Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onion and Pancetta

Submitted by TishT

"I thought I had Thanksgiving all figured out until I ran into this recipe. More savory than sweet it might be just the thing to complete that turkey dinner!"

 

• Ready In: 40hrs 15mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 2 lbs bright-orange sweet potatoes, peeled,cut into 2 inch pieces (about 3 medium)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 ounces pancetta, finely diced
• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1⁄4 cup mascarpone cheese or 1/4 cup cream cheese (2 oz)
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

directions

1. Boil sweet potatoes in large saucepan of boiling salted water over medium-high heat 15-20 minutes or until very tender.
2. Drain sweet potatoes; return to saucepan.
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium heat until hot.
4. Add pancetta; cook 2-3 minutes or until pancetta begins to brown.
5. Add onion; cook 15-20 minutes or until onions are caramelized, stirring frequently.
6. Adjust heat, if necessary, to prevent onions from browning too quickly.
7. Add vinegar; stir, scraping up browned bits from bottom of skillet.
8. Over very low heat, mash sweet potatoes.
9. Add mascarpone, salt and pepper.
10. Stir in onion mixture.
11. *Noteyou can use bacon if you don't have pancetta available.
12. Just cook the bacon in a medium pot of boiling water 1 minute.
13. Drain and rinse until cool.
14. Blanching helps remove some of the smoky flavor from the bacon.

Reviews

[Marmish]

My husband doesn't like the traditional sweet potato casserole with brown sugar and marshmallows, so I was going to make a small dish for myself. Then I found this more savory-than-sweet recipe. He enjoyed them, our guests and I loved them! I used regular bacon instead of pancetta. I also did the onions overnight in the crockpot (did a lot for another recipe). We definitely will make this again for the holidays.

 

[Andrea Borden]

This is an excellent alternative to the ultra sweet dishes that usually are made of sweet potatoes. It is unusual and I hope it will be a hit at my Thanksgiving meal.

 

[JanthePan]

I made this last year, and we enjoyed it so much that I served it again at yesterday's Christmas dinner. I love the flavors and wouldn't change a thing!

 

[HeidiRenee]

Finally! A savory sweet potato recipe - thank you! I made this last year and got rave reviews for Canadian Thanksgiving and forgot to review it - so I'm back today to give 5 stars and make it again. So good!

 

[PaulO in MA]

I made this yesterday for Thanksgiving, and everybody thought it was great! I also used regular bacon, as Marmish posted. Thank you.