Friendsgiving Sweet Potato Casserole

Friendsgiving Sweet Potato Casserole

Geoffrey Zakarian

Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced thick
  • 8 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 vanilla bean, split
  • 2 allspice berries
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 banana
  • 1 piece star anise
  • 1 orange, quartered
  • 3 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 3 cups mini marshmallows

Preparation

(Hint: use a Dutch oven or cast iron pan)

Fill your Dutch oven or pot with salted water and cook the sweet potatoes in boiling water until very soft, about 20 minutes.

Drain the potatoes, then cover and keep warm.

Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in the Dutch oven or cast iron pan.

Add the vanilla bean, allspice, cinnamon and star anise. Toast the spices, stirring occasionally, until they are fragrant, about 3 minutes.

Add the orange quarters and banana slices, raising the heat to medium high, and cook, turning the ingredients regularly until they brown slightly, about 2 minutes per side.

Add the maple syrup to the pan, lower the heat and simmer for a few minutes.

Remove from heat and set aside to allow the flavors to meld for about 30 minutes.

Squeeze the juice from the orange quarters into the syrup mixture, and discard the peels. Remove and discard the spices carefully, making sure not to lose any of the syrup.

Puree the cooked sweet potatoes in a food processor, slowly adding the cream and the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter.

Add the banana mixture and puree until fully incorporated. Season to taste with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.

Spread the sweet potato puree in the lid of the Dutch oven or the cast iron pan.

Sprinkle with mini marshmallows and cook until marshmallows are golden brown and melted, about 20 minutes.

Cook's Notes

Wouldn’t this make a fantastic side dish for your Friendsgiving table? It pairs really well with turkey and can be prepared up to two days in advance. Just refrigerate after placing the sweet potato mixture in the pan. The day of, top with marshmallows and cook until toasty and heated through, about 30 minutes.

Print Recipe