Mashed Potato Volcanoes — Kid-Friendly & Fun

Get your kids to eat two — or even three — vegetables at once with these easy and fun mashed potato volcanoes. There’s nothing wrong with making food more amusing, especially if doing so inspires kids (especially picky eaters) to eat their veggies!

When my kids were young, they never much cared for mashed potatoes until we read The Trouble With Grownups, a book in the Berenstain Bears series for children.

In one scene, the cubs are bored with the same old dinner. The Mama and Papa bears scold the cubs for building volcanoes with their mashed potatoes.

Immediately charmed, my kids wanted mashed potatoes so they could rebel against the grumpy fictional bear parents. We even concocted a “hot lava” sauce for the mashed potato volcanoes.

Little did I know at the time that “potato volcanoes” are really a thing, and are made in a number of different ways. This one just happens to be just about the most kid-friendly you’ll find.

Mashed potato volcanoes became a fixture on my kids’ dinner repertoire when they were young, and it inspired them to eat multiple vegetables in one dish. Hopefully you’ll be lucky as well.

This recipe makes 4 kid-size servings. Adults will enjoy this too, when you need a serving of some comfort food.

What to serve with mashed potato volcanoes

To keep the meal simple and child-friendly, the perfect pairing is with Baked Tofu Nuggets with Vegan Tartar Sauce. A platter of baby carrots and cherry tomatoes rounds out the meal.

Photos by Hannah Kaminsky, BittersweetBlog.com.

Explore more …

• Fingerling Potato Fries
• Baked Tofu Nuggets with Vegan Tartar Sauce
• Crazy-Easy Vegan Hot Bean Dip

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Yield: 4

Mashed Potato Volcanoes — Kid-Friendly and Fun

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Get your kids to eat two — or even three — vegetables at once with these easy and fun vegan potato volcanoes.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

Potato volcanoes

• 4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter
• 1/2 cup plain unsweetened plant-based milk
• Pinch of salt, or to taste

“Hot Lava”

• 1 cup plain unsweetened plant-based milk
• 2 tablespoons unbleached flour
• 1/2 cup cheddar-style vegan cheese shreds
• 2 tablespoons ketchup

Green veggies

• 2 to 2 ½ cups frozen peas and/or small broccoli florets, steamed

Instructions

1. Put the diced potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with
   water. Bring to a simmer, then cover and simmer over medium heat until tender, about 15 minutes.
2. When the potatoes are done, drain them and transfer to a mixing bowl. Mash the potatoes well with a potato masher. Add the vegan butter and plant-based milk and stir in. Add a little salt if desired.
3. To make the "hot lava,” heat the plant-based milk in a small saucepan. Dissolve the flour in just enough water to make it smooth and flowing.
4. When the plant-based milk comes to a simmer, lower the heat
   and stir the dissolved flour slowly into the saucepan.
5. Sprinkle in the cheese and stir until it melts. Simmer the
   mixture gently until smooth and thick, continuing to stir. Stir the ketchup into the sauce, but leave plenty of red streaks showing, so that it looks “fiery.”
6. Divide the mashed potatoes among 4 serving plates.
7. Have everyone shape them into volcanoes, then press the tops down lightly to flatten, and make a small indentation at the very top with their thumb. Then, have the kids arrange some of the peas and/or broccoli florets around the volcano.
8. Let each child pour some of the “lava” into the indentation at the top of each volcano with a small ladle. It should flow down the sides. It’s fine if it drips over the greenery too. Eat at once, before the lava solidifies into magma!

If you like this simple potato dish, you might also enjoy …

Here are lots more easy vegan salads & sides.