Give Mashed Potatoes A Spicy And Smoky Upgrade With This Cheap Canned Ingredient

One right ingredient is all it takes to shift the entire flavor profile of your mashed potatoes, and oftentimes, you probably have something suitable in your kitchen already. When you're rifling through your pantry, reach for that can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce first. Stirred into a mash, it's the key to creating a smoky, spicy version of this dish.

In your mashed potatoes, a can of chipotle in adobo sauce is the gift that keeps on giving. You can use the peppers for a truly spicy kick and some texture against the potatoes' rich, creamy backdrop. Meanwhile, relying on just the adobo sauce will provide sweeter, tangier notes and a pop of color. Perhaps use both to take that familiar potato base from monotonous to complex, leaving behind a lingering warmth after each spoonful.

Considering the versatility of chipotle in adobo, it's no surprise there are quite a few ways to incorporate a can into your mashed potatoes. Chopped into tiny pieces, the peppers can either be used as a topping or folded straight into the potatoes as you're mashing. The adobo sauce, similarly, can be added alongside other staples like butter and milk. If you want to get a bit more elaborate, consider pureeing the sauce and peppers and combining with dairy to create a rich condiment that can be stirred into spuds or poured over top. Alternatively, whip up a batch of chipotle and roasted garlic compound butter to melt into a recipe for the most seamless melding of flavors in your mashed potatoes.

Introducing chipotle peppers in adobo sauce opens up a whole lot of space for revamping your mashed potatoes. First, consider their usual companions in other dishes, most often from Mexican (or Tex-Mex) cuisine. This means working in fragrant herbs such as cilantro and Mexican oregano, or popping open a can of beans. Playing into the dish's smoky intensity, a sprinkle of bacon bits will also do the trick. Just the same, folding in grilled corn kernels can turn your mashed potatoes into the most unexpectedly crowd-pleasing side dish.

Adding melted cheese is another surefire way to elevate your chipotle mashed potatoes. Needless to say, smoked Gouda or sharp cheddar are splendid for enriching the dish's smoky and savory undertone. That said, you can also opt for other types of cheese, such as Monterey Jack for a buttery and milky tang, or perhaps even Pepper Jack to match the peppers' heat, as well. For something a bit funkier and more distinctly creamy, gorgonzola might just be the perfect pick.

And guess what? This spicy and smoky upgrade works just as well for mashed sweet potatoes. Earthier and sweeter, these spuds balance the zestiness of the chipotle. You can drizzle in some maple syrup to bring forth more sweetness, or keep things savory and add chipotle to that bowl of garlic-mashed sweet potatoes you make every Thanksgiving.