Upgrade your Thanksgiving feast with this quick and easy recipe for Healthier Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Using real maple syrup, grass-fed butter and hand mashing potatoes, makes a creamy and nutritious side dish. Complete with directions for boiling and baking the potatoes are included.
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How to Select Good Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes are available year-round, with their peak season in autumn. Select medium-sized potatoes with smooth skin and no blemishes, soft spots, or cracks.
- Sweet potatoes come in different colors, including orange, purple, and white. Choose sweet potatoes with vibrant, uniform colors. Avoid ones with dull or uneven coloring.
- Choose sweet potatoes that are uniform in size and shape. This ensures even cooking for baking. If you plan to mash or puree them, size and shape may not matter as much.
- When softly pressing the sweet potatoes, they should be firm and heavy. Steer clear of those that feel soft or spongy, as they might be old.
Close to Thanksgiving, the grocery stores always have other varieties of sweet potatoes. Garnet and Jewel are the most popular varieties and both make great sweet potatoes.
Storing Sweet Potatoes at Home
Store sweet potatoes for up to two weeks in a cool, well-ventilated location, such as a pantry closet. Refrigeration messes with their texture and makes the natural starch turn into sugar.
Store sweet potatoes in a perforated basket or mesh bag, allowing air to circulate freely preventing excess moisture and mold growth.
Sprouts and leaves indicate improper storage and green spots on the skin and interior flesh are signs of solanine, a toxin found in all potatoes. If you see green spots or decay on the potato's surface or interior, discard the whole potato.
Simple Ingredients
- sweet potatoes
- unsalted grass-fed butter, such as Kerrygold
- pure maple syrup
- ground cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg
- kosher salt
- black pepper
- fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, etc.)
How To Bake Whole Sweet Potatoes at 350°F
If you prefer to bake the sweet potatoes, which will take a few minutes longer, follow these easy steps:
- Wrap each potato in aluminum foil.
- Place the sweet potatoes directly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure there's some space between each potato for even baking.
- Bake the sweet potatoes in the preheated 350°F oven for about 60 minutes, depending on their size. They're done when they're easily pierced with a fork and the skin is crispy.
- Once baked, remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving. Be careful, as they'll be very hot.
Easy Preparation
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook and drain the potatoes for about 15 minutes.
- Drain the cooked sweet potatoes in a colander and return them to the cooking pot.
- Add the butter to the pot with the cooked sweet potatoes. Use a handheld potato masher or potato ricer, and mash the sweet potatoes until smooth and creamy, being careful not to overmix, which could result in gummy potatoes.
- Stir in the maple syrup, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, salt, and pepper until well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the mashed sweet potatoes to a serving dish and garnish with fresh chopped parsley, thyme, or other herbs.
- Serve the sweet potatoes warm as a delicious side dish for any meal.
Add-Ins for Extra Flavor
Any of the following can be mixed in to the potatoes for extra flavor:
- green onions
- roasted garlic
- caramelized onions
- heavy cream, whole milk, or skim milk
- cream cheese
- sour cream or Greek yogurt
- parmesan cheese
Ready To Serve
Serve this mashed sweet potato dish in a casserole or large bowl with a large serving spoon.
Create grooves or swirls on the surface of the mashed sweet potatoes using the back of a soup spoon. Drizzle melted butter or maple syrup over the top, letting it settle into the grooves.
Scatter fresh herbs such as chopped curly parsley or thyme leaves over the top.
Serve hot with turkey, ham, cranberry sauce, and all the trimmings!
Storage and Reheating
Allow the sweet potatoes to cool to room temperature after cooking. Transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Reheat the potatoes in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
To reheat in the microwave oven, place the leftover mashed sweet potatoes in a glass dish covered loosely with a paper towel and cook on high for 1- 3 minutes, stirring after each minute to ensure they heat evenly. You can add additional butter or a little milk or chicken broth if the potatoes seem dry.
Mashed sweet potatoes can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat when ready to eat.
Summary
Creamy, dreamy easy mashed sweet potatoes are here. Sweetened with pure maple syrup and moistened with grass-fed butter and maple syrup, this healthy Thanksgiving side dish will thrill your friends and family.
Boil or roast the potatoes until tender. The key is to hand-mash them until they are very smooth. This ensures a very creamy sweet potato mash.
Add your flavorings and butter. A touch of maple syrup is all you need to sweeten the dish. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves, parsley, and a drizzle of maple syrup or melted butter.
You can easily double or triple this recipe.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Figure one-quarter pound of sweet potatoes per person when serving as a side dish for Thanksgiving.
You can peel and chop sweet potatoes 3 to 4 days in advance. To keep them fresh, store the prepared sweet potatoes in a sealed bag or container with an airtight lid in the refrigerator. Regular potatoes can be peeled or chopped up up to a day ahead, but they should be stored in a bowl of cold water in the refrigerator to prevent browning.
Yes, you can freeze mashed potatoes! Once they have cooled, transfer them into your preferred airtight storage container. A resealable plastic bag is a convenient option for batch freezing. Fill the bag about three-quarters full with mashed potatoes, then seal it almost completely, leaving a small opening to allow air to escape. Gently press the bag to remove as much air as possible before sealing it completely. This method ensures your mashed potatoes stay fresh and ready for future use.
Mashed sweet potatoes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months, ensuring they are properly sealed to maintain freshness.
"📖 Recipe"
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Maple Syrup
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, about 2 pounds, peeled and evenly diced
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter (such as grass-fed Kerrygold)
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
- pinch ground nutmeg (optional)
- fresh parsley or thyme for garnish
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add diced potatoes and lower heat to a simmer, right below boiling point. Simmer for 15 minutes or until fork-tender.
- Drain potatoes in a colander and add them back into the cooking pot with the butter. Mash with a handheld potato masher until smooth.
- Add maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with a flurry of fresh chopped herbs.
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