Adding a serious DIY element to mashed potatoes

After culturing heavy cream, you run it through a food processor for several minutes until it separates into the solid fat (the butter) and the liquid (the buttermilk). If you have excess buttermilk, refrigerate it and use it to make pancakes the next day.

Handmade Mustard Butter And Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Start to finish: 25 hours (1 hour active)

Servings: 8

2 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup fresh buttermilk with live cultures

2 teaspoons brown mustard seeds

2 teaspoons yellow mustard seeds

Salt

4 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and halved

In a clean 2-cup liquid measuring cup, combine the cream and buttermilk. Cover tightly and let sit at room temperature for 24 hours.

To make the butter and buttermilk, place the cream mixture in the bowl of a food processor. Process on high. The mixture will initially thicken into a whipped cream, then it will separate into a liquid and solid. This process can take several minutes of processing, so be patient.

Once the mixture has separated into a solid (the butter) and a white liquid (the buttermilk), set a strainer over a bowl and pour the mixture through it. Set aside the bowl of buttermilk.

Fill a medium bowl with ice water and place the butter in it. Use your hands to gently knead the mixture together to create a large lump of butter. Remove the butter from the water and add fresh ice water to the bowl. Repeat the kneading process until the water is clear. Remove the butter from the water and set aside in a clean, dry bowl.

With a mortar and pestle, crust the brown and yellow mustard seeds. Stir the crushed seeds into the butter. Taste and season the butter with salt. Set aside.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the potatoes in a large pot, then add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Salt the water, then bring to a boil. Cook until tender when pierced with a fork, then drain and transfer to a sheet pan. Bake for 10 minutes.