Best Mashed Sweet Potatoes
User Reviews
5
Best Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Description
The Best Mashed Sweet Potatoes recipe starts by roasting whole sweet potatoes wrapped in foil to soften the flesh thoroughly while concentrating their natural sugars. The baking time varies based on size, with larger potatoes taking up to 90 minutes. The brown butter, prepared separately by cooking butter over medium heat until nutty, adds a complex, toasted flavor that enhances the sweet potatoes without overwhelming them.
After peeling or scooping the flesh, the potatoes are mashed partly by hand and blended with browned butter and maple syrup, creating a rich but not overly sweet profile. Seasoning with freshly ground salt and pepper complements the natural sweetness and adds subtle savory notes.
This side dish pairs well with roasted meats or can be served as a comforting vegetarian option at dinner. The chunky texture provides contrast when paired with smoother foods, and the sweetness balances savory mains effectively.
The recipe can be adapted by adding spices, herbs, or toppings such as parmesan, herbs, or bacon according to preference. Smaller sweet potatoes require less roasting time and do not need to be turned halfway through the baking process.
Ingredients
- 4 lbs. sweet potato about 5 large or 4 extra large)*, such as red garnet, beauregard or jewel (not white or purple varieties
- 8 Tbsp butter diced into 1 Tbsp pieces, plus more for serving if desired, salted
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup then more to taste for a sweeter option, real
- salt freshly ground
- black pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prick sweet potatoes once on both sides with a fork. Wrap each sweet potato with a sheet of aluminum foil.
- Place sweet potatoes on baking sheet and bake in preheated oven 40 minutes*. Turn to opposite side and continue to bake until a knife easily glides through potatoes, about 30 - 50 minutes longer.
- Near the end of potatoes baking, place butter in a light colored medium skillet or saucepan. Heat over medium heat, and let cook, stirring occasionally until butter has browned (brown flecks should just start to bubble up into foam if using a saucepan it's harder to tell). Pour into a dish so it doesn't continue to cook and burn.
- Once potatoes are cool enough to handle or using oven mitts, peel potatoes or scoop flesh from peels into a large bowl.
- Mash with a potato masher. Texture will be chunky.
- Add browned butter and maple syrup. Using an electric hand mixer blend on low speed until combined, season with salt and pepper to taste. Increase mixer speed and whip until smoother and creamy.
- Serve warm topped with more browned butter if desired.
Notes
- Adjust baking time based on sweet potato size: small potatoes about 40 minutes, medium about 50 minutes, large up to 90 minutes.
- Turn larger sweet potatoes halfway through baking to avoid excessive browning on one side; smaller ones do not require turning.
- Browned butter enhances flavor but should be poured into a dish immediately to stop cooking and prevent burning.
- Optional variations include adding herbs, spices, cheeses, or toppings like crumbled bacon or toasted nuts for extra texture and taste.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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