In this post: Learn how to make mashed sweet potatoes, a traditional dish on many holiday menus. These delicious sweet potatoes are perfect with any holiday meal.
The holidays are right around the corner and mashed sweet potatoes are a great way to start your holiday meal! Give this sweet side dish a try with step-by-step instructions!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This mashed sweet potato recipe:
- is quick and easy to make
- doesn’t require fancy equipment or hard-to-find ingredients
- is totally adaptable to any dietary restrictions or allergies (see below for ideas)
Mashed Sweet Potatoes Ingredients
Sweet potatoes: a starchy, sweet-tasting root vegetable common in cuisines all over the world.
Almond milk: plant-based milk made from almonds. It is a popular substitute for dairy milk. (However, you may use any milk you want in this recipe!)
Butter: a dairy product made from churned cream, commonly used in cooking to add rich flavor. (You can use a dairy-free/vegan butter substitute if you prefer.)
Sea salt: made from the evaporation of ocean or seawater. It’s processed much less than table salt and retains trace minerals.
Variations
- Maple Bacon: add a drizzle of maple syrup and some crumbled bacon.
- Cinnamon, Brown Sugar & Pecans: sprinkle with some ground cinnamon, brown sugar, and chopped pecans.
- Garlic & Herb: stir in some fresh crushed garlic or garlic powder and some fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, and parsley.
How to Make Mashed Sweet Potatoes
1. Boil water in a large pot with a sprinkle of salt.
2. Peel and cut sweet potatoes into large chunks while the water boils.
3. Add sweet potatoes to the pot of boiling water. Bring water back to a boil. Reduce heat. Cook uncovered for about 15 minutes until potatoes are fork tender.
4. Drain sweet potatoes using a colander or strainer.
5. Mash sweet potatoes with a potato masher or hand mixer in a large bowl along with butter (or vegan butter alternative), almond milk, and salt. Mash potatoes until smooth.
6. Serve warm with extra butter (or vegan butter substitute).
What to Serve with Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Tips
- If you like a more savory mashed sweet potato, so you could add a 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and throw in some fresh thyme or rosemary.
- For a sweet version, add a little brown sugar or maple syrup, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and some chopped pecans or walnuts.
FAQ
What is the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?
Sweet potatoes originated in the Americas and have thin skin and a creamy interior whereas yams originated in Africa and have a rough exterior and a starchy interior.
How long to boil sweet potatoes for mashing
Once you’ve cut the sweet potatoes into large chunks, boil them for 15 minutes before mashing.
How to mash sweet potatoes
Boil them until they are fork tender and then mash them with a potato masher or hand mixer. If you want your sweet potatoes really smooth, you can blend them in a food processor.
Do you need to peel sweet potatoes for mashing?
Yes, you should peel your sweet potatoes before mashing them because the skin is tough and challenging to mash as well as unpleasant to chew.
Can you freeze mashed sweet potatoes?
You can freeze mashed sweet potatoes in a container or Ziploc for up to 5 months.
My Mashed Sweet Potatoes Have Lumps Or Aren’t Smooth Enough, How Can I Make Them Smoother?
Add extra milk and continue mashing and mixing until they are your desired texture.
Can I make this sweet potato mash dairy-free or vegan?
Absolutely! All you have to do is use dairy-free milk (I used almond milk in this recipe) and trade the butter for a dairy-free/vegan substitute.
How to Store Mashed Sweet Potatoes
You can store mashed sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 5 months!
Dietary Considerations
To make these mashed sweet potatoes vegan or dairy-free use dairy-free milk and trade the butter for a dairy-free/vegan substitute.
More Holiday Recipes
Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into large chunks
- 1/4 cup almond milk (cashew milk, oat milk, or milk of your choosing)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Meanwhile, peel sweet potatoes and cut into large chunks.
- Carefully add sweet potatoes to the pot of boiling water. Bring water back to a boil. Reduce heat. Cook uncovered for about 15 minutes, until potatoes are fork tender.
- Drain sweet potatoes in a colander.
- Place sweet potatoes in a large bowl. Add butter, almond milk, and salt. Use a potato masher or hand mixer to mash potatoes until smooth.
- Serve warm with extra butter.
Notes
Tips
- If you like a more savory mashed sweet potato, so you could add a 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and throw in some fresh thyme or rosemary.
- For a sweet version, add a little brown sugar or maple syrup, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and some chopped pecans or walnuts.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 248Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 255mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 6gSugar: 12gProtein: 4g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily via Nutrifox.
