Description
This mashed sweet potatoes recipe offers a creamy and flavorful side dish perfect for any meal. Made with tender boiled sweet potatoes, butter, milk, and a hint of warmth from optional cinnamon and sweetness from maple syrup or honey, it's an easy and comforting classic that serves well alongside a variety of main courses.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 lbs medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 2-inch pieces
- ½ cup regular milk or non-dairy milk, plus more as needed
- 3 Tablespoons butter or vegan butter, plus more for topping
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- Cracked black pepper, to taste
Optional Ingredients
- 1-2 Tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Boil Sweet Potatoes: Place the peeled and chopped sweet potatoes in a large pot, add enough water to cover them completely, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and simmer until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes.
- Drain and Prepare for Mashing: Drain the cooked sweet potatoes well and transfer them back to the pot or a large mixing bowl, ready for mashing.
- Add Milk, Butter, and Salt: Pour in the milk and add butter along with the initial teaspoon of sea salt. Mash the sweet potatoes using a potato masher until you achieve a smooth and creamy texture, adding more milk as needed to reach your preferred consistency. For a smoother texture, an immersion blender or hand mixer can be used instead.
- Incorporate Optional Flavors: Stir in the maple syrup or honey and cinnamon if using, blending well to combine the flavors evenly throughout the mash.
- Season and Serve: Taste the mashed sweet potatoes and adjust seasoning with additional salt and freshly cracked black pepper to your liking. Serve warm, topped with extra butter if desired.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.
- Use vegan butter and non-dairy milk to make this recipe fully vegan.
- Adjust sweetness to taste by varying the amount of maple syrup or honey, or omit entirely for a savory mash.
- For a richer flavor, consider roasting the sweet potatoes before mashing, though boiling keeps the recipe simple and quick.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
