Embark on a culinary adventure with our delightful Sweet Potato Macaroni and Cheese, a harmonious blend of creamy indulgence and nutritional goodness. This delectable dish tantalizes taste buds with a velvety sauce, tender macaroni, and the natural sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes. Dive into a symphony of flavors as you explore a collection of enticing recipes, catering to diverse dietary preferences.
From the classic rendition, featuring a luscious cheese sauce and a crispy breadcrumb topping, to the vegan variation, crafted with plant-based ingredients, each recipe promises a unique gustatory experience. Discover the secrets of creating a gluten-free masterpiece, ensuring that everyone can relish in this comforting dish. Elevate your culinary skills with our comprehensive guide, offering step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and insightful variations. Indulge in the ultimate comfort food while nourishing your body with wholesome ingredients.
SWEET POTATO MAC & CHEESE
Fiber-rich sweet potato is used as the base for the cheese sauce in this healthy, homemade macaroni and cheese recipe. The bright orange color tricks your eyes into thinking this healthy macaroni and cheese recipe is loaded with cheese, but there's actually only about half as much cheese as compared to a traditional recipe.
Provided by EatingWell Test Kitchen
Categories Healthy Macaroni & Cheese Recipes
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Position a rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler. Coat a 2-quart broiler-safe baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling water until just tender, 7 to 9 minutes. Drain; set aside.
- Meanwhile, prick sweet potato with a fork in several places. Microwave on High until tender all the way to the center, 7 to 10 minutes.
- Whisk milk, flour and garlic in a large saucepan. Heat over medium heat, whisking frequently, until steaming and hot, but not boiling. Remove from heat.
- As soon as the sweet potato is cool enough to handle, cut open and scoop the flesh into the steaming milk. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth. (Alternatively, transfer to a blender and puree just until smooth, then return to the pot; use caution when pureeing hot liquids.)
- Add cheese, mustard, salt and pepper and stir until the cheese melts. Add the pasta and peas to the sauce and stir to coat. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Combine breadcrumbs and oil and sprinkle on the pasta. Broil on the upper rack until the top is lightly browned and crispy, 1 to 2 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 480.6 calories, Carbohydrate 68 g, Cholesterol 38.5 mg, Fat 14.2 g, Fiber 9.8 g, Protein 23.9 g, SaturatedFat 7.3 g, Sodium 518.8 mg, Sugar 12.6 g
SWEET POTATO MACARONI CHEESE
I'm just going to say it: this is the best macaroni cheese I've ever eaten. I don't feel it's boastful to say as much, as the greatness lies not in any brilliance on my part, but in the simple tastes of the ingredients as they fuse in the heat. That's home cooking for you. I do rather love the way these little macaroni cheeses, with their pixie-penne, look like they've been made with artificially coloured, cheap squeezy cheese or out of a box, when in fact their exotic glow comes courtesy of the earthy goodness of a sweet potato. For US cup measures, use the toggle at the top of the ingredients list.
Provided by Nigella
Yield Serves: 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/gas mark 6/400°F. Put on a large-ish pan of water to boil, with the lid on to make it come to the boil faster. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them roughly into 2-3cm/1inch pieces. When the water's boiling, add salt to taste, and then the sweet potato pieces, and cook them for about 10 minutes or until they are soft. Scoop them out of the water into a bowl - using a "spider" or slotted spoon - and lightly mash with a fork, without turning them into a purée. Don't get rid of this water, as you will need it to cook your pasta in later. In another saucepan, gently melt the butter and add the flour, whisking to form a roux, then take the pan off the heat, slowly whisk in the milk and, when it's all combined and smooth, put back on the heat. Exchange your whisk for a wooden spoon, and continue to stir until your gently bubbling sauce has lost any floury taste and has thickened. Add the mustard and the ¼ teaspoon of paprika. Season to taste, but do remember that you will be adding Cheddar and salty feta later, so underdo it for now. Cook the pennette in the sweet-potato water, starting to check 2 minutes earlier than packet instructions dictate, as you want to make sure it doesn't lose its bite entirely. Drain (reserving some of the pasta cooking water first) and then add the pennette to the mashed sweet potato, and fold in to combine; the heat of the pasta will make the mash easier to mix in. Add the feta cheese to the sweet potato and pasta mixture, crumbling it in so that it is easier to disperse evenly, then fold in the white sauce, adding the 125g/1¼ cups grated Cheddar as you go. Add some of the pasta cooking water, should you feel it needs loosening up at all. Check for seasoning again, then, when you're happy, spoon the brightly sauced macaroni cheese into 4 small ovenproof dishes of approx. 375-425ml/1½-1¾ cup capacity (or 1 large rectangular dish measuring approx. 30 x 20 x 5cm/12 x 8 x 2 inches deep and 1.6 litre/6½-cup capacity). Sprinkle the remaining Cheddar over each one, dust with the remaining ¼ teaspoon of paprika, then shred the sage leaves and scatter the skinny green ribbons over the top, too. Put the pots on a baking tray, pop into the oven and bake for 20 minutes (or, if you're making this in a larger dish, bake for 30-35 minutes), by which time they will be piping hot and bubbling, and begging you to eat them.
