रविवार, 19 सितंबर 2021

Smashed Sweet Potatoes (2 Ways! Sweet AND Savory)

Smashed sweet potatoes are crispy on the outside and soft and smooth on the inside! They can be cooked to taste sweet OR savory and they both have a mouthwatering taste that is divine! You will love every single bite!

I love how simple and easy smashed potatoes are! Anyone can make them and once you do, you will definitely come back for more! If you like these, go ahead and try a few of my other favorite tried and true potato recipes like Potato Wedges, Mashed Potato Balls, and this amazing Sweet Potato Pie!

Sweet potatoes on a tray.

Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Not to be confused with MASHED potatoes, these sweet potatoes are being SMASHED. And to be honest, they are the absolute best! So move over mashed sweet potatoes, a new recipe has come to town! They are seriously so simple to make and are the best appetizer or side dish. This recipe includes a few different ways to make them: sweet or savory. I wanted to include both because they both have incredible tastes that are very different! And also… we all love to have options on how to mix things up! Because I know that you will absolutely love this recipe, you will need a few varieties so that you can cook it more often!

All you need to make this is some sweet potatoes and a few different ingredients! Cooking them up takes no time at all and you can add them to just about any meal! I especially love sweet potatoes with a French Dip Sandwich, a delicious salad, and this one-of-a-kind lemonade! Or, if you are hosting a party, this makes a fantastic appetizer! It’s a food that everyone will love so it’s an easy choice to make it! My kids request it ALL the time. So go ahead and give it a try! Once you do, you will be finding every excuse to make it again and again!

Ingredients for Sweet AND Savory

Whether sweet or savory is your jam, I’ve got you covered! So, pick whichever smashed sweet potato that you like (or make both kinds!) and you will be licking your lips afterward in satisfaction! See the recipe card below for a list of exact measurements.

  • Sweet potatoes: Pick out large sized sweet potatoes for this recipe.

Savory

  • Butter: You will want to get unsalted butter for these sweet potatoes!
  • Garlic clove: If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves, you can use minced garlic. ½ tsp equals 1 clove of garlic.
  • Italian seasoning: I highly recommend using this homemade Italian seasoning. It’s easy and will take any recipe to the next level!
  • Salt and pepper: Sprinkle these on to taste.

Sweet

  • Butter: Use unsalted butter if you can!
  • Honey: This creates that sweet flavor without needing to use sugar.
  • Cinnamon: The cinnamon creates that classic sweet potato taste that we all know and love!
  • Marshmallows: These are a MUST for this recipe! Like a cherry on top!

How to Make Sweet Potatoes Smashed

If you have 30 minutes, then you definitely have the time to make this delicious recipe! These smashed sweet potatoes are SOO easy and worth every bit of effort!

  1. Prep: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Slice: Slice the sweet potatoes ⅗ inch thick and lay in an evenly layer on the baking sheet.
  3. Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes or until fork tender. Remove from the oven.
  4. Smash: Smash the sweet potatoes with a fork.

If you are making them savory

  1. Mix and pour: Combine the butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Pour evenly onto the sweet potatoes.

If you are making them sweet

  1. Mix and pour: In a small bowl combine the butter, honey, and cinnamon. Pour evenly over the sweet potatoes and top with marshmallows.
  2. Broil: Broil for 5 minutes or until crisp on top.
4 pictures showing step by step instructions on how to make smashed sweet potatoes.

How to Pick Sweet Potatoes

For this recipe to be a success, you need to know how to start with the best ingredients! So, in case you haven’t picked out sweet potatoes before, here are some helpful hints to picking them out! It will help make this smashed sweet potatoes recipe the best!

  • Texture: Look for a sweet potato that is smooth and firm. You don’t want it to have any cuts or cracks in it!
  • Color: A sweet potato that will deliver that classic, delicious taste is going to be red or orange in color.
  • Size: For this recipe, because you are going to be slicing them, you want the sweet potatoes to be larger! That way your slices aren’t too tiny!
Smashed sweet potatoes that are savory and sweet.

How to Store Sweet Potatoes

If you have leftovers with these smashed sweet potatoes, make sure to store them right so that you can enjoy them later! Because storing leftovers correctly is important, I’ve come up with a few tips on how to do it!

