Regular potatoes are cool and all but sweet potatoes reign supreme during the holidays. There’s something about the vibrant vegetable that makes us want to sleep until noon and dodge questions about why we’re still single at the dinner table. ‘Tis the season!
On a culinary note, sweet potatoes have the unique ability to work as both a dessert and a side dish—the only difference between a sweet or savory option being a couple of spices. Plus, the vegetable provides you with nutritional benefits (vitamin a, c, biotin, and potassium are just some), on top of being ever so versatile.
All too often, those looking to incorporate sweet potato into their holiday lineup, though, fall back on pie. But, we know you’re so much better—and creative—than that. There’s nothing wrong with pie (actually… that’s a conversation for another day) but there are so many other options out there. You can saute it, fry it, roast it, mash it—the potato possibilities are plenty.
With that in mind, we provided you with some recipe alternatives ahead that you can whip up before or after Thanksgiving.
Spicy Roasted Sweet Potato Hummus
With Sabra crushing foodie dreams left and right by recalling its hummus, this recipe from Food Heaven Made Easy comes at the perfect time. It includes the usual hummus suspects like chickpeas, tahini sauce, and garlic, with the addition of sweet potato not only adding flavor but also extra nutrients. And with all of the gorging we plan on doing in a couple of days (holiday calories don’t count, right?), we could use a healthier option to balance things out.
We didn’t want to bring you your typical sweet potato fry recipe, because been there, done that. Instead, try your hand at the crunchier alternative: tater tots. Half Baked Harvest has a recipe that doesn’t require frying but does involve sweet potato chip crumbs and parmesan cheese, which is basically all you need to know.
This is a three-step option that requires very little effort on your part. So, basically, the culinary dream. After dousing the sweet potatoes with some spices, pop them in the oven, then top the side dish off with season-appropriate cranberries, almonds, and scallions.
You can do better than sweet potato pie. Hell, you can even do better than the other classic, sweet potato pecan casserole. These bite-size treats, courtesy of Delish, will wow your family, friends, significant other's family, best friend's family, whomever else you plan on spending the holiday with this year. Or, you can save the delectable dessert for yourself. We wouldn’t blame you. Holiday calories don’t count, right?
This isn’t your Aunt Barbara’s bundt cake. Don’t tell Barb, but it’s, dare we say, better. Or at least rivals it. Grab some brown sugar, spices, sour cream, applesauce, and other core ingredients. As A Latte Food puts it: “The best way to eat your vegetables is in a cake.”
