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    Home » Recipes

    Mashed Sweet Potatoes

    Published: Aug 31, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Mashed sweet potatoes are an excellent recipe for the holidays! They are perfect for a cozy dinner with family and friends.

    We'll share with you one savory mashed sweet potato recipe and a sweet one.

    savory sweet potato mash
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Savory mashed sweet potatoes
    • Sweet mashed sweet potatoes
    • Storage
    • Questions
    • More Sweet Potato Recipes
    • More Vegetable Sides
    • Recipe

    Check out our Best Sweet Potato Recipes

    We love sweet potatoes in every shape and form, and when developing this mashed sweet potato recipe, we could not make up our minds about sweet vs. savory.

    We just liked both so much!

    And so here we'll show you how to make mashed sweet potatoes from scratch with a few simple ingredients, in both a savory and sweet version.

    Savory mashed sweet potatoes are perfect as a side dish to pretty much anything, from Thanksgiving and any other winter holiday to cozy weeknight dinners.

    The sweet recipe is also great as a side dish, but we prefer it as a dessert because it's so tasty, cinnamony, and it tastes like Christmas in a bowl.

    Take our recipe as a guideline and add more or less of the ingredients we mention based on your taste and the consistency of your sweet potatoes. For example, you might need a little more or less butter and milk than us.

    Also, you can make this recipe with a potato masher; however, we think the mash turns out smoother and creamier if you blend the potatoes with an immersion blender or in a food processor.

    mashed weet potatoes with maple syrup
    Swirled mashed sweet potatoes with cinnamon and maple syrup.

    Ingredients

    ingredients for savory mashed sweet potatoes

    Sweet potatoes

    Pick orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. In some parts of the USA, sweet potatoes are labeled yams so you might find them under that name.

    Butter

    You can use regular unsalted butter or dairy-free/vegan butter for mashed sweet potatoes. Either way, you can add more or less butter based on your taste and desired creaminess level.

    Milk or Sour Cream

    You can use dairy milk or dairy-free milk. For example, we love to combine sweet potatoes with unsweetened almond milk, but if you prefer another type of milk, feel free to use it.

    Alternatively, you can substitute sour cream (regular or dairy-free) for milk. It'll produce creamier mashed potatoes.

    Coconut milk is also delicious with sweet potatoes and adds an even creamier texture. However, we prefer to use that for our sweet recipe, which you'll find below.

    Add-ins for savory mashed sweet potatoes

    Olive oil: we like to add a good extra virgin olive oil for a fruity and mildly nutty flavor. We find that olive oil goes very well with sweet potatoes.

    Parsley: our savory mashed sweet potatoes include some freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley, which we think fits perfectly with the flavor of the spuds. Other fresh herbs that go well with sweet potatoes are chives, fresh thyme, or coriander.

    Salt and pepper: sea salt (or kosher salt) for taste and freshly ground black pepper for a pleasant aroma.

    Garlic: an optional ingredient; however, you can add garlic powder, very finely minced or pressed garlic for an extra tang.

    Add-ins for sweet mashed sweet potatoes

    Maple syrup: to boost the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes. You can substitute brown sugar, honey, or agave syrup for maple.

    Spices: cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg are a must. Clove is optional. All grated or in powder form.

    Vanilla extract: once you add vanilla extract to your mashed sweet potatoes, you'll never go back. It's delicious!

    Almonds: we add toasted slivered or shaved almonds on top to garnish the mash. They are an important ingredient; they add crunch and a pleasant nutty flavor, so don't skimp on them.

    Salt: add sea salt to tie the other ingredients together.

    mashed sweet potatoes in a bowl

    Instructions

    Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into 1-inch cubes, and add them to a large pot or dutch oven with water and a teaspoon of salt.

    Cover with a lid, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for about 15-20 minutes or until fork tender.

    Note: you can also use a pressure cooker or instant pot. It'll take bout 8 minutes.

    boiling chopped sweet potatoes

    Drain all the water and mash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher while they are still hot. You can do this in the same pot.

    mashing sweet potatoes with a potato masher

    We noticed that sometimes sweet potatoes could be a little stringier, especially if they are not the freshest.

    If that's the case, or if you like smoother and creamier mashed potatoes, you can blend the spuds with an immersion blender or with a food processor (we prefer this method to the potato masher). Pulse until you reach your desired consistency.

    blending sweet potatoes with immersion blender

    Savory mashed sweet potatoes

    Add butter, milk or sour cream, olive oil, salt, and freshly ground black pepper, and stir with a spatula until well combined. Taste and adjust the ingredients based on your preferences.

    Tip: Add more butter for a richer and creamier sweet potato mash. Here we used dairy-free ingredients, and the mash turned out delicious.

    adding butter, oil, and salt

    Finally, add the chopped flat-leaf parsley, stir one more time, and transfer into a serving bowl.

    serving mashed potatoes in a bowl

    Sweet mashed sweet potatoes

    Add butter, almond milk, grated nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger powder, vanilla extract, salt, and maple syrup to the mashed potatoes.

    maple syrup and cinnamon into the mash

    Stir well with a spatula until well combined, then transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with toasted slivered almonds, a small knob of butter, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Swirl before serving.

