Adding leftover mashed potatoes to soup?

**Jamauk** · 11-25-2007, 12:16 AM

Ok, so I may be insane, but I think I read somewhere that you can add mashed potatoes to soup to thicken it up? Has anyone tried this? I have ooddles of mashed potatoes leftover from Thursday and I'm making my soup tomorrow. I like a thicker soup (more gravyish) - do the potatoes just sort of disovle in the soup?

Any info is appreciated, thanks!

**Ceashels** · 11-25-2007, 07:53 AM

I haven't tried it yet, but my friend used mashed potatoes to make a fish soup once. It turned out very good and was creamy without the fat. You can always take a cup of soup out of the pot and see how it thickens with a tablespoon of mashed potatoes, then add and modify according to your tastes.

**PoorRichardsGirl** · 11-25-2007, 09:41 AM

Yes, I've done it, and they do sort of just dissolve; you don't see them at all. I figure it helps thicken the soup a little. I know I've done it with split pea soup, can't remember other types off-hand.

**Libby** · 11-25-2007, 10:05 AM

I know this thread is about leftover mashed taters used in soup but have you tried re-using them otherways? Making potato cakes and freezing them to be eaten later (one with green onions, one with bacon bits, one with cheese, one with canned salmon etc) My friend did this and it amazes me how creative she was: rolled out lil balls of mashed taters, then rolled them in some breadcrumbs with parmesean and herbs/spices and baked. YUMMY appetizers!!

But the soup - I think it would be just gravy texture - more like a 'stew' if you added the right amount to your soup. Could this be a potential pot pie filler?

**cab54** · 11-26-2007, 12:02 PM

I used mine for potato cakes with eggs the next morning, but I am happy for the tip about soup! Thanks!

**ellebee** · 11-27-2007, 07:56 PM

I actually did that last weekend for the first time. I made a cream of turkey sort of soup and threw in the mashed potatoes. It came out great.

**baxjul** · 11-27-2007, 08:43 PM

Yes, I've done this and it works great!

**Brat** · 11-27-2007, 08:50 PM

Yes I have even used them in Chili..good and thick without cooking all day....

**Missy** · 11-27-2007, 08:54 PM

all great ideas!!

i like the appetizer idea. Sometimes if i need to thicken a stew or even soup, i throw in potato flakes. didn't occur to me to toss in LO mashed taters.