Skip to main content

Smashed Sweet Potato and Carrot

Sweet potatoes and carrots are meant for each other, and meant for me.  I love this combo, especially slightly chunky.  For years I made this dish by pureeing the mixture, which is an elegant presentation for Thanksgiving.  This is more rustic for every day fare and a great high fiber, high vitamin side,


3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled, about 2-1/2 lb, diced 1-inch
2 large or 3 medium carrots, about 1-1/2 lb, peeled and sliced
2 Tbsp butter plus 1 Tbsp olive oil
About 1/8 tsp nutmeg, hopefully freshly grated
1/4 cup half and half (or milk)

Set a medium pot with 2 quarts well salted water to a boil for the potatoes.  Meanwhile sauté the carrots with the butter and oil in a skillet over heat. Keep carrots on medium-low heat while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
Add the potatoes to the pot of water and bring to a gentle boil.  Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 12-15 minutes, until potatoes are just barely softened. Watch carrots and stir regularly, to keep them softening and browning, but not burning.

Turn potatoes into a strainer and quickly return to their pot, still dripping wet is wonderful.

Tip carrots with butter and juices into the pot with the sweet potatoes.
Add the nutmeg and half and half, and mash manually, with a masher, until you get a coarsely mixed constituency you like.  This is not meant to be a smooth purée, but you may need to add some water to adjust the consistency to your taste.

Serves 4.

Cook's Note:  Here I actually used 1 potato and 2 sweet potatoes, because that is what I had on hand.  It was delicious!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Chicken Piccata over Squid Ink Pasta

Serve this delicious lemony piccata over your favorite pasta. 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2-inch thick cutlets 1/4 cup flour 1 lemon sliced and de-seeded  2 Tbsp butter plus 1 Tbsp olive oil 2 Tbsp capers 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup dry white wine crushed red pepper flakes, to taste 8 oz squid ink pasta fresh parsley for garnish Melt butter in the oil in a skillet.  Fry the lemon slices for a few minutes, just until beginning to brown.   Set aside on a plate.  Lightly salt and pepper each chicken breast.  Dredge the chicken in the flour and brown the first side of each in the butter mixture in the skillet.  Flip to brown second side.  Cook over low heat for a total of about 15 minutes.   Meanwhile, bring 2 quarts of well-salted water to a boil for the pasta.  Cook until just al dente. Remove chicken to a plate when cooked through. Add capers and garlic to skillet a...

Umami Beef Short Ribs Samin Nosrat

This is the penultimate prep for beef short ribs.  Based on the superb documentary by Samin Nosrat, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, this is the most umami rib dish you will ever have.  Its the combination of red miso and soy sauce that marinates and flavors the beef - give it a long time to work right - that means overnight in the fridge; it's worth the planning ahead. 6 beef short ribs on the bone, about 3-4 lb 1 large sweet yellow onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 jalapeño pepper, minced 4 cloves garlic, halved Marinade: 1/4 cup red miso 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup pale dry sherry or Mirin rice wine 1 Tbsp sesame oil 1 Tbsp honey 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt the ribs generously with coarse salt and let rest overnight in the refrigerator in a resealable plastic bag. Whisk together the marinade.   Pour into the plastic bag and allow to marinate on the counter for about 2-3 hours, or again overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat...

Chicken Quinoa Veggie Bowl

This is a satisfying high veggie, high protein, low fat dinner for those who need comfort and fitness all at the same time. Quinoa: 1 cup multicolor quinoa 2 cups good chicken broth 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes 1 tsp Ajika seasoning (I used Trader Joe’s - see notes) 1 Tbsp parsley, finely minced 1/4 tsp garlic powder 3 Kirby (Israeli, or miniature) cucumbers, sliced 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar (see notes) 1/4 cup cider vinegar Freshly ground pepper 12-14 grape tomatoes, sliced in thirds along their length 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, finely minced 2 Tbsp favorite vinaigrette dressing (see notes) Salad topping: 4 small Belgian endives, sliced 2 cups radicchio, torn into small pieces 2 cups arugula 2 Tbsp favorite vinaigrette dressing (see notes) 1.3 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch wide strips 1/2 Tbsp butter plus 1/2 Tbsp olive oil 8 oz sugar snap peas 1 yellow pepper, cored and sliced 1/4-inch 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 ripe avocado, halved, cored, peeled and sliced...