  • Refrigerator: After they have cooled, store the smashes sweet potatoes in an airtight container and put it in your fridge. They will last up to 4 days!
  • Reheat: To reheat them, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then, take them directly out of your fridge and place them on a cookie sheet. Once you have done that then you will put them in the oven and bake them for 15-20 minutes until they have reached 165 degrees.
Close up of a sweet smashed sweet potato.
Print

Smashed Sweet Potatoes (2 Ways! Sweet AND Savory)

Smashed sweet potatoes are crispy on the outside and soft and smooth on the inside! They can be cooked to taste sweet OR savory and they both have a mouthwatering taste that is divine! You will love every single bite! 
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword smashed sweet potatoes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 419kcal
Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

  • 3 large sweet potatoes

Savory:

  • 3 Tablespoons butter melted
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper

Sweet:

  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup marshmallows

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
  • Slice the sweet potatoes ⅗ inch thick and lay them in an even layer on the baking sheet.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until fork tender. Remove from the oven.
  • Smash the sweet potatoes with a fork.

If you are making them savory:

  • Combine the butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Pour evenly onto the sweet potatoes.

If you are making them sweet:

  • In a small bowl combine the butter, honey, and cinnamon. Pour evenly over the sweet potatoes and top with marshmallows.
  • Broil for 5 minutes or until crisp on top.

Nutrition

Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 878mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 36711IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 2mg


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Creamy Zucchini Soup

This zucchini soup has an amazing savory flavor, fresh vegetables, and is topped with the perfect drizzle of cream. Healthy and hearty, each spoonful will have you hooked with its silky-smooth goodness!

Nothing warms the soul quite as well as a bowl of homemade soup. My asparagus, mushroom, and butternut squash bisque are more tried and true soups ready to ring in cooler temperatures! Without a doubt, you’ll love them all!

2 bowls of zucchini soup drizzled with cream.

Zucchini Soup Recipe

Zucchini dishes have been on repeat at my house this summer. I have loved having it on hand! It can upgrade any meal and add a healthy touch. Zucchini gratin, lasagna, and zoodles are just a few of my favorites. But now that nights have been cooling down, I can feel myself going into full soup mode. This creamy zucchini soup has been the best comfort food, and even with cream added, it is a low-calorie meal! For these reasons, I have been using up all of my leftover zucchini and making big batches of zucchini soup to eat and store. It heats up beautifully! Perfect for busy nights when you don’t know what to make.

And the best part of it all? Creamy zucchini soup only needs a handful of super simple ingredients to make. When boiled down, zucchini is irresistibly creamy on its own. Because of this, you can even make a dairy-free variety and omit the cream! I think adding a pop of cream, butter, or even olive oil just gives it a little extra indulgence. Whatever route you choose, the end result is going to be rich, creamy heaven. The Italian seasoning and fresh taste of zucchini in this soup really make it shine. I know you will be obsessed with this soup like I am! It is the perfect, tasty dish to transition from summer to fall. Let’s get cooking!

Ingredients for Easy Zucchini Soup

This recipe uses the most simple of ingredients. The great thing is, it can easily be customized! You can add additional vegetables or even meat to craft the zucchini soup of your dreams. There are also dairy-free and vegetarian varieties, making this a dish for everyone! Your family will love it. Individual measurements can be found in the recipe card below!

  • Zucchini: Small or medium-sized zucchini work best in this recipe. You’ll want them cut down into quarter pieces.
  • Onion: You’ll need one small onion, also cut into quarter pieces. I recommend using yellow or sweet onions here. They give soups a hint of sharp flavor with a hint of sweetness!
  • Chicken Broth: This is the savory base of your soup. You can also use vegetable broth as a vegetarian substitute!
  • Italian Seasoning: This is my personal blend of basil, oregano, rosemary, marjoran, and thyme. I love making this at home to personalize my blend! It works in so many different recipes. Anything from potatoes, chicken, to vegetables, and more! You’ll love it!
  • Parmesan: Parmesan adds a delicious sharp flavor with a hint of nuttiness. Cheese makes everything better!
  • Heavy Cream: For a little extra richness, drizzle heavy cream into your soup.
  • Salt and Pepper: Add to taste. Salt and pepper will help to enhance the overall flavor of your zucchini soup.

