Healthy Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe - Running on Real Food (2024)

posted: 10/16/19 — updated: 10/01/21 by Deryn Macey Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe·4.5 from 4 reviews

These healthy vegan mashed potatoes with roasted garlic are easy to make with basic ingredients. This recipe is whole food plant-based, oil-free and made without butter or cream.

Healthy Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe - Running on Real Food (1)

This vegan mashed potato recipe calls for just a few simple, everyday ingredients and is low in fat, oil-free and made without butter or cream.

Table of Contents

Best Potatoes to Use

I used Yukon Gold potatoes for this recipe. I would recommend doing the same but if Yukon Gold isn’t available, you can use Russet potatoes.

Mashed Potato Ingredients

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Here’s what you’ll need to make these wonderfully creamy mashed potatoes:

  • Yukon Gold Potatoes. You’ll need 6 medium/average-sized Yukon Gold potatoes. You can easily use more or less if you like as the recipe is easily adapted to any amount of potatoes. Yukon Gold potatoes are sometimes called yellow potatoes.
  • Roasted Garlic. You’ll need one whole bulb of roasted garlic for this recipe. We’ll go over how to make it below.
  • Chives. The chives are optional but make a nice addition to the final dish. Parsley also works well or you can try dill.
  • Salt and pepper. Finally, the mashed potatoes are seasoned with a generous amount of salt and pepper.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes without Oil or Butter

There are a lot of ways you can add creaminess to vegan mashed potatoes without the need for dairy-based butter or cream. You can use:

  • plant-based milk
  • vegan sour cream
  • vegan butter
  • cashew cream
  • olive oil

However, I wanted to keep this recipe oil-free and whole food plant-based, so instead of using something like vegan butter or oil, I used some of the potato cooking water to add moisture and creaminess to the final dish.

If you’d like a little extra something, you can always add in 1-2 tbsp of vegan butter or olive oil. A bit of cashew cream or vegan sour cream is also lovely.

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How to Make Vegan Mashed Potatoes

These potatoes are very easy to make. You’ll need 30-40 minutes to make the roasted garlic and about 20 minutes to make the potatoes. The mashed potatoes can be in progress while garlic roasts so overall this recipe takes less than 40 minutes.

Step 1. Roast the Garlic

Here’s how to make the roasted garlic for this recipe:

  1. To roast the garlic, remove any loose outer layers then slice the top edge off a whole bulb of garlic so just a bit of each bulb is exposed.
  2. Wrap the bulb in tin foil and roast at 400 degrees F for about 30 minutes. It should be nice and squishy when done.
  3. Remove it from the oven, open the foil and let cool until you can handle it. You’ll be squeezing the whole thing into the mashed potatoes.

If you love garlic, consider making few extra bulbs of roasted garlic while you’re at it. Extras can be used in my roasted garlic hummus or roasted garlic cauliflower soup.

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Step 2. Cook the Potatoes

To cook the potatoes, add 1 tsp of sea salt to a large stockpot of water and bring to a light boil over medium-high heat.

While the water is coming to a boil, wash and chop the potatoes. There is no need to peel them – yay! I suggest cutting each potato into approximately 6 large chunks, keeping everything roughly the same size for an even cooking time.

Boil the potatoes for 12-15 minutes until they can be easily sliced with a knife.

Step 3. Reserve Cooking Liquid then Drain

This step is important. Before you drain the cooked potatoes, scoop off about 2 cups of the potato cooking water and set aside. We’ll be using it to add moisture and creaminess to the final dish.

Step 4. Mash the Potatoes

Finally, it’s time to mash!

I suggest using an immersion blender for this step. Just be careful not to overdo it or they can get gooey. A few quick pulses should do the trick.

If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can use a potato masher.

Before you start blending, squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins and right into the pot. Add 1 cup of the reserved cooking water and a generous pinch of salt and pepper as well.

