The New York Times was mocked on social media for sharing a "Two-Ingredient Mashed Potatoes" recipe that actually called for four ingredients.
"These mashed potatoes may be the simplest Thanksgiving side there is," the publication promised in their tweet.
Despite the recipe's namesake calling for two ingredients, the accompanying infographic illustrated four components necessary to make their simple dish.
These mashed potatoes may be the simplest Thanksgiving side there is. https://t.co/eSZkaXqEnI pic.twitter.com/zS9N21dlXg
— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 18, 2021
The recipe listed two pounds of russet potatoes, 1/4 cup of sour cream, and salt and pepper, and it said to "boil potatoes in salted water until soft" and set aside a cup of the drained hot water for stirring back into the mashed taters, one tablespoon at a time.
The final instructions read, "Add sour cream, salt and pepper."
@nytimes/Twitter
People were quick to call out the New York Times for the count discrepancy.
two ingredients:
potatoes
sour cream
salt
pepper.
...do you see what's wrong here?
— Fat-TEA (@Fat_DTEA) November 18, 2021
This is four ingredients. And also an abomination.
— Josh Jackson (@VancityJax) November 18, 2021
This just in...
NYT doesn't know how to count.
Salt & Pepper counts as two ingredients.
With potatoes & sour cream that makes FOUR ingredients, NOT TWO.
If this travesty were reported by the NYT it would labeled as award-winning journalism and make front page news.
— Writer in WA (@WriterWa) November 18, 2021
NYT: "Two Ingredient Mashed Potatoes"
Salt and Pepper: "Am I a joke to you?"
— Case Duckworth (@caseofducks) November 18, 2021
THERE ARE FOUR INGREDIENTS pic.twitter.com/5JDzxFTHvL
— Tom Hewitt (@tomhewittnews) November 18, 2021
One neglected ingredient got a mention.
This is SWILL. No butter? Nonsense.
— Stiffler's mom (@kristiecsu) November 18, 2021
If there is no butter, it is not mashed potatoes.
This is the Paul Gosar of mashed potato recipes.
— Art Martin (@gartmartin9) November 18, 2021
Perhaps this was what they were going for.
Maybe youre supposed to pick 2. As in, how lousy do you want your mashed potatoes to be?
— Who R. You (@whoareyou7) November 18, 2021
They'd unpack this. 1. Do you really need a recipe for mashed potatoes? 2. If so, shouldn't it be a better one? 3. This 2-ingredient recipe contains 5 ingredients 4. This is for the blandest mashed potatoes ever
— Snarky Cow of Justice (@christo01493168) November 18, 2021
Some argued there were technically five ingredients indicated in the recipe.
THERE ARE FOUR INGREDIENTS pic.twitter.com/5JDzxFTHvL
— Tom Hewitt (@tomhewittnews) November 18, 2021
Y'all saying there are 4 ingredients aren't giving respect to the 5th: water.
— Kevin (@kevintheclever) November 18, 2021
If the publication was going for the blandest Thanksgiving side dish, they can count me out of this equation.