The Best Savory Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe Save Pin Recipe

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.

The Best Savory Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe (1)

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!)

Quickly Jump to:

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

Pin this recipe for The Best Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes.Pin it here.

Get the Recipe

The Best Savory Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe (6)

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

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Side

Cuisine Modern Australian

Servings 4

Calories 216 kcal

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

  1. You can replace the sour cream with a low fat yogurt, but the results won't be as creamy.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 449mg | Potassium: 458mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 18800IU | Vitamin C: 3.1mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 0.8mg

Nutrition is per serving

For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout

The Best Savory Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes sweet potatoes taste better? ›

The longer and slower you cook a sweet potato, the more maltose is formed and the sweeter it will taste. So if you want a much less sweet potato try steaming it, or cut it into small pieces and roast on a higher heat.

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

Besides flour added to thicken mash potatoes that you have gotten too thin, you can add some instant potatoes. This is what I would do. I also add instant potatoes to thicken soup when it is too 'runny' for my taste. Not a lot, a little will do it very nicely.

How do I make my sweet potato mash thicker? ›

You can use what you have on hand: Flour, cornstarch, or powdered milk are all solid options that are probably already in your pantry. Potato flour and potato starch would work as well. Stir in the thickening agent gradually, about a tablespoon at a time, until the potatoes have reached your desired consistency.

What Flavours go well with sweet potato? ›

It's absolutely delicious to mash sweet potato with honey, butter, nutmeg and cinnamon. rosemary! I make sweet potato fries in the oven with just a pinch of salt and pepper, oil, and a ton of rosemary... absolutely delish!

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.

How to make chef quality mashed potatoes? ›

Directions
  1. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil. ...
  2. Drain potatoes, then return to the pot. Turn heat to high and allow potatoes to dry for about 30 seconds. ...
  3. Mash potatoes with a potato masher twice around the pot, then add milk and butter. Continue to mash until smooth and fluffy.
Aug 16, 2022

What goes well with sweet potato mash? ›

Savory sweet potato mash can easily be served with any main — roast chicken, slow cooker roast turkey, crispy roast pork and prime rib. They are so versatile you can serve them right along your Green Bean Casserole, Mac and Cheese, Roast Potatoes or Roast Broccoli.

Why are my mashed sweet potatoes stringy? ›

Sweet potatoes stored at temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit will shrivel and become dry and stringy. Sweet potatoes may develop an off-flavor and the flesh may become discolored when stored at temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Why did my mashed potatoes turn out sweet? ›

Is there anything I can do with them so I don't taste that sweet flavor? A: Someone told you correctly! When potatoes are stored too long, in a too-cold environment (below 41°F) the starches within convert to sugar.

Do 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 long to boil sweet potato? ›

Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and let the potatoes cook 15 to 20 minutes, or until you can easily pierce several pieces (always test more than one) with a knife. Potatoes cut into small pieces will take less time to cook.

Why can't you add flour to mashed potatoes? ›

Regular flour can also be used to thicken your potatoes as well, but I don't love using it because its raw flavor needs to be cooked out, and it more noticeably dulls the flavor of the potatoes themselves.

How can I improve my sweet potatoes? ›

5 Tips for Growing Big Sweet Potatoes
  1. Dig Deep. In my 15 or so years of growing sweet potatoes, I've learned a few lessons. ...
  2. Don't be Too Eager to Get Started. Equally as important to loose and fertile soil is temperature. ...
  3. Water Well. ...
  4. Keep the Vines in Check. ...
  5. The Right Fertilizer is Key.

What tastes better boiled or baked sweet potatoes? ›

Why You Should Bake Sweet Potatoes Instead. While boiling makes sweet potatoes tender, it doesn't help much with their flavor. Most dishes that call for boiled sweet potatoes would be improved if you used roasted or baked sweet potatoes.

Why do my sweet potatoes not taste sweet? ›

So if you want a sweet, sweet potato, you have to cook it until it reaches 135–170°F (57–77°C). And you want to keep sweet potatoes in that range for as long as possible. That will maximize how sweet the potatoes taste.

Are sweet potatoes healthier than regular potatoes? ›

Though they can both be part of a healthy diet, sweet potatoes are generally healthier than regular potatoes, partly because of their incredibly high vitamin A content. Sweet potatoes are also lower on the glycemic index, meaning that they are less likely than regular potatoes to make your blood sugar spike.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Catherine Tremblay

Last Updated:

Views: 6156

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Catherine Tremblay

Birthday: 1999-09-23

Address: Suite 461 73643 Sherril Loaf, Dickinsonland, AZ 47941-2379

Phone: +2678139151039

Job: International Administration Supervisor

Hobby: Dowsing, Snowboarding, Rowing, Beekeeping, Calligraphy, Shooting, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Catherine Tremblay, I am a precious, perfect, tasty, enthusiastic, inexpensive, vast, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.