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Now blend it up! Add more of the cooking water as needed. How much you use will depend on the exact amount of potatoes you used but I find about 1.5 cups does the trick.

Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired. Once it’s smooth and creamy, stir in the chopped chives.

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More Thanksgiving Recipes

Create a Thanksgiving feast by serving these mashed potatoes with:

  • Healthy Cranberry Sauce
  • Acorn Stuffed Squash
  • Maple Dijon Brussel Sprouts
  • Mushroom Gravy
  • Coconut Mashed Sweet Potatoes or Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Lentil Shepherd’s Pie

Looking for a low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes? Try my vegan mashed cauliflower with mushrooms and kale. Looking for roasted potatoes? Try these rosemary lemon potatoes.

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
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Healthy Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe - Running on Real Food (10)

Healthy Vegan Mashed Potatoes

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star4.5 from 4 reviews

  • Author: Deryn Macey
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6
  • Category: Side
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Vegan, Holidays
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Description

These delicious, creamy vegan mashed potatoes are the perfect healthy addition to a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal. This recipe is low in fat since it’s oil-free and made without butter and cream.

Ingredients

  • 6 medium/average-sized Yukon Gold potatoes (about 200 grams each)
  • 1 tsp salt for cooking the potatoes
  • 1 whole bulb of garlic
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped chives
  • 12 cups of the potato cooking water
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Slice the top off the bulb of garlic so a bit of each clove is exposed. Wrap the clove in foil and roast in the oven for about 30-40 minutes until soft and squishy. Open the foil packet and let cool enough to handle.
  3. While the garlic is roasting, bring a large pot of water to a light boil stovetop over medium-high heat with 1 tsp of salt.
  4. Chop each potato into 6-8 chunks. Once the water is boiling, add the potatoes and boil for about 15 minutes until easily sliced with a knife.
  5. Reserve 2 cups of the potato cooking water.
  6. Drain the potatoes then dump the potatoes back into the pot.
  7. Add 1 cup of the cooking water, squeeze in the roasted garlic and add a generous pinch of sea salt.
  8. Use an immersion blender to pulse until smooth. Try not to over-mix though as they can be come a bit gluey. If you don’t have an immersion blender, use a potato masher. Add more cooking water as needed to reach your desired consistency. I used 1.5 cups total.
  9. Stir in the chopped chives and season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.
  10. Serve right away (try it with mushroom gravy) or store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 5 days.

Notes

This recipes makes 4 large or 6 regular-sized servings. The nutrition facts are estimated for 1 of 6 servings.

Healthy Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe - Running on Real Food (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest substitute for mashed potatoes? ›

Add these sides to your table, and no one will ever miss boring, stodgy ol' potatoes:
  1. Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes. For a low-carb alternative, cauliflower mashed potatoes are the way to go. ...
  2. Parsnip Puree. ...
  3. Mashed Butternut Squash. ...
  4. Purple Sweet Potato Mash.
Nov 16, 2021

What is a non dairy substitute for milk in mashed potatoes? ›

If you prefer to make your mashed potatoes without milk altogether, feel free to use chicken broth instead. They will still have a creamy texture from the vegan butter, with added flavor from the broth. Remember, if you are vegan, substitute vegetable broth instead.

How to make fake prop mashed potatoes? ›

Start by making your instant mashed potatoes and placing them into the bowl. Once the potatoes are made, cover them with a piece of plastic wrap. Unlike Styrofoam, mashed potatoes will take the shape of the container it's placed in and acts as a great structure of support for anything placed on top of it.

Are there any healthy instant mashed potatoes? ›

Idahoan SMARTMASH Very Low Sodium Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes are a healthier alternative to traditional mashed potatoes—made to deliver delicious taste, with only 20 mg of sodium per serving.

