Baked Mashed Potatoes with Parmesan Cheese and Bread Crumbs

Baked Mashed Potatoes with Parmesan Cheese and Bread Crumbs

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Just for Two
6 to 8 servings
Prep20 min
Cook35 min
Total:55 min

1 tablespoon butter
4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons plain dry bread crumbs

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of butter and set aside.

Cook the potatoes in a large pot of boiling salted water until they are very tender, about 15 minutes. Drain; return the potatoes to the same pot and mash well. Mix in the milk and melted butter. Mix in the mozzarella and 3/4 cup of the Parmesan. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Transfer the potatoes to the prepared baking dish. Stir the bread crumbs and remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan in a small bowl to blend. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the mashed potatoes. Recipe can be prepared up to this point 6 hours ahead of time; cover and chill.

Bake, uncovered, until the topping is golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Cowboy Spuds

Cowboy Spuds
1/2 pound thick sliced bacon
1 1/2 cups sliced onions
6 medium potatoes, unpeeled and cut into 1/4" slices
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. black pepper, divided
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup chopped parsley
Cut bacon crosswise into 1/2" pieces and sauté in a skillet until crisp. Remove, drain on paper towels and set aside. Sauté onions in bacon drippings until tender. Remove half of the onions. Arrange half of the potatoes over onions in a skillet. Sprinkle with 1/8 t. pepper.

Add remaining onions. top with remaining potatoes and sprinkle with remaining salt and pepper. Pour milk over potatoes. Add half of the reserved bacon and heat to boiling.

Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Sprinkle with parsley. Makes 4 servings.