The Best Savory Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe (2024)

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4.25 from 12 votes

Learn how to make the BEST savory mashed sweet potatoes ever. They make a great healthy, low carb option perfect as a side dish for your midweek meal, as well as Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas.

The boiled sweet potatoes are mashed until smooth and then mixed with butter and sour cream, to create an easy and quick side, that doesn't take up oven space. Plus boiling them makes them extra soft, smooth and creamy.

Mashed Sweet Potato

Mashed potatoes are a weekly occurrence in our house, they are one of the most loved side dishes! And rightly so, who can resist pillows of soft fluffy mash?
And on special occasions I make my famous French Style Mashed Potatoes, they are so full of butter that you can't help but love them (Be warned your skinny jeans will hate them!)

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But as much as we all love mash, sometimes you want something a little healthier, with lower carbs and dare I say it something that fits into a diet!

Stew is currently working on a Lower Carb diet, so amongst my favorite pasta recipes, I am going to bring in low carb recipes specifically for your partners who have decided to turn their backs on pasta and bread!

(p.s we'll work out some ways for you to still get your carbs without having to cook two meals!!!)

The Best Savory Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe (2)

So many recipes for Mashed Sweet Potatoes are made extra sweet, with brown sugar, maple syrup or marshmallows.
Now don't get me wrong I LOVE the maple syrup version, I even have one on my site with pecans. IT IS SO GOOD!!! You can see it here - Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Maple Pecans.

I also have a deliciously savory Sweet Potato Mash with Lemon and Sage!!! Or this Thai Sweet Potato Mash, which is just a little bit different, but so good!

But in the interest of low carb and also for those days when a savory mash is needed, I set aside the maple syrup and tried mashed sweet potato with sour cream instead. I can tell you guys, it was good. Lick the bowl clean good!

The Best Savory Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe (3)

How to make Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes

The recipe starts with boiling the mashed potato in salted water until nice and tender. You can steam them if you like but this will take longer.
Once the potatoes are fork tender they are mashed down and then mixed with sour cream, butter, and plenty of seasonings.
(see further down the post for ways to mash your sweet potatoes)

Don't forget the salt and pepper

Seasoning is so important in cooking, salt brings out the flavor of food and can change a dish from okay to great! All those delicious restaurant dishes you've tried, quite often the only difference to your home cooking is the chef's use of salt during the cooking process.

I suggest ½ teaspoon of salt for these potatoes, I actually like to add a little more to my plate, but most people find ½ teaspoon to be enough. And don't forget the sweet potatoes were simmer in boiling water first so they have taken on some salt.

The Best Savory Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe (4)

How to Mash Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are so much softer and less starchy than a regular potato so they are easier to mash.

Use a Fork: This will give you a coarser mashed sweet potato.
Use a Potato Masher: (preferred method) This gives great results and a wonderful smooth mash.
Use a Food Processor/mixer: Unlike standard potatoes, you can get a smooth mash from sweet potatoes in the food processor but be careful, just like standard potatoes they can turn gluey if you mix them for too long.

To finish the dish, fresh parsley is added, this really helps to make the dish savory, as parsley has a wonderful, almost cut grass like taste.

But there are several other herbs you can try.

Add chopped fresh rosemary to the sweet potatoes as you boil them.
Use fresh thyme instead of parsley.
Use chives or green onions instead of parsley.
Add chopped sage to your mash (great with chicken)

The Best Savory Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe (5)

How to heat up leftovers?

Mashed Sweet Potatoes will keep well in the fridge for 4 days. Reheat the covered bowl them in the microwave, on 50% power. They taste almost as good as if you had made them fresh.
Heat them until hot and steamy, but don't overheat or the butter and sour cream will start to separate from the mash. If this happens, take a wooden spoon and mix them as vigorously as possible.

What to serve with mashed sweet potato?

Creamy Honey Mustard Pork Chops
Balsamic Butter Steak
Easy Cheesy Baked Fajita Chicken
Seared Lemon Paprika Garlic ButterScallops
Honey Pecan Chicken Breasts

Enjoy x

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The Best Savory Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe

Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts

Learn how to make the BEST savory mashed sweet potatoes ever. They make a great healthy, low carb option perfect as a side dish for your midweek meal, as well as Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas. The boiled sweet potatoes are mashed until smooth and then mixed with butter and sour cream, to create an easy and quick side, that doesn't take up oven space. Plus boiling them makes them extra soft, smooth and creamy.

