Sandra This Alton Brown Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes recipe is a smoky and creamy side dish, which calls for spicy chipotle peppers in adobo and rich maple syrup. It’s a bold holiday alternative, ready in about 2 hours.
Alton Brown Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes Ingredients
- 4 lbs sweet potatoes (approx. 6 medium potatoes)
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp minced chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (include seeds for heat)
- 1 tbsp adobo sauce (from the can of chiles)
- ¼ cup pure Grade A maple syrup
- 4 tbsp (½ stick) unsalted butter, diced
- 1 tbsp kosher salt (plus more for finishing)
- Freshly ground black pepper
How To Make Alton Brown Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes
- Roast the potatoes: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Place the whole sweet potatoes on the pan. Pierce each potato 4 times with a small knife to allow steam to escape. Roast for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are very tender when pierced with a knife.
- Cool and peel: Remove the potatoes from the oven but leave the oven on. Let the potatoes sit until they are cool enough to handle comfortably. Peel the skins off (they should slip off easily) and discard them. Place the potato flesh into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
- Infuse the dairy: While the potatoes cool, combine the milk, heavy cream, minced chipotle chiles, and adobo sauce in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower the heat and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Note: The mixture might look slightly curdled due to the acidity of the peppers; this is normal and will smooth out when mixed with the potatoes.
- Mash and mix: Turn the mixer on low speed to begin breaking up the potatoes. Slowly pour in the hot chipotle-milk mixture. Add the maple syrup, diced butter, and the 1 tablespoon of salt.
- Texture check: Increase the speed slightly and mix until the potatoes are coarsely puréed. You want them smooth but with a little texture, not gluey.
- Bake: Pour the potato mixture into a 9×12-inch oval baking dish (or a standard 9×13 rectangular dish). Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is hot and bubbling.
- Serve: Remove from the oven. Sprinkle generously with freshly ground black pepper and a little extra salt if needed. Serve hot.
Recipe Tips
- Heat control: The level of spice depends on the chipotles. For a milder dish, scrape the seeds out of the chipotle pepper before mincing. For more heat, add an extra teaspoon of adobo sauce.
- Why roast? Roasting the sweet potatoes whole in their skins concentrates their natural sugars and prevents them from becoming waterlogged, which often happens when boiling them.
- Make Ahead: You can roast the potatoes and mash them with the dairy mixture a day in advance. Store in the baking dish in the fridge, covered. Bake for 45–50 minutes from cold.
- Syrup quality: Use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup. The smoky notes of real maple pair perfectly with the chipotle.
What To Serve With Alton Brown Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes
This side dish is bold enough to stand up to heavy meats.
- Roast Turkey: A spicy alternative to candied yams.
- Smoked Ham: The chipotle smokiness mirrors the ham.
- Pork Chops: Sweet potatoes and pork are a classic combo.
- Steak: A great steakhouse-style side.
How To Store Alton Brown Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Mashed sweet potatoes freeze very well. Freeze in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Reheat: Reheat in the microwave or in a 350°F oven covered with foil.
Alton Brown Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 320kcal
- Protein: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fat: 14g
- Saturates: 8g
- Sugar: 18g
- Salt: 1.2g
Nutrition information is estimated per serving (based on 8 servings).
FAQs
Can I use canned sweet potatoes?
It is not recommended. Canned sweet potatoes are often packed in syrup and have a softer, wetter texture that won’t hold up well to the heavy cream and milk mixture.
Can I mash by hand?
Yes, if you don’t have a stand mixer, use a potato masher. Do not use a food processor, as it will make the potatoes gummy.
Is adobo sauce spicy?
Yes, it is a sauce made from ground chilies, vinegar, and spices. It provides a deep, lingering heat.
Alton Brown Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Description
A smoky, savory take on sweet potato casserole featuring roasted sweet potatoes whipped with heavy cream, maple syrup, and spicy chipotle peppers.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Roast pierced sweet potatoes at 350°F for 1 hour.
- Cool, peel, and place flesh in mixer.
- Simmer milk, cream, chipotle, and adobo for 5 minutes.
- Mix dairy, maple syrup, butter, and salt into potatoes.
- Spread into baking dish.
- Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
- Season with pepper and serve.
Notes
- Simmering the chipotle and adobo sauce in the dairy allows the heat and smokiness to infuse the liquid thoroughly, ensuring the flavor is evenly distributed throughout the mashed potatoes.
- Don’t be alarmed if the milk mixture curdles slightly when you add the peppers; the acidity reacts with the dairy, but it will disappear completely once mashed into the starchy potatoes.
- Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment creates a “smashed” texture that is fluffy but still retains some rustic lumps, rather than a perfectly smooth puree.
Alton Brown Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
