I have a love-love relationship with sweet taters.
As in I’ve never met a sweet potato I didn’t like.
As in when people say they don’t like sweet potatoes, I’m like….”WAIT. Come again?”
As in I thought we were friends but maybe we’re not cuz that’s cray. I totally get not liking tofu and mushrooms and mustard. (I happen to adore all three.) But sweet potatoes?? You must be kidding. If you haven’t had a sweet potato baked in the oven until it’s super moist and sweet and oozing with fabulosity, you haven’t lived. HI I’M A SWEET POTATO AND I’M GONNA ROCK YOUR WORLD, YO.
So if you don’t like sweet potatoes, I’m guessing it’s because you’ve never had these sweet potatoes.
Side note: Today I got asked for the gazillionth time what ethnicity I am. I responded with the usual, “I’m nothing cool. I’m not Italian, Mexican or Persian.” According to my parents, I’m American. And Jewish. Ummmm that doesn’t help. We’re all freaking American!! Yeah, I was born in the lovely US of A as were my grandparents, but their parents were from Hungary, Romania, Poland and Russia. Case in point–nothing cool. So I have no idea why I’m so tan (which leads people to ask me if I’m foreign), but I’m starting to think it may have to do with these sweet potatoes. Screw tanning beds–eat more sweet potatoes!! Legit. I mean I’m surprised my skin isn’t orange.
Yet.
You probs wanna know a little something something about this recipe before you make it. Ummm it’s freaking amazing. It’s the perfect sweet potato dish for Thanksgiving because it’s still totally sweet and creamy from the pure maple syrup and a little butter, but it’s not loaded with brown sugar and marshmallows like the standard version, which will most definitely make an appearance at my family’s table this year. Grandma’s got it covered y’all.
And I won’t even judge you if you wanna dump these babies in a pan and smother them with huge marshmallows.
As long as you make sure your serving has the crispy burnt ones…duh!
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A healthier yet just as tasty version of the classic Thanksgiving side dish, sweetened with pure maple syrup and fresh orange juice.
Ingredients
- 4 large sweet potatoes
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- Juice of a medium orange
- Zest of half a medium orange
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Pierce sweet potatoes several times with a fork.
- Bake sweet potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil for one hour.
- Set potatoes aside to cool. Once cool enough to handle, peel off the skin. Place sweet potato flesh in a large bowl.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mash together using a fork or potato masher until smooth and creamy.
funny you mentioned this because seriously my biochem professor had turned orange at one point and we all thought it was because of her obsessive carrot eating habits. she ate carrots all.the.time. Just an heads up, it happens :p
Bahaha good thing I’m not a huge carrot eater!
I have a love-love relationship with sweet potatoes too!! They are the BEST! I need to try this recipe out because I have been wanting to make mashed sweet potatoes for awhile now. I think I’ll just sub in Earth Balance for the butter.
You MUST try it…it’s the best combo! Earth Balance would be perfect in place of the butter.
I have a love-love relationship with sweet potatoes too!! They are the BEST! I need to try this recipe out because I have been wanting to make mashed sweet potatoes for awhile now. I think I’ll just sub in Earth Balance for the butter.
You MUST try it…it’s the best combo! Earth Balance would be perfect in place of the butter.
Sweet mashed sweet potatoes are the best thing ever! My mom makes something similar to your recipe for Thanksgiving, but I think she uses agave instead of maple syrup. So, so tasty!
Agave would be a perfect sub! I just love how creamy there are. Mm mmmm mmmmmm!
Sweet mashed sweet potatoes are the best thing ever! My mom makes something similar to your recipe for Thanksgiving, but I think she uses agave instead of maple syrup. So, so tasty!
Agave would be a perfect sub! I just love how creamy there are. Mm mmmm mmmmmm!
Nothing like a sweet potato tan to get people talking … what do you think a beet root tan would result in 😉
I once had a sweet potato souffle-type-pudding that had orange juice and jest in it and it was divine – so I can imagine what these smashed potatoes taste like!
OM sweet potato souffle sounds like such a dream!! Totally making that.
Nothing like a sweet potato tan to get people talking … what do you think a beet root tan would result in 😉
I once had a sweet potato souffle-type-pudding that had orange juice and jest in it and it was divine – so I can imagine what these smashed potatoes taste like!
OM sweet potato souffle sounds like such a dream!! Totally making that.
I 200% am making this for Thanksgiving! My family always makes some gnarly unhealthy side dishes, but this year, I want to bring healthy options that are also delicious to the table. I’m IN! Let me live in the bowl, let me live in iiiiiit!
★★★★★
YOWZA! My family’s spread is always full of unhealthy goodies…I’m making my maple coconut brussels sprouts so hopefully no one hates me!! Your comment always make me laugh. Keep ’em coming, lady!
I 200% am making this for Thanksgiving! My family always makes some gnarly unhealthy side dishes, but this year, I want to bring healthy options that are also delicious to the table. I’m IN! Let me live in the bowl, let me live in iiiiiit!
★★★★★
YOWZA! My family’s spread is always full of unhealthy goodies…I’m making my maple coconut brussels sprouts so hopefully no one hates me!! Your comment always make me laugh. Keep ’em coming, lady!
Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods, I’m so with you I don’t understand how people don’t LOVE them! Great recipe!
Wahooo!!! Now go make these!
Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods, I’m so with you I don’t understand how people don’t LOVE them! Great recipe!
Wahooo!!! Now go make these!
That is awesome that beta carotene can give you a different nationality. Pity I’m already latte I can’t do a michael jackson and go white.
I’m not the biggest fan of orange flavouring to things (orange + chocolate = vom com) but on a sweet potato- you have me intrigued my…American friend.
Maybe if you ate a shiz ton of turnips you could pull off the MJ look? Or maybe not. The orange is pretty subtle in here, so I think it would still pass your test 🙂
That is awesome that beta carotene can give you a different nationality. Pity I’m already latte I can’t do a michael jackson and go white.
I’m not the biggest fan of orange flavouring to things (orange + chocolate = vom com) but on a sweet potato- you have me intrigued my…American friend.
Maybe if you ate a shiz ton of turnips you could pull off the MJ look? Or maybe not. The orange is pretty subtle in here, so I think it would still pass your test 🙂
I’ve had sweet potatoes and maple syrup before (looooove), but adding in orange juice and zest sounds all sorts of amazing. And speaking of orange, I thought I managed to avoid developing a seasonal glow, and then I compared my palms to a friend’s… Definitely got a slight tan going 😉
The orange zest just killed it, I’m tellin ya!! I’m totally going to compare my palms with a friend–thanks for the reminder 🙂
I’ve had sweet potatoes and maple syrup before (looooove), but adding in orange juice and zest sounds all sorts of amazing. And speaking of orange, I thought I managed to avoid developing a seasonal glow, and then I compared my palms to a friend’s… Definitely got a slight tan going 😉
The orange zest just killed it, I’m tellin ya!! I’m totally going to compare my palms with a friend–thanks for the reminder 🙂