What is a good protein substitute for potatoes? ›

19 High-Protein Plant-Based Foods and How to Eat More of Them. To add more protein to your diet, try any type of beans, along with broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green peas, and potatoes. Quinoa and wild rice are also rich in protein. It's important to include healthy sources of protein in your diet each day.

What are the healthiest potatoes to eat? ›

All potatoes can fit into a healthy diet, but purple potatoes, red potatoes, and sweet potatoes—which are often grouped with potatoes—stand out due to their high amounts of protective plant compounds and essential nutrients.

What can I use in mashed potatoes instead of butter? ›

That's the beauty of extra virgin olive oil, it can so easily take the place of butter with no ill effects, and in fact I'd argue it makes these potatoes even butterier than if they were made with butter, if that's even possible.

What is the best non dairy milk substitute for cooking? ›

Among other milk alternatives like almond milk, soy milk and oat milk, soy milk is by far the best for baking. I learned this over the course of several years and many cookies, cakes, muffins and pies. Moreover, some people will tell you that you must swap full-fat coconut milk in for heavy cream or half-and-half.

What is a substitute for cream in mashed potatoes? ›

Whole milk and light cream are the two components of half-and-half, so it's not that far off from the real deal. Use half-and-half as a 1:1 substitute for heavy cream. It can work nearly as well for bringing creamy texture and flavor to sauces, soups and stews, mashed potatoes, quiches, and casseroles.

What is the best fake milk for mashed potatoes? ›

Soy Milk: Soy milk is a good substitute for milk in mashed potatoes. It is made from soybeans and has a similar consistency to cow's milk. Soy milk is a good source of protein and is lower in fat than milk. The ratio for soy milk to mashed potatoes is one cup of soy milk to every one cup of milk.

What is plant based mashed potatoes made of? ›

Russet potatoes are boiled, then mashed with plant based milk and vegan butter to create the smoothest creamiest result. Flavored with a hint of garlic, salt and pepper, this recipe is a perfect side for any recipe during the holiday season.

Why do restaurant mashed potatoes taste better? ›

Instead of regular milk, pro chefs generally use a generous helping of buttermilk and plenty of half-and-half or (even better) heavy cream in their potatoes. If you think the bartenders up front are pouring heavy, they've got nothing on the cooks in the back who are in charge of the mashed potatoes.

Which is healthier instant potatoes or real potatoes? ›

Instant mashed potatoes have substantially more sodium than fresh potatoes, and much less dietary fiber. In other respects they are similar to mashed fresh potatoes in their nutritional qualities, about two-thirds starch by dry weight, with smaller amounts of protein, dietary fiber, and vitamins.

Which is better, rice or instant mashed potatoes? ›

Overall, potatoes contain more vitamins and nutrients than rice. And if given the choice between rice or potatoes, 9 times out of 10, we would certainly go with potatoes simply because they are more versatile and can be made in many different ways.

Which is healthier rice or mashed potatoes? ›

Overall, potatoes contain more vitamins and nutrients than rice. And if given the choice between rice or potatoes, 9 times out of 10, we would certainly go with potatoes simply because they are more versatile and can be made in many different ways.

Are instant mashed potatoes as healthy as regular mashed potatoes? ›

The largest difference is the loss of vitamin C, although some products may be enriched to compensate. One hundred grams (3½ oz) of unenriched instant mashed potatoes provides 11% of the Dietary Reference Intake of vitamin C, compared to 18% provided by the fresh potato version.

What is a good substitute for mashed potatoes for diabetics? ›

For a diabetic friendly twist , try cauliflower mash instead of potatoes. Top it with a flavorful, low sugar gravy using ingredient like broth , herbs and a touch of whole wheat flour or a thickening agent of your choice.

Which is healthier french fries or mashed potatoes? ›

Oven fries are lower in saturated fat and sodium, which should be minimised with heart health in mind. Mashed potato can send your intake of saturated fat soaring, but you can make better-for-you mash by skipping the butter or using good-for-you extra virgin olive oil instead.

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