Duchess potatoes with spinach

/5

PRESENTATION

Give your holiday table a festive upgrade with duchess potatoes featuring bright green spinach. This twist on the classic French dish is super fun. Shaping them into little Christmas trees—seriously good. The tender, buttery base you love is still there, but with spinach, it takes on a fresh, colorful look. And the nutmeg? It adds a cozy, slightly sweet note, perfect for winter gatherings. Don't forget the cheese cream—smooth, almost velvety—packed with dill that enhances all the other flavors.

Plus, when topped with pomegranate seeds, these little trees offer a pop of color and a tangy burst that makes every bite exciting. Really, they’re not only visually appealing, but they spark conversation and have guests reaching for seconds—no question. These duchess potatoes with spinach are perfect for holiday spreads, effortlessly complementing other starters like tartines or crispy vol-au-vent.

Their bright green color and the red pomegranate jewels create a festive appearance that even kids will want to dig into—pretty much. This dish beautifully blends French tradition—since duchess potatoes hail from France—with a creative twist, thanks to extras like dill and the colorful finish. Serving these baked mashed potatoes as part of your Christmas spread adds an elegant touch, pairing well with a variety of appetizers. The moist inside and slightly golden outside? Totally ensures that every bite is just right.

This kind of duchess potatoes recipe shows how a classic can be refreshed without losing its heart—making it a hit for anyone who appreciates a smart, elegant dish at their holiday party. Whether you’re planning a big family dinner or preparing a few small plates, these little green trees definitely bring out the holiday cheer. And look, they taste as good as they look.

You might also like:

INGREDIENTS

Red potatoes 1 lb (450 g)
Spinach 5 cups (150 g)
White onions ¼
Butter 3 ½ tbsp (50 g)
Egg yolks 1
Dill to taste
Nutmeg to taste
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Black pepper to taste
Fine salt to taste
for the cream
Cream cheese ⅓ cup (80 g)
Fresh liquid cream 0.3 cup (70 g)
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Fine salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
For garnish
Pomegranate to taste
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Black pepper to taste
Dill to taste
Preparation

How to prepare Duchess potatoes with spinach

To prepare the duchess potatoes with spinach, place the whole potatoes with their skins in salted cold water 1 and cook them for about 30-35 minutes after boiling, checking the consistency with the tines of a fork. Meanwhile, clean and chop the onion 2. In a non-stick pan, pour a drizzle of oil and the chopped onion 3, then stew over low heat until the onion is soft.

Add the spinach 4 and season with a pinch of salt 5. Cover with the lid 6 and let them wilt.

When the spinach is cooked 7, transfer it to a sieve to let it dry, pressing slightly 8. Blend them with an immersion blender 9.

You should obtain a homogeneous puree 10. Then let it cool. Drain the cooked potatoes 11 and pass them, still hot, through a potato ricer 12.

Add the butter 13, stirring immediately to let it melt. Season with grated nutmeg 14 and salt, then add the spinach puree 15.

Finish with the egg yolk 16, chopped dill 17, and pepper 18.

Mix well with a spatula 19 and transfer to a piping bag with a 0.5 inch star nozzle 20. Keep in the fridge while the oven heats up, the mixture should be cold when forming the dollops. Pipe your duchess potatoes well-spaced on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper 21, a couple of batches will be needed.

Brush the surface with a little oil 22 and bake in a preheated static oven at 392°F for 18 minutes. Once baked, let them cool slightly before handling, as they are very delicate when hot 23. Meanwhile, prepare the cream: in a bowl pour the fresh cream and spreadable cheese 34.

Season with oil 25, salt, and pepper 26. Mix vigorously with a whisk 27.

You should obtain a creamy consistency 28. Spread the cheese cream on a serving plate 29, then place the green duchess potatoes on top 30.

Garnish with sprigs of dill 31, pomegranate seeds 32, and pepper to taste. The duchess potatoes with spinach are ready to be served 33!

Storage

The duchess potatoes with spinach can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days, in an airtight container. The dough can be prepared the day before and kept in the fridge.

They can be frozen after baking.

Advice

You can replace the spinach with kale or broccoli rabe following the same procedure.

If you cook more spinach, the leftover puree is an excellent condiment for spaghetti or risotto, to be creamed with a good knob of butter!

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.