Potatoes are a staple of the failsafe diet. You can easily get tired of the same old dishes when it comes to potatoes… mainly mashed or roasted. I tried to make potato balls with left over Thermomix Mashed potato, but unfortunately the recipe for mash in the Thermomix makes it too sloppy for this. When I tried to make them again, I steamed the potato in the Varoma then put it into the bowl to whip with the butterfly. This gave a much better textured mash to roll.
This recipe can easily be made without a Thermomix, just combine the ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine. You can also easily leave out the lentils and chives in the potato mixture for the fussy ones in the house, I still have one; teenage years haven’t changed that!
After my first failed attempt at making the balls by not realising that it was due to sloppy mash, I started googling what they needed in them to help hold their shape better. I came across this amazing recipe from Blissful Basil that took the humble potato ball to the next level and made it fancy like. I loved the addition of lentils. This recipe is unfortunately not suitable for failsafe, I have adapted it to be Failsafe and Thermomix friendly.
There are 3 ways to cook these, as balls in the oven or air fryer, or in muffin tins, all of which make great finger food for a party or as a side dish to your favourite meal.
Above: Mashed Potato & Lentil Gems cooked in muffin pans with breadcrumbs on top and baked. Garnished with the Creamy Chive Dressing and fresh chives.

Mashed Potato & lentil Gems with a Creamy Chive Dressing (GF DF)
Ingredients
Potato Gems
- 500 g cold mashed potato
- 1 tin lentils, drained & rinsed (optional)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp dried or fresh chives (optional)
- ½ tsp salt
- 25 g quinoa or besan flour
- 200 g GF breadcrumbs
- 50 g chips / crisps, crushed
Creamy Chive Dressing
- 80 g cashews
- 130 g water
- 10 g fresh chives, chopped
- ¼ tsp citric acid
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
Potato Gems
- Place mashed potato, lentils, egg, garlic, chives, salt and flour into Thermomix bowl. Mix for 20 seconds on speed 3 to combine.
- Stir the crushed chips and GF breadcrumbs together. (See tips)
- Using two dessert spoons, take spoonful’s of the mashed potato mixture and form into rough ball.
- Toss into the breadcrumbs to coat and continue to form into a ball. Place onto a tray lined with baking paper. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
3 different ways to cook:
- Oven. Lightly spray with spray oil and cook in the oven for approx. 25 – 30 minutes at 200 deg or until lightly golden and crunchie on the outside.
- Air Fryer. Lightly spray with spray oil and place into Air fryer and cook 200 deg for 7 minutes, turn and cook for another 5 or until lightly browned.
- Oven in muffin trays. Lightly grease a muffin tray and spoon mixture into each muffin hole. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and bake in the oven for 25 - 30 minutes until breadcrumbs are lightly browned. Allow to cool for approx. 15 mins before moving from tray.
Creamy Chive Dressing
- Place all ingredients into Thermomix bowl. Blend for 30 seconds on speed 9.
- Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
To Serve
- Serve the potato gems with the creamy drive dressing either poured lightly over the top to garnish or in little bowls for dipping into. Enjoy as a side to your favourite meal.
Notes
These sound great. I’m wondering if you could suggest a healthier alternative to substitute for the crisps?
The crisps are to give the coating a bit of crunch. You can leave them out and just use all breadcrumbs.