I am always amazed at how many “fun side dishes” for Thanksgiving require that the oven be used. I am sure this is not an issue for those with multiple ovens, but if you have one oven then it is probably full of a turkey all day so anything that needs to be cooked at something other than 325 degrees Fahrenheit is probably going to be an issue.
Which is why I love these mashed sweet potatoes. You can make them any day, but this recipe has special Thanksgiving instructions. You use the oven early in the day and the microwave later to rewarm the potatoes.
Ingredients
Enough sweet potatoes for your group. I use one potato per person unless they are large then I assume half a potato.
One full pink container of So Delicious or other coconut milk creamer in the original flavor (not vanilla or hazlenut)
Maple Syrup
Safe shortening (I like Earth Balance with coconut in the blue tub, but Spectrum Organics and regular Earth Balance Organics will also work)
Salt
Equipment
Large jelly roll pan preferably not nonstick
Silpat or parchment paper to line jelly roll pan.
Fork to prick potatoes
Potato Masher
Knife to cut open potatoes
Spoon to scoop flesh out of potatoes
Instructions
The night before wash all of the sweet potatoes you plan to use the following day. You can cook as many as you can fit in one even layer on the jelly roll pan.
Lay potatoes on the jelly roll pan and leave them on top of the stove so you don’t forget to bake them in the morning. (this is optional. I am just not a morning person)
Wake up, then preheat oven to 400 degrees
While oven is heating, prick potatoes all over with a fork or a paring knife so they won’t explode then put potatoes in oven.
While potatoes bake you can shower, feed the kids breakfast, make the stuffing, rinse and prepare the turkey and stuff it. That usually takes me at least an hour. The potatoes may take up to 90 minutes.
You will know that they are done when they are mushy, collapsed and leaking sticky liquid. Remove them from the oven. Allow the to cool on the countertop for at least an hour (longer is fine) while the turkey cooks.
When they are cool, slice them open and scoop out the flesh and put it in a large bowl
Mash the potatoes and add unflavored (or hazelnut if you can tolerate it) coconut creamer and / or butter flavor shortening and / or maple syrup.
Add at least 1/4 tsp of salt.
Note that the additions are all to taste. Sweet Potatoes vary in color and flavor. Some are so sweet that the maple syrup would be cloying. The key is adding a little and mashing it in and then tasting to see if it needs more richness (creamer / shortening) or sweetness (syrup).
When the turkey is resting, microwave for two minutes, stir and repeat until potatoes are reheated through.
Serve
