30 July 2015

Maple-Pecan Sweet Potato Puree

Maple-Pecan Sweet Potato Puree / www.delightfulrepast.com

In fall and winter I like to bake or roast sweet potatoes, but I picked up some sweet potatoes right in the middle of a heat wave and running the oven just wasn't going to be happening in my house! So I gave them a quick boil and, using an immersion blender, made a simple puree.

Some sweet potatoes are super sweet and really don't need the addition of a sweetener, but these were not all that sweet and really benefited from a splash of real maple syrup. Just a little grating of nutmeg enhanced the flavor without overpowering the dish.

A simple side dish for a simple summer meal. What are some of your favorite sides these days? 

Maple-Pecan Sweet Potato Puree

(Makes 4 to 6 servings)

2 pounds orange-fleshed sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 to 4 tablespoons real maple syrup, divided
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons chopped pecans, toasted

1 Peel, rinse and cut into rough cubes of an inch or so. Put them in a 2-quart saucepan and add 1 teaspoon salt and cold water to cover. Bring to a boil and simmer, loosely covered, about 10 minutes (sweet potatoes cook a lot faster than potatoes).

2 Drain* the sweet potatoes and return them to low heat to dry the moisture out of them; toss the butter in at the same time. Remove from the heat. With immersion blender, puree to the consistency you prefer, blending in 2 tablespoons maple syrup and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and nutmeg. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding another tablespoon of maple syrup if you like.

* The cooking water would make a nice addition to a soup.

3 Transfer to serving dish; sprinkle with toasted pecans and drizzle with 1 tablespoon maple syrup.

Jean

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness Jean, the addition of pecans sold me on that idea. I see that our son and his family, who happen to be living with us for a month or two, just bought a huge bag of sweet potatoes. Hmmm....

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

How I'd love a huge bag of sweet potatoes! But my freezer is so full of peaches right now, I'd have a hard time squeezing in all my sweet potato dishes!

The Cranky said...

We LOVE sweet potatoes; this is definitely going in the rotation!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Jacqueline! I just had the leftovers, cold, for breakfast.

Margaret D said...

That sounds delicious

Lorrie said...

Oh yummy. Sweet potatoes are a favorite around here in the cooler months. These days it's all about trying to find ways to eat zucchini! I sauteed some with onions and fresh corn, added a tomato and we ate it all up!

Thomas "Sully" Sullivan said...

I’ve adapted your recipe by adding one more step. I removed the pecans and feed the rest of it to people I don’t like. Pecans, yes! Sweet potatoes, no! What a misnomer. SWEET potatoes. That’s like adding sugar to lemons…wait a minute. OK, that’s lemonade. But my point remains that sweet potatoes are an insidious plot to sneak nutrients into our bodies. Bland texture, a rutabaga wannabe, close kin to squash – sweet potatoes make good doorstops. ‘Scuse me whilst I descend to the kitchen for another handful of pecans. I’m glad there are people out there who eat sweet potatoes and yams and all that stuff, otherwise we’d be tripping over their misshapen, rust-colored little bodies…the sweet potatoes and yams, I mean. Oh, I am bad.

Pom Pom said...

Yum! Sweet potatoes are an amazing veg! The sweet potatoes in Australia and New Zealand are different than ours. I'm not sure why. They were VERY tasty!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, whiteangel!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Lorrie, that sounds good! I've never grown zucchini because I'm afraid my lax style of gardening would have me leaving them on the vine until they were as big as my house!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Sully, yes, you are bad! I always enjoy your explanations of why you don't like certain foods. :D

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Pom Pom, I couldn't tell you -- I've never been to Australia or New Zealand. Interesting.

Swathi said...

I love this sweet potato puree, may be I will make without adding maple syrup as my hubby can also enjoy. Pinning and tweeting , thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Swathi! Much appreciated! (I don't need the maple syrup myself, I just put it in for my husband.)

Amy at love made my home said...

What a fantastic idea to combine these three wonderful ingredients!! This has to be very yummy indeed! xx

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Amy! It is a tasty combination I hope you'll try soon.

Unknown said...

We love sweet potatoes, and this flavor combination is a favorite. The crunch the pecans add is just perfect!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Mary! Pecans are so perfect with all kinds of things, sweet and savory!

Carlee said...

I love sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes and maple? Even better! I am not looking forward to winter, but I love fall and fall food!

Angie's Recipes said...

This looks definitely worth all the carbs! I would love some too.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Carlee, I don't think you've ever commented here before -- Welcome! And thank you!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Angie, I think it would go well with some of your dishes that are such clever ways with various grains!

Jan said...

I LOVE THIS! I am now ready for fall! I'd love for you to come share it with us over at Country Fair Blog Party, a once a month link up! We'd love to have you join us and share several of your posts with us!
http://www.thetipgarden.com/2015/08/country-fair-blog-hop-august-15.html
Jan @Tip Garden

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Jan, thank you so much! I'll do that!

Mocadeaux said...

I discovered you through our pal Katie at Preppy Empty Nester. Great recipes! I've already pinned a couple and look forward to lots more!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Mocadeaux! I look forward to checking out your site.

April J Harris said...

What a lovely way to serve sweet potatoes - and I like the idea of eating the leftovers for breakfast too! Funny, I only think of sweet potatoes in the autumn but prepared like this there is no reason not to enjoy them all year round! Sharing this post. Thank you for being a part of the Hearth and Soul hop, Jean.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

April, thank *you* -- much appreciated!

Maureen | Orgasmic Chef said...

You win the prize with these sweet potatoes. I can almost taste them. I've got a bag of sweet potatoes just waiting to go into this dish!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Oh, Maureen, thank you so much! Though I'm loving this dish cold this summer, you're having winter right now, aren't you?

Daniela said...

My sweet Jean,
it's not far too easy for us in Italy to find sweet potatoes, but I do promise, I'm going to look for them everywhere, I'm sure this recipe is very tasty and suited for our season, I'd love to try it !

Thank you darling friend,
love and hugs
Dany

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Dany, thank you! I know you will like sweet potatoes; ask your vegetable market, and I'm sure they can help you.

Miz Helen said...

We love Sweet Potatoes and your Puree looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you again soon.
Miz Helen

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Miz Helen, thank YOU!

Anonymous said...

This looks amazing!!! Thank you for linking up at the Creative K Kids’ Tasty Tuesdays! I have pinned your post to our Tasty Tuesdays Pinterest Board!! I hope to see you again next week! xo

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, K Kids! Much appreciated!

Laurie - Country Link said...

I am so glad you linked up to the Country Fair Blog Party! Thank you for joining in the on al of the fun.
Laurie - Co-Host

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Laurie!