What to add to potatoes while cooking: the secret to making a delicious, aromatic, and fluffy side dish
9 March 05:13
Boiled potatoes are one of the easiest dishes to prepare. However, even they can turn out watery and bland or, conversely, aromatic, tender, and truly delicious. However, few people know that this depends not only on the variety of potatoes, but also on what you add to the water when boiling potatoes, writes "Komersant Ukrainian".
As a rule, only salt is added to the water when boiling potatoes. However, a few simple ingredients can significantly improve the taste, aroma, and texture of the dish.
The main secret is not to overwhelm the natural taste of the potatoes, but only to delicately emphasize it. Then they will become a versatile base for side dishes, salads, or mashed potatoes.
Bay leaf and allspice
Adding a bay leaf and 2-3 black peppercorns can significantly change the aroma of the dish. Thanks to these secret ingredients, the potatoes become more spicy and fragrant, and the characteristic smell of “boiled” water disappears. However, it is important to know when to stop, as the taste can become too sharp, and the delicate aroma of the potatoes themselves will be lost due to the large amount of spices.
Garlic in its skin
Another simple way to make this dish more delicious is to add a few cloves of garlic in their skins to the water. In this form, it does not add sharpness, leaving only a light and piquant aroma. This option works especially well if the potatoes are served with butter, dill, or parsley after cooking.
Onions
A small peeled onion placed in the pot during cooking makes the potatoes taste richer and softer, and also adds a light aroma. Adding a whole onion does not require much effort, but it will significantly improve the taste of the dish.
Dill, thyme, or rosemary
If you want to make your potato side dish more aromatic, add fresh herbs during cooking. A sprig of dill, thyme, or rosemary can give the potatoes a light herbal aroma.
How to cook fluffy potatoes
In addition to taste, many housewives want to preserve the right texture, in particular, so that the potatoes do not fall apart into pieces, but remain soft and fluffy.
A spoonful of vegetable oil
One tablespoon of vegetable oil added to the water helps the potatoes hold their shape better. It is believed that the oil creates a light film, which prevents the potatoes from overcooking. This technique is especially useful for potato varieties with a high starch content.
A little lemon juice
A few drops of lemon juice also help potatoes not to overcook during cooking and retain their shape. At the same time, the sourness will hardly be noticeable in the finished dish.
When to salt potatoes during cooking
Most housewives add salt immediately, but chefs advise salting potatoes after the water has boiled. This way, the salt is better distributed and evenly penetrates the potatoes. As a result, the taste becomes more pronounced and balanced, since undersalted potatoes will seem bland even after adding oil to them.
So, even ordinary boiled potatoes can surprise you with their taste if you use simple kitchen tricks during cooking. Bay leaves, allspice, garlic, onions, herbs, or just a spoonful of sunflower oil — all of these help to make the dish more aromatic, tender, and appetizing.
Author: Olya Yushko
