The Charmed Kitchen

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

I love sweet potatoes and am always looking for fun ways to serve them. I will admit to not being a fan of sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows. I am not opposed to sweetening them, though. The following recipes include some simple treatments for the very versatile sweet potato.  If you are looking for a fun way to  serve sweet potatoes I am sure you will find a recipe here to love.

This simple recipe just sweetens the potatoes a little. I think here the nutmeg is the secret to make them taste really special.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in chunks

4 T. butter

1/4 c. brown sugar

1-2 t. fresh grated nutmeg

salt and pepper to taste

Boil potatoes until tender. Drain water and add remaining ingredients. Smash the potatoes a little as you mix them. Serves 6.

Sweet Potatoes with Apples

Sweet Potato Salad

Herbed Sweet Potato Biscuits

This recipe is a great side dish. Slightly sweet and just a touch of vinegar makes this a winner.

Sweet Potato and Apple Saute

2 T. oil or butter

1 large onion, peeled and sliced

3 small sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced about an inch thick

1/2 c. water or stock

2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced

2 T. honey

2 T. cider vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

dash of hot sauce

Heat oil or butter in skillet and add the onion. Cook until golden. Add sweet potatoes and water or stock and cook until sweet potatoes are almost tender. Add apples and cook until apples are heated through. Add honey and vinegar and cook until most of the liquid disappears. Season to taste and serve.

While I often serve this salad for summer picnics it works well any time of the year.

Sweet Potato Salad

 3 large sweet potatoes

2 c. corn kernels, fresh off the cob preferred but frozen is O.K.

2 ribs celery, sliced

1 sweet onion, diced

1 c. sweet pepper, seeded and chopped

2-3 T. fresh parsley

1/3 c.  oil

1 t. Dijon mustard

3 T. apple cider vinegar

1 T. lemon juice

1 clove garlic, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

½ c. cashews

In medium saucepan boil or steam potatoes until tender, about 20-25  minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and place in a large bowl of ice water. Add corn to saucepan and cook until just tender about 2-3 minutes. Drain corn and add to ice water with the potatoes. Once the vegetables have cooled down drain them and peel and cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Place potatoes and corn in a mixing bowl with remaining vegetables. Combine remaining ingredients, except cashews,  in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake well before pouring over the sweet potato mixture. Toss to blend and chill until ready to serve.  Add cashews just before serving. Serves 6.

Maybe you are looking for a different kind of biscuit. This recipe is flaky, crisp on the outside and moist inside. Always a hit when I make them.

Herbed Sweet Potato Biscuits

2 1/4 c. flour

1 T. baking powder

1/2 t. grated lemon peel

1/4 t. each baking soda, dried basil and dried thyme

1 egg, beaten

1 1/2 c. shredded sweet potato, about 1 large

1/2 c. fine chopped green onions

1/2 c. sour cream

2T. butter, melted or olive oil

Stir together dry ingredients in large bowl and set aside. Combine remaining ingredients and add to flour mixture mixing until just blended. Turn onto lightly floured surface and knead a few times until dough just stays together. Dough will look too dry- but it will come together after you knead it. Press into an 8-inch square and cut into four squares.* Cross cut each square into four triangles. Place on greased baking sheet and bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 20 minutes. Makes 16.

* I press the dough into a lightly floured 8×8-inch baking pan and then flip it out onto the work surface. That way you’ll get nice, even edges.

For when you want really simple this is the way to go. Steamed and then tossed with just butter, nutmeg and salt and pepper the flavor of the sweet potatoes shine on their own.

Steamed Sweet Potatoes

3-4 lbs. Sweet potatoes, scrubbed, peeled if desired and cut in chunks
salt
pepper
butter
fresh grated nutmeg

If you don’t have a steamer, just place a metal strainer in a big pot and add an inch of water to the bottom. Cover and bring to a boil. Add sweet potatoes, cover and cook until tender, about 30 minutes. These can be done ahead and just reheated in the oven or in a microwave when ready to serve.
Remove potatoes from strainer and place in a serving bowl. Season to taste and add butter. Add a fresh grating of nutmeg over the top and serve. Serves 4-6, but with a lot of other side dishes, could serve 8.

Note: if you just look too forward each year to having them sweetened you can still steam them and just add 1/3 brown sugar with the butter and toss. A nice sweetener is to add a little maple syrup. To brown them up a little, place the potatoes in an oven safe dish and bake, uncovered 30 minutes to make a glaze.