How to Make the Best Zucchini Soup

This recipe is great for using up leftover zucchini and any meat and veggies you may have in your fridge! It is beyond easy and ends up creamy and delicious every time! Honestly, this recipe is so good it’s the kind of thing you’ll want to make all year long.

  1. Cook Vegetables and Broth Together: Let’s start! First, in a large pot, add the zucchini and onion. Next, add the chicken broth Italian seasoning and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the onion and zucchini is tender.
  2. Blend and Serve: Using a blender or immersion blender, blend until the soup is smooth and creamy. Then, add in the parmesan cheese and heavy cream and stir until heated through. Finally, salt and pepper to taste and serve.
Process shots of adding vegetables, broth, and spices to a large pot and blending.

Zucchini Soup Tips and Information

Here are some tips and tricks for making the most delicious zucchini soup possible! With how healthy, easy, and absolutely delicious it is, your family won’t be able to get enough!

  • Extra Ingredients: This soup is so versatile! You can add basically anything you’d like, but a few of my suggestions are sliced carrots, potatoes, chopped bell peppers, and a protein of your choice.
  • Additional Flavors: For extra richness, you can add butter and/or a drizzle of olive oil to your soup. You can also customize the flavor to your liking by adding more Italian seasoning and fresh herbs. For a little heat, sprinkle in some ground cayenne pepper!
  • Zucchini Sizing: I recommend picking zucchini that is on the smaller size. The bigger your zucchini is, the more likely it is to be seedy. Larger zucchini also has tough skin. So if you are making soup with a big zucchini, peel it first for best results.
  • Benefits: In addition to being absolutely delicious, zucchini is a super healthy veggie! It’s rich in vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and is heart-healthy! Zucchini is also full of water to help hydrate and aid your digestive system. Another reason why this soup is the best!

My Favorite Soup Sides

We all love a good soup, but what about the bread for dipping? Whether you choose crostini, toast, breadsticks, crackers, or a roll, these sides add delicious texture and a fun element to the experience of eating soup. Once you try some of these mouthwatering sides, you’ll never eat soup by itself again!

Scooping creamy zucchini soup with a ladle.

Storing Leftover Cream of Zucchini Soup

This soup is perfect for storing. It refrigerates well and also freezes, giving you a quick and delicious option for dinners!

  • In the Refrigerator: Store soup in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • In the Freezer: You can store your soup in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. Some separation may occur, so give it a good stir before serving.
  • Reheating: My favorite way to reheat this soup is on the stove over medium heat. I just stir it occasionally until it is completely warmed through. You can also pop it in the microwave! I like to start at 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds, and then add additional time until it is completely warm. The more soup you are reheating, the longer this process will take.
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Creamy Zucchini Soup

This zucchini soup has an amazing savory flavor, fresh vegetables, and is topped with the perfect drizzle of cream. Healthy and hearty, each spoonful will have you hooked with its silky-smooth goodness!
Course Dinner, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American
Keyword zucchini soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 332kcal
Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds zucchini quartered
  • 1 small onion quartered
  • 4 cups chicken broth vegetable also works
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 cup parmesan grated
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a large pot add the zucchini and onion. Add the chicken broth Italian seasoning and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the onion and zucchini are tender.
  • Using a blender or immersion blender blend until the soup is smooth and creamy. Add in the parmesan cheese and heavy cream and stir until heated through. Salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 1111mg | Potassium: 1164mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1666IU | Vitamin C: 79mg | Calcium: 267mg | Iron: 2mg


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शनिवार, 18 सितंबर 2021

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips

Air fryer sweet potato chips are the most delicious, crunchy snack! They are SOO good and much healthier than the store-bought version! This homemade favorite is something you can munch on all day long!

I love a snack that is sweet AND savory. These chips satisfy that craving and are one of my favorite ways to eat sweet potatoes! A few more snacks that you can make to munch on at home are these Ranch Pretzels, Baked Zucchini Fries, and my personal favorite, Green Tomatoes!

Air fryer sweet potato chips in a bowl.

