Garlic-Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

When we think of mashed potatoes, our minds often jump to the standard russet spud, but have you ever thought about making mashed sweet potatoes? Wellness coach and recipe developer Miriam Hahn brings us this recipe for garlic-mashed sweet potatoes and says, "I love using all of the produce colors in my cooking and sweet potatoes, with their bright orange color are one of my favorites."

This savory version is very easy to prepare and can make an appearance on your holiday table but also makes a healthy weeknight dinner side dish. "Sweet potatoes have many health benefits — they are loaded with vitamin A, fiber, and antioxidants making them great for skin, eyes, and immunity," says Hahn. We love a side dish that you can make in under 30 minutes and think that these pair well with salmon, grilled chicken or even these stuffed portobello mushrooms. Read on to learn how to make these mouth-watering potatoes.

To make this recipe, you'll need two large sweet potatoes, garlic, and flat leaf parsley from the produce department. "You can, of course use four small sweet potatoes, but the bigger ones are easier to peel and cut. I am always looking for a time-saver," Hahn shares, adding, "The garlic offers a nice balance with the sweetness of the potatoes. Using 4 small cloves will give you lots of garlic flavor." If you want it less strong in the garlic department, make sure to use small garlic cloves, or use fewer. Finally, you'll need milk, butter, salt, and pepper. "If you want to make this recipe dairy-free, just use plant-based milk and butter," Hahn remarks.

Pull out a large cutting board and chef's knife — we've got some chopping to do. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into ½-inch cubes. "Try and get them roughly the same size so they all cook evenly," Hahn explains. Put them into a large pot and cover with water.

Bring the pot to a boil, then lower the heat to low, and cook for 10 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender and soft. Test the sweet potatoes to make sure they are tender by inserting a fork and seeing if it slides out easily.

Once the sweet potatoes are done cooking, drain them and return them to the pot. Using a potato masher, mash the sweet potatoes to your desired consistency. "Sweet potatoes mash easier than white potatoes so it only takes a few minutes to get them nice and smooth," Hahn notes.

The final step is simply to combine the remaining ingredients. Crush the garlic with a garlic press and add that to the pot along with the milk, butter, salt, pepper, and parsley. Stir to combine and transfer to a serving dish and top with more chopped parsley if desired. The mashed sweet potatoes are ready to serve.

"If I am making these ahead of time, I usually just store them in the fridge in a covered Pyrex dish that can go right into the oven when I'm ready to heat them up," Hahn says. These mashed sweet potatoes can be made up to 4 days in advance and will last well for leftovers for several days. Your holiday table is going to really pop with color this year!