Easy Sweet Potato Casserole

We tend to think that sweet potato casserole is a Thanksgiving thing, well, yes, it is a Thanksgiving thing, But, it’s just as delicious on April 12th as November 24th. This particular sweet potato casserole is called easy sweet potato casserole because one evening at a friends house I was handed a couple of sweet potatoes and told to make something. Then a bag of mini marshmallows showed up, and this version of easy sweet potato casserole was created. It is delicious

Being English, I didn’t grow up with sweet potatoes, Mum used to call them yams. Even here in the States, there is some confusion, and in certain cases sweet potatoes are called yams. However there is a difference.

A yam is a vine native to to temperate climates of West Africa, Asia and South America. The plant can grow to 15 feet high and into the ground about 4-5 feet. The plant develops edible tubers in the roots weighing 10-20 pounds that can be harvested. It is sold in some stores a as a Name Yam. A sweet potato is native to central and south America, and is not related to the yam. The tubers are much smaller, they are sweeter to taste than yams. I’m glad I got that out of the way.

I love to steam my vegetables, they cook soft and tender, but don’t leave their flavor in the cooking water. Speaking of cooking water, sweet potatoes are packed with goodness, steaming leaves all that in the sweet potato. Take a couple of large sweet potatoes, wash them really well. Anything you steam has to be clean, any dirt and contaminants end up in the steam water and can permeate the potato. I have a simple steamer basket that sits in my 5qt soup pot, but there are other types too.

If needed cut the sweet potatoes in two so they’ll fit. Now add as much water as your pot will allow, they’ll cook for about 30 mins till tender. Now set the heat to high and wait 1/2 hour, stick with a fork to check for doneness, if needed cook a little longer. Also, monitor the steam coming from the pot, if you don’t see any, you’re out of water. Be very careful with this, using oven gloves, remove from the heat, remove the lid, add some more water, cover and put back on the heat.

When the sweet potatoes are done, put them in the casserole dish and remove the skins with a fork, they scrape off really easy. Just hold the sweet potato with a fork and scrape the skin back this works especially well when they’re hot. Now add the spices and mix really well. Smooth out the top and add the mini marshmallows, I like a really thick layer

Now place the whole thing in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10-15 mins, or till the marshmallows have a little char. When done, remove and allow to cool 10 mins and serve your easy sweet potato casserole. Thank you for reading and enjoy