Smashed Potatoes with Lemon, Garlic and Scallions

This weeks choice for The Food Network's #ComfortFoodFeast Series is potatoes. Seems appropriate since potatoes are synonymous with Ireland and St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner but these potatoes are not limited to that tradition and over the years have become one of my favorites. The first time I made these Smashed Potatoes with Lemon, Garlic and Scallions it was out of curiosity. I've been a loyal reader of Bon Appetit magazine for over 30 years and they've seldom (if ever) steered me wrong so even though it seemed a strange combination of ingredients for mashed potatoes, I loved lemon enough to think these worth a try. After completing the dish and of course taking a small taste, I had to put the dish under lock and key so that I wouldn't finish off the bowl before dinner. Well, maybe a slight exaggeration but just barely. Just one more little bit please?

The lemon is obvious but not overly so...and mixed with garlic, green onion and buttermilk it makes for an outstanding side dish; combining a fabulous flavor with an unexpectedly pretty dish of mashed potatoes...which we know don't normally make a great presentation! I've made these for Thanksgiving on several occasions but realized a couple of years ago that they are really perfect for spring and now the holiday table they would most likely make an appearance at would be for Easter. A prettier potato can not be found!

I've made a lot of changes to the original recipe but all with keeping the original intent. I used red potatoes since I prefer a sort of chunky, skin on type of mashed potato (why I call them smashed) and as long as I'm smashing, well, the red skin is sure prettier than plain old brown. The recipe also calls for chives but I've substituted scallions from the getgo and they are perfect. As is my own tradition; I have upped the garlic from the original recipe too. Interesting enough when I asked friends on Facebook if they had one ingredient that they would just out of hand double in a recipe, garlic was often seen on that list. Along with vanilla, butter, salt and more. I felt better knowing my personal proclivity to multiple some ingredients was way more widespread than I had imagined!

Make sure you peek at the other contributors to this weeks Potato #ComfortFoodFeast; you will most certainly find something new and delicious!

Smashed Potatoes with Lemon, Garlic and Scallions

¼ cup buttermilk
6 tablespoons butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
½ cup chopped green onion
2 pounds red potatoes, cut in half (do not peel)
Chopped green onion and lemon zest for garnish.

Melt 3 tablespoons butter in heavy small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté 1-2 minutes; do not brown. Take off heat and mix in lemon peel, then green onion. Set aside.
Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. Return potatoes to pot and mash roughly; these are not meant to be the consistency of regular mashed potatoes. I actually use a metal mallet meant for tenderizing meat to literally smash them.
Add onion mixture, buttermilk and remaining 3 tablespoons butter and mash together. Season with salt and pepper.
Garnish with freshly grated lemon and green onion.