Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe: Tips for Making Vegan Mash

Vegan mashed potatoes are a dairy-free variation on classic mashed potatoes. Recipes for vegan mashed potatoes rely on plant-based substitutions—like vegan butter and dairy-free milks—instead of butter, cheese, sour cream, or milk to achieve a traditionally creamy buttery texture.

Making the best vegan mashed potatoes requires careful ingredient selection. Here are some tips to consider:

1. 1. Choosing the potatoes: Selecting the right potato is the key to making flavorful vegan mashed potatoes. Many traditional, non-vegan recipes call for Russet potatoes—the brown-skinned potatoes that turn fluffy and crumbly when cooked. The dairy in these recipes balance out the dry, starchy texture of a Russet; without it, they’d never achieve the richness of great mashed potatoes. That’s why the best starting place for vegan mashed potatoes is the Yukon Gold—a waxy potato that’s creamy all on its own.
2. 2. Using add-ins: Season vegan mashed potatoes similarly to their non-vegan counterparts. Use roasted garlic cloves, garlic powder, chopped chives, or caramelized onions. You can also opt for nutritional yeast for a savory, cheesy flavor.
3. 3. Reheating: Reheat vegan mashed potatoes on the stovetop with a splash of a plant-based milk of your preference and a few pats of vegan butter.

Depending on your preferred texture and flavor, there are a few non-dairy ingredients from which you can choose:

1. 1. Non-dairy milk: While plant-based milks—like unsweetened almond milk, soy milk, or cashew milk—won’t mimic the creamy texture of true dairy when beaten into boiled potatoes, they can help loosen a too-thick or gummy batch of mashed potatoes (as will adding a bit of reserved cooking water). Warm the potatoes on the stove or in the microwave before adding the milk for best results.
   
2. 2. Coconut milk: While coconut milk brings richness and a creamy mouthfeel, it also lends a distinct coconut flavor and soft sweetness. Pair the coconut milk with sweet potatoes for an extra velvety dish.
3. 3. Extra-virgin olive oil or refined coconut oil: The simplest vegan mashed potatoes rely on high-quality olive oil or refined coconut oil for richness and texture. Add a little at a time to prevent potatoes from turning overly greasy.
4. 4. Vegan butter: Vegan butter, a stabilized emulsification of water and plant-based oils, is the key to the creamiest vegan mashed potatoes, with enough fat to smooth out the texture of the starch.