4.25 from 12 votes

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Ingredients

4 medium sweet potatoes
pinch salt
3 tablespoon butter
¼ cup sour cream - see note 1
½ teaspoon salt - see note 2
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoon finely chopped parsley

Instructions

Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into 1" (2.5cm) cubes.
Then place in a large saucepan and cover with boiling water.
Bring back to a boil, add a pinch of salt, then simmer for 15 minutes until tender.
Drain well and then return potatoes to saucepan.
Mash the potatoes to your preferred consistency (See note 3)
Add in the butter, sour cream, salt, pepper, and most of the chopped parsley.
Stir well to combine and melt the butter.
Taste and add more salt depending on your tastes (see note 2)
Once mixed, serve with an extra slice of butter and the remaining chopped parsley.

Notes

You can replace the sour cream with a low fat yogurt, but the results won't be as creamy.
If you were overly generous with the salt in your boiling water you may need slight less. I find most people use ½ tsp, but I like a little more. So taste your mash and add more as needed.
Ways to mash your sweet potatoes
- Use a Fork: This will give you a coarser mashed sweet potato.
- Use a Potato Masher:(preferred method) This gives great results and a wonderful smooth mash.
- Use a Food Processor/mixer: Unlike standard potatoes, you can get a smooth mash from sweet potatoes in the food processor but be careful, just like standard potatoes they can turn gluey if you mix them for too long.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Nutrition

Nutrition is per serving

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The Best Savory Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What enhances flavor of sweet potato? ›

Dice the sweet potato, and leave the skins on. Then toss the chunks in a splash of tamari, oil, and maple syrup, and then dust heavily with chili powder, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Roast at 400 Fahrenheit for about 30-50 minutes, or until the potatoes begin to crisp up.

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How do you make Ina Garten mashed sweet potatoes? ›

Place the sweet potato meat into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and add the orange juice, cream, butter, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Mix together until combined but not smooth and transfer to a baking dish. Bake the potatoes for 20 to 30 minutes, until heated through.

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How do you make Patti Labelle sweet potatoes? ›

Boil the sweet potatoes in a large stockpot until soft, about 25 minutes; drain. When cool enough to handle, peel the potatoes and transfer them to a large bowl. While the potatoes are still warm, add the butter, cream, agave, cinnamon and salt, and mash until smooth. Sprinkle with the orange zest.

What do professional chefs use to mash potatoes? ›

The secret weapon, a good potato ricer (affiliate). This pushes the potatoes into strings, which helps them soak up every bit of the cream and achieve maximum fluffliness.

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Is it better to boil or bake sweet potatoes? ›

Baking can also cause an 80% drop in vitamin A levels, twice as much as boiling. Therefore, from a nutritional standpoint, boiling rather than baking should be recommended for cooking sweet potato.

Why do I feel better after eating sweet potato? ›

Along with anti-inflammatory properties, sweet potatoes have plenty of gut-friendly fiber, especially if you eat the skin. They are a mixture of soluble fiber, which can lower cholesterol and balance glucose, and insoluble fiber, which helps keep your bowels healthy and regular.

Why not to boil sweet potatoes? ›

Despite their sweet taste, these potatoes have an intermediate glycemic index (GI) level, meaning they are digested and absorbed fairly slowly, leading to a more gradual increase in blood sugar levels. But, a lot of these benefits, including nutrients and taste, can be lost by boiling sweet potatoes.

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Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

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Should I peel sweet potatoes before boiling? ›

There is not much difference between boiling sweet potatoes with the skins on versus peeling them, but you will get a boost of fiber and potassium if you keep the skin on. The skin also adds a subtle texture to each bite. If you're looking for a smoother mash, peel the potatoes first before boiling.

How do you keep sweet potato mash from getting watery? ›

I've a couple of ideas which might help.
After you drain the boiled potatoes, place them back in the pot and place that pot on the burner on low heat. Stir the potatoes with a stiff wooden spoon to break them up and to release the steam.
Starch can hold just so much stuff, water or butter and cream.

Nov 26, 2015

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How do you make sweet potato mash less watery? ›

I was never a huge fan of mashed sweet potatoes until I discovered a technique from Cook's Illustrated. They simmer the potatoes right in the cream rather than boiling them in water. This is a complete game changer to say the least! Instead of a watery mash, you end up with an ultra creamy texture guaranteed to please.

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Is sweet potato mash better for you than normal mash? ›

Sweet potatoes are often touted as being healthier than white potatoes, but in reality, both types can be highly nutritious. While regular and sweet potatoes are comparable in their calorie, protein, and carb content, white potatoes provide more potassium, whereas sweet potatoes are incredibly high in vitamin A.