If you’re thinking about tossing your potato skins in the compost or garbage, wait! We have a super easy and delicious zero waste recipe for potato skin chips that you’ve gotta try. It’s just a few ingredients and will give a whole extra level of enjoyment when served as a snack before these mashed potatoes are ready. 

Equipment You’ll Need for This Dairy-Free Mashed Potato Recipe

• Large stock pot
• Sharp knife
• Tin foil
• Colander
• Potato masher

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If you try this recipe for vegan mashed potatoes, let us know what you think by leaving a comment and rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for even more vegan recipe inspiration.

Serve These Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes With…

Getting ready for a vegan Thanksgiving feast, or a hearty holiday spread of festive plant-based side dishes? This dairy-free mashed potato recipe pairs perfectly with:

• A Generous Drizzle of Vegan Gravy
• A Hefty Vegan Turkey Roast (such as this Tofurky roast)
• Cranberry Sauce
• Vegan Green Bean Casserole
• Air Fryer Kabocha Squash or Roasted Delicata Squash
• Thanksgiving Harvest Salad

More Comforting Vegan Potato Recipes To Try:

• Vegan Hasselback Potatoes
• Vegan Potato Leek Soup Recipe
• Vegan Deviled Potatoes
• Garlic & Kale Potato Cakes
• Grilled Potato Skins With Guacamole

Dairy-free mashed potato recipe by Daniel Miller and food photos by J.J. Steele, copyright World of Vegan. Article written with support from Hannah Kaminsky and Amanda Meth. Please note that this article may contain affiliate links which supports our work at World of Vegan.