Get nutty with sweetpotatoes for Thanksgiving / Jill Silverman Hough

I love Thanksgiving. I love the cozy familiarity of it. The fall weather and the friends and family. I love the festive and familiar meal.

But sometimes that meal can feel a little, well, too familiar. And sometimes even downright constraining.

You have to have turkey. You have to have stuffing. And cranberry sauce. Potatoes. Pumpkin pie.

But what if you shook things up? I’m not talking about getting totally crazy, just a little nutty. For example, you could add some Parmesan to that dressing. You could make cranberry sauce with apples. And you could even ditch the marshmallows and make Savory Sweetpotato Casserole with Herbs, Walnuts, and Brown Butter (pictured).

A quick sidebar about sweetpotatoes
One, as some of you know, one of my most favorite and regular clients is California Sweetpotatoes, an organization designed to promote, you guessed it, California sweetpotatoes. My husband and I have worked with them for almost 10 years and during that time I’ve cooked tons of sweetpotatoes and created tons of delicious sweetpotato recipes. (Check them out here.) So I’m far from impartial when it comes to the culinary possibilities of sweetpotatoes.

And two, yes, I’m spelling it “sweetpotatoes,” one word, as is my client’s preference and has become mine (here’s why [scroll down]).

Back to our regularly scheduled programming
Thanksgiving is the one day of the year we’re more likely to eat sweetpotatoes than any other. Can someone please tell me why they must be covered with marshmallows???

Yes, sweetpotatoes are subtly sweet. But that doesn’t mean you have to turn them into dessert. By serving Savory Sweetpotato Casserole with Herbs, Walnuts, and Brown Butter, you give your holiday table a delightful surprise, one that’s still fall-icious and comforting, but in a more grown-up, multi-dimensional way.

Now I understand that, to many, sweetpotato marshmallow casserole on Thanksgiving is non-negotiable. And for that, California Sweetpotatoes and I say thank you. And we suggest you try the purposefully over-the-top variation I created here.

But if you ask me, a savory casserole better complements the rest of the very savory meal. As well as with any wine you might serve with it.

And unlike marshmallow casserole, you might want Savory Sweetpotato Casserole with Herbs, Walnuts, and Brown Butter more than once a year. It’s great alongside everything from a weekend roast to a simple weeknight steak, chop, or chicken breast.

Wishing you a holiday filled with love, appreciation, and at least a little nuttiness.

More recipes for Thanksgiving with a twist:
Simple, Herby Dry-Brined Turkey
Cranberry and Apple Sauce
Apple and Parmesan Dressing
Parsnip and Hazelnut Gratin with Bacon
Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Potatoes with Lemon and Rosemary
Spinach Salad with Cranberries and Pecans
Pumpkin Pie with Gingered Whipped Cream