Pomme Purée Recipe (French Mashed Potatoes) - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

Classic Pomme Purée Recipe – Pommes puree are beautifully silky French-style mashed potatoes that make any meal feel special. This traditional potato puree side dish is loaded with plenty of garlic, butter, and heavy cream so every spoonful is rich and delicious!

What is Pomme Puree?

Pomme purée is the French version of mashed potatoes… Instead of a little butter and milk smashed into the potatoes until light and fluffy, the French mix in an absurd (in a good way!) amount of butter and cream to make a luscious irresistible potato purée. It’s smooth and dense, not fluffy. It tastes decadent and silky, with an almost pourable texture.

These are the kind of potatoes you see as the starch base on plates in many French restaurants. They’re fabulous to serve anytime you want to make a statement on the dinner table. Yet this recipe takes a little more effort than classic quick and easy mashed potatoes!

5 Ingredients You Need

• Potatoes – Yukon gold are best, but russet potatoes work as well
• Garlic – smashed or minced
• Butter – unsalted
• Heavy cream – for the most rich purée
• Chicken base – adds a luscious savory flavor

How to Make French Mashed Potatoes

Set out a large pot with 2 to 3 inches of cold water in the bottom. Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1-inch chunks. Place the chopped potatoes in the water along with 2 teaspoons of salt and the garlic clove. If needed, add more water to cover the potatoes.

Cover the pot and set on the stovetop over high heat. Once the water comes to a boil, set a timer for 15 minutes and simmer. After the potatoes have cooked for 15 minutes, scoop out a larger piece of potato and check that it is very fork-tender. Continue to boil for another 3 to 5 minutes if needed.

Once the potatoes are extremely soft. Pour them into a colander to drain.

Set the pot back on the stovetop and lower the heat to medium. Add the butter to the pot. Use a ricer or potato masher to mash the potatoes. If using a standard potato masher, place the potatoes back in the pot and mash extremely well until there are no chunks left.

Pro Tip: The best method for mashing is using a ricer (or food mill) to rice the potatoes back into the pot. You can also place the potatoes back into the pot and use a hand mixer to beat on high until very smooth. A potato ricer creates the smoothest potatoes.

Once the potatoes have been mashed until smooth, add ½ cup of heavy cream and the chicken base. Stir and cook the potatoes until they tighten up.

Then continue adding the remaining 1 cup of cream, a little at a time, stirring in between, until the potatoes are extremely smooth and loose.

Serving Suggestions

Serve French-style pomme purée warm with a main dish protein or Roasted Vegetables for a vegetarian dish.

These are a lovely side with elegant but hearty main dishes like Steak au Poivre with Cognac Cream Sauce, Steak Diane (copycat Cheesecake Factory recipe), Chicken Roulade, and Retro French Chicken with Lemon Garlic Sauce.

And the silky potatoes are a great way to add a touch of refinement to otherwise rustic entrees! Pair them with Smothered Steak, Smothered Chicken with gravy, or Chopped Steak with Mushroom Gravy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for More Delicious Side Dish Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:

• The Ultimate Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Carrot Soufflé
• Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms with Crab
• Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips
• Creamy Cauliflower “Mashed” Potatoes