3 Mashed potato alternatives you’ll love as much as the real thing

There’s no better time than the holiday months to step up your mashed side dish game, and I’m not just talking potatoes. Winter is all about root vegetables, which make great (healthier!) alternatives to the traditional potato mash.

With the addition of things like blue cheese, brown butter and apples, these are some tasty sides that’ll make you forget all about potatoes.

Blue cheese mashed celery root recipe

Serves 4-6

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes | Total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds celery root, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles, plus more for garnish
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the celery root, and simmer until softened, about 30 minutes.
2. Drain the celery root, return it to the pot, and add the milk and butter. Mash with a potato masher until smooth.
3. Add blue cheese crumbles, and give it another mash or two to combine.
4. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and garnish with additional blue cheese crumbles.

Brown butter mashed carrots recipe

Serves 4-6

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Total time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 cup brown butter
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the carrots, and simmer until softened, about 20 minutes.
2. Drain the carrots, return them to the pot, and add the brown butter.
3. Mash with a potato masher until smooth.
4. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Apple-parsnip mash recipe

Serves 4-6

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 25 minutes | Total time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds parsnips, peeled and chopped
• 1 large apple, peeled and chopped
• 2 tablespoons milk
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh thyme, for garnish

Directions:

1. Place the parsnips in a large pot of boiling water, and cook until softened, about 25 minutes.
2. While the parsnips cook, place the apples in a small saucepot with a splash of water over medium heat. Sauté the apples until softened, stirring occasionally, about 5 to 7 minutes.
3. Drain the parsnips, and return them to the pot.
4. Add the apples and milk to the pot, and mash until smooth.
5. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with thyme, and serve.

More mashed side recipes

3 Easy non-potato mashed vegetable Thanksgiving sides
Ultimate creamy mashed potatoes
Spicy bacon mashed potatoes