Sweet Potatoes with Brown Butter & Panko
This dish is a nice change from the traditional overly sweet marshmallow topped holiday mashed sweet potato side dish. The panko bread crumbs add a nice crunch and a slight sweetness. The browned butter and nutmeg gives the dish a definite nutty background. Some cooks may find adding a touch of cinnamon a plus. ~Richard Duran
INGREDIENTs
---Brown Butter:
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 pinch salt
---Potatoes:
2 large yam/sweet potatoes (about 2 to 3 cups. Peeled, sliced 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick)
1 pint heavy cream
---Topping:
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
1 tbl light brown sugar
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 pinch salt
• Medium sauce pan
• Baking vessel - any oven safe dish with at least 2 inch depth (grease with brown butter once prepared)
• Sharp knife or mandoline (to slice potatoes)
• Peeler
• Large mixing bowls
Direction
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
---Brown Butter:
Slowly heat butter over low-med heat in saucepan until butter solids are a golden brown. About 5-10
minutes. Remove from heat and move to a mixing bowl. Add 1/8 tsp of nutmeg and 1/8 tsp of salt. Stir.
---Yams/Sweet Potatoes
Place potatoes in a mixing bowl. Pour browned butter over the potatoes, a tablespoon at a time, and toss to coat.
Do not use more than half the mixture. The potatoes need to be moist but not drowning. Layer potatoes into baking dish until nearly full. Save a little room for the bread crumb mixture and for the cream to boil. About ½ inch from top.
Pour heavy cream over potatoes until cream covers all but top layer or two of potatoes.
---Topping
Stir brown sugar and 1/8 tsp nutmeg into browned butter until sugar dissolves. Place bread crumbs into mixing bowl. Pour butter mixture over bread crumbs and stir until completely absorbed. Bread crumbs will soak up the liquid and will still be very crunchy and dry. Spread topping over potatoes approximately ½ inch high.
---Baking
Bake for forty-five minutes or until knife pierces potatoes easily in different places. Cover dish with foil if topping browns before potatoes are done. Remove from oven and let stand 10-15 minutes uncovered before serving.
Serves 12-16, approx 2 tablespoon per serving.