Sweet Potato Puffs
If you are looking for a new way to serve sweet potatoes, you might just want to try this recipe. Sweet potatoes are mashed, mixed with butter, eggs and spices, rolled in bread crumbs and fried. The end result is a delicate morsel that has a crunch on the outside- and creamy mashed sweet potatoes on the inside. They are addictive!!!
They make a great side dish, or can be served as an appetizer. While they are good hot, they maintain their crunch even after cooling down.
I first had a version of this recipe many years a go when a coworker made them and brought them to work. I recently found her original recipe, and added more seasonings to it. I love them as much now, as I did then.
The mixture, even after chilling, is soft. I placed spoonfuls of the mix in the breadcrumbs and rolled them gently into balls. The puffs are soft, even after frying, so remove carefully from the oil. You can fry up a batch in a few minutes, and serve right away. You can also cook them ahead of time, then reheat them before serving. I made my puffs into balls, but you could also flatten them a bit, more like the shape of a scallop.
This is a nice way to use up leftover cooked sweet potatoes, too.
So here is the recipe.
Sweet Potato Puffs
2 c. mashed, cooked sweet potatoes
3 T. softened butter
1 egg
3 T. chopped parsley, or 1 T. dried
½ t. salt
½ t. paprika
½ t. cumin
½ t. nutmeg
Hot sauce to taste
Dash of fresh ground pepper
Bread crumbs for rolling
Oil for frying
Combine sweet potatoes with butter and egg, stirring to mix well. Add seasonings and stir well. Chill mixture at least a couple of hours. Heat oil to 350 degrees. You should have at least a couple of inches of oil in the pan. Shape sweet potato mixture into 1-inch balls. Roll in crumbs and fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve. You can make a head of time, then just warm in the oven when ready to serve. They can also be fried and frozen for later use. These make a nice side dish or even can be served as an appetizer. They are very soft, even after frying, so remove from hot oil carefully.
Crunchy outside, soft and creamy inside
