Mashed Potato Bites #1

~reinvented spaghetti

Quick, delicious, filling and beautiful. This recipe is a smart way to reinvent yesterday's mashed potatoes, and it doesn't require any special ingredients either. You can also adapt it to your taste: this is a vegetarian version, but if you're a meat-lover, you might even like it more with some ground beef. The bites are soft but consistent and match perfectly the light tomato-sauce. You can also add some grated cheese and more basil to decorate.

Ingredients for 2 large portions:

✔ 550 g mashed potatoes

✔ 1 egg for the bites

✔ 320 g flour for the bites

✔ 2 l water for boiling for the bites

✔ 1 small onion

✔ 3 cloves of garlic

✔ 1 tbsp flour

✔ 20 g butter

✔ 200 ml water

✔ 0.5 l tomato paste

✔ 2 tbsp dried basil

✔ salt by taste

Instructions:

1. In a large cooking pot, put on about 2 l water to boil. For the bites, transfer the mashed potates in a large bowl. Add the egg and the flour, and knead until you get a shapable dough. It should be a bit stikcy, but not too much - you can add more flour if neccessary.

2. When you have a somehow shapable dough and the water is boiling, take a spoon and cut small pieces of the dough into the boiling water. Slowly stir from time to time. Bring to boil again and leave for about 10 more minutes from boiling point (the bites come up to the top of the water).

3. Transfer the bites in a strainer and set them aside to dry.

4. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. Chop the onions and the garlic.

5. In a saucepan, saute the chopped onion and garlic in the butter.

6. When ready (about 5 minutes), add the 1 tbsp of flour and stir continuously until incorporated, then quickly add the water so it doesn't burn. Leave for another 8-10 minutes, stir from time to time.

7. Add the tomato paste and stir on medium heat for another 10-15 minutes (or until most of the water evaporates and the sauce is formed).

8. Add the basil and the salt.

9. Tranfer the drained bites and carefully stir with a spatula.

10. Serve with grated cheese and basil.

Enjoy! :)