When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, I think most of us would say, Dont get fancy on me, just make the standards really special.Thatswhy thisdown-home sweet potato casserole isalways a big hit. Its an old southern specialty that graces almost every holiday table.
Instead of the traditional marshmallow topping, I cover the mashed sweet potatoes with acrunchy brown sugar-pecan streusel. It makes the dish! Like most sweet potato sides, this one goes with dinner but you might be inclined to eat it for dessert. Its that dish, the one everyone reaches their fork into long after the meal is done.
What youll need to make sweet potato casserole with pecan streusel
Ive noticed that many grocery stores use the names sweet potato and yam interchangeably. This can be confusing since yams arent sweet potatoes at all, but rather thick white tubers with dark brown skin. Chances are you wont find real yams at the supermarket, so if you see yams, youre probably looking at sweet potatoes.
How to make sweet potato casserole with pecan streusel
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the sweet potatoes and cook untilsoft andtender, 20 25minutes. Drain and let cool.
In the meantime, make the topping: Melt the butter in a medium bowl the microwave. (Alternatively, melt the butter in a small pan or over low heat and transfer to a medium bowl.)
Add the brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon.
Mix until well combined. It should look a little clumpy.
Add the chopped nuts.
Stir to combine and set aside.
Place the cooked and drained sweet potatoes in a large bowl.
Mash with a potato masher or large fork until very smooth.
Add the melted butter, salt, and brown sugar and nutmeg.
Mix well, then add the eggs.
Stir to combine. Its okay if it is not completely smooth.
Transfer the sweet potato mixture to a 2-quart baking dish and spread evenly.
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the sweet potato mixture.
Bake for about 40 minutes, uncovered, or until the topping is nicely browned. Let cool slightly before serving.
If youd like to break up the preparation of this dish a bit, feel free to make and refrigerate the streusel a few days ahead. Or, if you really want to get a head start, assemble and refrigerate the whole casserole up to two days ahead of time. Bake right before serving for best results.
You may also like
- Chipotle Cheddar Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Maple & Thyme
- Curried Sweet Potato Pancakes
- Sweet Potato Biscuits with Honey Butter
The post Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel appeared first on Once Upon a Chef.