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips

The name of this recipe just SOUNDS delicious to me! Any recipe that can make my mouth water before I even cook it is a winner in my book! So, if you love sweet potatoes and are looking for a new way to cook them up, you’ve come to the right place. These air fryer sweet potato chips are absolutely delicious! They are crunchy and salty and best yet… EASY to make! All you have to do is slice them up, season them through, and pop them in the air fryer. This makes it so easy and you will have a scrumptious snack ready to go in under 30 minutes! And if you love these, you should try these other potato chips or french fries in the air fryer too!

Air fryer sweet potato chips are as yummy as they sound! Plus… they are healthy! You can buy these at the store but they won’t be as healthy or fresh as these ones. So save yourself some money and make up a big batch of these next time the craving hits! Cooking them in an air fryer also allows you to get the benefit of “fried” foods without all of the oil and grease! In fact, it’s one of my all-time favorite ways to bake up normally fried recipes. I get the delicious taste without the guilt! So go ahead and try these out, I’m sure that you will agree they are a winner!

Ingredients in Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips

Well, this one is about as easy as it gets! All you need is 3 (yep you read that right… 3!), ingredients and you will be snacking on these in no time! See the recipe card below for a list of exact measurements.

  • Sweet potatoes: Choose medium sized sweet potatoes when you are picking these out!
  • Olive oil: Just a small amount is needed!
  • Salt: This will give you that salty, chip flavor!

Let’s (Air) Fry Up Some Chips!

Before you begin, you will want to make sure that you have a mandolin slicer ready to go! This will give you those thin, potato chip slices that you need for this recipe!

  1. Slice: Using a mandolin slicer, slice the sweet potatoes into very thin slices.
  2. Soak: Soak the sweet potato slices in cold water for 20 minutes to remove the additional starch from the potatoes.
  3. Dry: Remove them from the water and pat dry with a paper towel.
  4. Sprinkle and toss: Toss the air fryer slices in the olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
  5. Cook: Lay the slices in an even layer in the air fryer. Cook at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until crisp.
  6. Remove and repeat: Remove from the air fryer and repeat until all of the sweet potato slices are used.
4 images showing how to slice and season sweet potatoes.

Air Fryer Tips

If you are new to using an air fryer, here are some tips for you! These will help your food turn out just perfectly. And really, once you get the hang of it, you will never go back!

  • Preheat your air fyer: To get the most evenly cooked food, you should preheat your air fryer. Some air fryers have a specific preheat button. If yours doesn’t, then go ahead and set it at the cooking temperature for your recipe for 3 minutes before you put food in it!
  • Don’t overlap: It’s best to cook in layers in the air fryer! If you do then your food will turn out better! Make sure that you don’t overcrowd the basket and that your food doesn’t overlap. Placing too much food in the basket doesn’t allow it to cook properly. It will end up soggy and not crispy!
  • Don’t forget to flip: In *most* air fryer recipes, you are going to want to take the basket out and flip or shake the food halfway through cooking. You do this because this will help you get you the most even crisp on all of your food!
A close up of sweet potato chips.

How to Store Leftovers

The best part about air fryer sweet potato chips is that (just like normal potato chips) is that you can enjoy them for a few weeks after! So go ahead and double or triple this recipe and cook up a bunch at once! You will be so happy that you did!

  • Room temperature: Once you are done eating your sweet potato chips, you can save them for later! Store them in a plastic ziplock bag or airtight container. You can store them in your pantry out on your counter for up to 2 weeks!
Print

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips

Air fryer sweet potato chips are the most delicious, crunchy snack! They are SOO good and much healthier than the store-bought version! This homemade favorite is something you can munch on all day long!
Course Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword air fryer sweet potato chips, sweet potato chips
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 106kcal
Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

  • 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • salt

Instructions

  • Using a mandolin slicer, slice the sweet potatoes into very thin slices.
  • Soak the sweet potato slices in cold water for 20 minutes to remove the additional starch from the potatoes.
  • Remove them from the water and pat dry with a paper towel.
  • Toss the air fryer slices in the olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
  • Lay the slices in an even layer in the air fryer. Cook at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until crisp.
  • Remove from the air fryer and repeat until all of the sweet potato slices are used.

Nutrition

Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 62mg | Potassium: 381mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 16031IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg


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