Slashfood Ate (8): best uses for leftover mashed potatoes

by Sarah Gilbert, Posted Nov 28th 2005 @ 1:01PM

mashing potatoes How many times have I picked up a yummy-sounding new recipe that called for "leftover mashed potatoes"? Way, way more times than I have had leftover mashed potatoes. In fact, I had to cook mashed potatoes expressly for Lovely Leftovers Day. If I ever had any, these would be my favorite ways to use them:

To top Shepherd's pie. This classic Brit dish is made with ground lamb, diced veggies (usually carrots and onions), and a gravy - a good use for leftover gravy, too.
Potato pancakes. Just mix your potatoes with a whisked egg and any seasonings you wish (herbs, chives, cheese, pepper and salt), form into patties and fry just like any other pancake.

Gnocchi. These delish Italian dumplings are my favorite use for potatoes - although to be truly authentic you're supposed to bake russet potatoes and mash the innards for your gnocchi dough.
As topping for any casserole, with shredded cheddar cheese. If there's meat in it? It's "cottage pie." My family makes a version with green beans, hamburger, onions and lots of cheese that my brother named "monkey stew" for a still-unknown reason.
Croquettes. Form potatoes into balls with seasonings, bread, and deep fry - vôila! Croquettes.
Potato cheese soup. There a billion recipes for soup with mashed potatoes - it can be everything from the main ingredient to a hidden, low-fat thickener (um, low fat if you don't load your potatoes with butter and cream like I do).
Bubble and squeak. Fry up mashed potatoes, cooked cabbage and leftover roast meat for this very Brit delicacy.
Candy. Mashed potatoes are the surprising base for homemade interpretations of candy bars like York Peppermint Patties and Almond Joy. My sister made some two years ago for Christmas, and I wish she hadn't told me about the potatoes - they were good, but all I could think about was spuds.

Filed Under: Lists, Slashfood Ate, Leftovers, Ingredients, Methods
Tags: baking, boiling, leftovers, slashfood ate, steaming, vegetables