Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Chinese 5-Spice

Why We Love 5-Spice Mashed Sweet Potatoes

It’s impossible to not to like this creamy mashed sweet potato recipe. I’m telling you. In fact, I’d wager, that if you serve these to a table full of people, you will get at least one marriage proposal. They’re that good.

And the best part is that they just happen to be both vegan and paleo, so pretty much everyone at the table can eat them, fall in love, and live happily ever after. The end.

I know we’ve all had sweet potato mash before, but what makes these so good (and different) are the seasonings. The Asian-inspired seasonings in this recipe are garlic, ginger and Chinese five spice powder.

I love making this all through fall and winter for a healthy side dish. It is great with roasted pork loin, crispy roasted chicken or Herb Roasted Turkey. The sweet flavor goes great with dishes like this seared Duck Breast Recipe with cranberry sauce or Stove Top Pork Tenderloin. This dish is also a perfect healthy yet gourmet newcomer for your Thanksgiving feast.

Key Ingredients For This Recipe

Sweet potatoes

The sweet potatoes are peeled and then steamed. This is the speediest way to cook them. And unlike boiling, steaming helps preserve nutrients. If you can only find yams (or if you happen to have those at home) that is okay, as they are practically the same.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a great cooking oil. Although, it does add a specific flavor. If you’re not a huge fan of coconut oil you can use avocado oil instead.

Chinese 5 spice

Chinese 5 spice is a mix of five different spices such as Chinese cinnamon, fennel, star anise, ginger and cloves. You can often find 5-spice in the spice aisle but if it’s unavailable you can easily blend your own.

Orange

You’ll need one plump orange to zest and juice. I love naval oranges the best but any orange will do.

Additional Ingredients

• 1 clove garlic chopped
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Boil sweet potatoes

Bring 1 to 2 inches of water to a boil in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket over high heat. Add potatoes to the basket, cover and steam until a fork can be easily pressed into the potatoes and pulls out without resistance, 19 to 22 minutes.

Step 2: Cook aromatics

Meanwhile, melt coconut oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant and just starting to brown. Add ginger and 5-spice and stir to combine.

Remove from the heat and immediately and CAREFULLY stir in juice from the orange to stop the spices from overcooking. Stir in ½ teaspoon zest and salt until the salt is dissolved.

Step 3: Puree sweet potato

Remove the steamer basket from the saucepan. Transfer the sweet potatoes to a food processor fitted with the steel blade attachment. Scrape coconut oil mixture into the food processor. Puree, scraping down the sides and mixing together once or twice, until completely smooth.

Alternatively, for a more rustic texture, pour the boiling water out of the saucepan, and dump the cooked sweet potatoes out of the basket into the hot saucepan. Pour the coconut oil mixture over the sweet potatoes and mash with a potato masher until desired smoothness.

FAQs and Expert Tips

Additional Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes to Try

• This Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Citrus Dressing is a great simple side dish.
• Easy Sweet Potato Casserole is a classic holiday dish.
• My Maple Sweet Potato Coffee Cake and Sweet Potato Blondies are proof that sweet potatoes belong in dessert.