Different Ways to Cook Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are an integral part of Thanksgiving dinner, but other than the usual sweet potato with marshmallow dish there are many different ways to cook sweet potatoes. Let's explore the sweet potato variations.

I Yam What I Yam

Although here in America, yams and sweet potatoes are the same thing, a true yam is only found in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. Generally, in U.S. stores what is referred to as yams are just orange sweet potatoes. So whether you find a yam or a sweet potato at your grocer's, they will be usable in these recipes.

Different Ways to Cook Sweet Potatoes

There are as many different ways to cook sweet potatoes, as there are to cook regular potatoes. In fact, with it's smooth texture and natural sweetness, hence it name, there may actually be more ways to utilize the sweet potato. Here I offer three different ways to cook sweet potatoes: a nice casserole from Virginia, a fun and easy to prepare soufflé, and a soup that can start your Thanksgiving meal in a new, fun, and tasty way.

Using your sweet potatoes in a different way and offering your guests an unexpected side dish is a great way to make your holiday memorable. While some traditional sweet potato recipes are heavy on the brown sugar and other candied variations, these recipes are easy to modify to make them more diet-conscious. Generally, they are light on the butter and sugar and if you like you can reduce that even more, but in my mind the holidays are a good time to indulge a bit.

Virginia Sweet Potatoes with Rum

Ingredients

• 4 large sweet potatoes boiled
• 2 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• Lemon sliced thin as possible
• 1/2 cup light rum
• Butter as needed

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cut potatoes lengthwise in 1/2 inch thick slices.
3. Melt butter in a large frying pan.
4. Brown both sides of the potatoes.
5. Place the potatoes in a large casserole dish.
6. Sprinkle with brown sugar and lemon zest.
7. Cover potatoes with lemon slices.
8. Pour on the rum.
9. Add dabs of butter.
10. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until the butter and rum have mingled.

Sweet Potato Soufflé

Ingredients

9 medium sweet potatoes

• Boiling water
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup hot cream
• 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest
• 2 egg yolks beaten
• 1/2 cup drained crushed pineapple
• 4 egg whites

Instructions

1. Wash and peel the sweet potatoes.
2. Place in well salted water.
3. Boil the sweet potatoes for 25 minutes or until done.
4. Drain and mash the sweet potatoes.
5. Add the butter and cream and mash until light and fluffy.
6. Let cool.
7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Butter and flour a seven inch soufflé dish.
9. Cut a piece of parchment paper 2 inches wide and long enough to wrap around the soufflé dish.Tape the paper around the dish.
10. Add the salt and lemon zest.
11. Add the beaten egg yolks.
12. Mix well.
13. Fold in the drained pineapple.
14. Whip the egg whites until stiff.
15. Gently fold the egg whites into the potato mix.
16. Pour into the prepared soufflé dish.
17. Set into a pan with hot water.
18. Bake for 40 minutes.
19. Remove the paper and serve immediately.

Sweet Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 4 pounds sweet potato (canned is okay)
• 2 quarts vegetable or chicken stock
• 6 ounces butter
• 4 tablepoons tomato paste
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

Instructions

1. If you are not using the canned sweet potatoes, then preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Bake the potatoes for 45 minutes or until done.
3. Peel the skins and cut into like sized chunks.
4. Put the potatoes in a pot with the stock. If you are using canned sweet potatoes, this is your first step.
5. add the tomato paste.
6. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer.
7. Add the butter and herbs.
8. Simmer for 1 hour and then puree either using an immersion blender or by pouring the soup in batches into a blender and pureeing.
9. Pour back into the pot and add the cream. Once the cream has been added, do not let the soup boil again.