    Tip: you can toast slivered or shaved almonds on a small non-stick pan on medium heat for 2 minutes.

    sweet mashed potatoes with cinnamon

    Storage

    Store leftover mashed sweet potatoes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Then, reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes.

    You can use the leftovers of the sweet version to make a mean sweet potato pie.

    Questions

    Should I soak sweet potatoes before mashing?

    No, there is no need to soak sweet potatoes before mashing. However, you do need to boil them until they are soft.

    Do you peel sweet potatoes before boiling?

    It depends. To make sweet potato mash, we recommend peeling and chopping the sweet potatoes before boiling them.

    More Sweet Potato Recipes

    Looking for other delicious sweet potato recipes? Check out our:

    • Roasted sweet potato cubes or sweet potato wedges
    • Crispy sweet potato chips (oven-baked and deep-fried)
    • Amazingly easy homemade sweet potato gnocchi
    • Delicious sweet potato muffins
    • Air fryer sweet potatoes
    • Easiest microwave sweet potatoes loaded with delicious toppings
    • Mediterranean lentil sweet potato salad
    • Classic sweet potato salad with creamy mustard dressing
    • Black bean and corn salad with sweet potatoes
    • sweet potato gnocchi with butter and sage
      Sweet Potato Gnocchi
    • sweet potato muffins
      Sweet Potato Muffins
    • microwave sweet potato
      Microwave Sweet Potato
    • lentils and sweet potato salad
      Lentil Sweet Potato Salad
    • air fryer sweet potato
      Air Fryer Sweet Potato
    • sweet potato chips no oil
      Sweet Potato Chips
    • sweet potato wedges
      Sweet Potato Wedges
    • sweet potato salad
      Sweet Potato Salad

    More Vegetable Sides

    Looking for more holiday-worthy side dishes? Check out our:

    • green bean salad with mustard dressing and crumbled feta
    • red cabbage slaw with caramelized walnuts
    • steamed artichokes or braised artichokes
    • fennel and orange salad
    • green bean salad
      Green Bean Salad
    • red cabbage slaw with apple and walnuts
      Red Cabbage Slaw
    • steamed artichokes
      Steamed Artichokes
    • Fennel salad in a bowl
      Fennel and Orange Salad

    Recipe

    mashed sweet potatoes

    Mashed Sweet Potatoes

    Author: Nico
    Mashed sweet potatoes are an excellent recipe for the holidays! They are perfect for a cozy dinner with family and friends.
    We'll share with you one savory mashed sweet potato recipe and a sweet one.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 2 votes
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Side dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 339 kcal

    Equipment

    • potato masher for a more a rustic mash
    • hand blender or food processor for a creamier and smoother mash

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 pounds sweet potatoes peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
    • 1 teaspoon salt for the cooking water
    • 3 tablespoons butter or more to taste (we used dairy-free)
    • ¼ cup milk or sour cream (we used almond milk)

    ADD-INS FOR SAVORY MASHED SWEET POTATOES

    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • ½ cup flat-leaf parsley or chives (finely chopped)
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

    ADD-INS FOR SWEET MASHED SWEET POTATOES

    • 3 tablespoons maple syrup or more to taste
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ginger powder
    • ½ teaspoon nut meg grated or powder
    • 1 teaspooon vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ⅓ cup slivered almonds (toasted on a pan for 2 minutes)

    Instructions
     

    • Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into 1-inch cubes, and add them to a large pot with water and a teaspoon of salt.
      Simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until fork tender.
      boiling chopped sweet potatoes
    • Drain well and mash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher while they are still hot. You can do this in the same pot.
      mashing sweet potatoes with a potato masher
    • If you like a creamier and smoother mash, blend the spuds with a hand blender or food processor.
      blending sweet potatoes with immersion blender

    SAVORY MASHED SWEET POTATOES

    • Add butter, milk (or sour cream), olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well till combined.
      Taste and adjust the ingredients based on your preferences.
      adding butter, oil, and salt
    • Add parsley, stir one more time, and transfer to a serving bowl.
      Garnish with more parsley and black pepper.
      mashed sweet potatoes in a bowl

    SWEET MASHED SWEET POTATOES

    • Add butter, almond milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger.
      Then add vanilla extract, salt, and maple syrup.
      maple syrup and cinnamon into the mash
    • Stir well, transfer to a serving bowl, and garnish with toasted slivered almonds, a small knob of butter, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
      Swirl before serving.
      sweet mashed potatoes with cinnamon

    Notes

    Nutrition information is for 1 large serving of savory mashed sweet potatoes out of 6 servings and made with dairy free ingredients.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Mashed Sweet Potatoes
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 339 Calories from Fat 81
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 9g14%
    Saturated Fat 2g13%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
    Monounsaturated Fat 5g
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Potassium 1064mg30%
    Carbohydrates 62g21%
    Dietary Fiber 9g38%
    Sugar 13g14%
    Protein 5g10%
    Vitamin A 43000IU860%
    Vitamin B6 1mg50%
    Vitamin C 14mg17%
    Vitamin E 2mg13%
    Vitamin K 94µg90%
    Calcium 111mg11%
    Folate 41µg10%
    Iron 2mg11%
    Manganese 1mg50%
    Magnesium 79mg20%
    Zinc 1mg7%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

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    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

    Hi, we are Nico and Louise, and we love cooking! Welcome to our blog.

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