SWEET POTATO MACARONI AND CHEESE
Mac and cheese from Nigella Lawson's Simply Nigella.
Provided by Nigella Lawson
Categories cookbooks Macaroni and Cheese Cheese Sweet Potato/Yam Vegetarian
Yield Serves 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Put on a large-ish pan of water to boil, with the lid on to make it come to a boil faster.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them roughly into 1 inch pieces. When the water's boiling, add salt to taste, and then the sweet potato pieces, and cook them for about 10 minutes or until they are soft. Scoop them out of the water into a bowl-using a "spider" or slotted spoon-and lightly mash with a fork, without turning them into a purée. Don't get rid of this water, as you will need it to cook your pasta in later.
- In another saucepan, gently melt the butter and add the flour, whisking to form a roux, then take the pan off the heat, slowly whisk in the milk and, when it's all combined and smooth, put back on the heat. Exchange your whisk for a wooden spoon, and continue to stir until your gently bubbling sauce has lost any floury taste and has thickened. Add the mustard and ¼ teaspoon of the paprika. Season to taste, but do remember that you will be adding Cheddar and salty feta later, so underdo it for now.
- Cook the pennette in the sweet-potato water, starting to check 2 minutes earlier than packet instructions dictate, as you want to make sure it doesn't lose its bite entirely. Drain (reserving some of the pasta cooking water first) and then add the pennette to the mashed sweet potato, and fold in to combine; the heat of the pasta will make the mash easier to mix in.
- Add the feta cheese to the sweet potato and pasta mixture, crumbling it in so that it is easier to disperse evenly, then fold in the white sauce, adding 1 1/4 cups grated Cheddar as you go. Add some of the pasta cooking water, should you feel it needs loosening up at all.
- Check for seasoning again, then, when you're happy, spoon the brightly sauced macaroni cheese into 4 small ovenproof dishes of approx. 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cup capacity (or 1 large rectangular dish measuring approx. 12x8x2 inches deep and 6 1/2 cup capacity). Sprinkle the remaining Cheddar over each one, dust with the remaining ¼ teaspoon of paprika, then shred the sage leaves and scatter the skinny green ribbons over the top, too.
- Put the pots on a baking tray, pop into the oven and bake for 20 minutes (or, if you're making this in a larger dish, bake for 30-35 minutes), by which time they will be piping hot and bubbling, and begging you to eat them.
Tips:
- Choose the right sweet potatoes: Look for sweet potatoes that are firm and have smooth, unblemished skin. Avoid any potatoes that are soft or have bruises.
- Cook the sweet potatoes properly: For best results, bake the sweet potatoes until they are tender and easily pierced with a fork. This will ensure that they are creamy and flavorful in the macaroni and cheese.
- Use a good quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will have a big impact on the flavor of the macaroni and cheese. Choose a cheese that melts well and has a sharp flavor, such as cheddar or Gruyère.
- Don't overcook the macaroni: The macaroni should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. This will prevent it from becoming mushy in the macaroni and cheese.
- Season the macaroni and cheese well: Don't be afraid to season the macaroni and cheese with salt, pepper, and other spices. This will help to bring out the flavors of the dish.
Conclusion:
Sweet potato macaroni and cheese is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is a great way to use up leftover sweet potatoes, and it is also a healthier alternative to traditional macaroni and cheese. With its creamy texture and sweet potato flavor, this dish is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.
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