Sweet Potato Puree For Baking
Making homemade sweet potato purée works is easy and there's little hands-on work involved. It keeps refrigerated for several days and can be frozen. Eat it as a savory side dish and for baking recipes, just like you would canned puree.
Servings 2 cups
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Wash and scrub 1 pound sweet potatoes, unpeeled. You can bake them directly on a baking tray, or wrap each potato in aluminum foil first. Alternatively, line the tray with a large piece of aluminum foil, place the sweet potatoes on top in the middle, gather the foil together and close it loosely, wrapping the potatoes together in a rough package.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the sweet potatoes until they're fork-tender or very easily pierced with a knife. It takes anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour, depending on the size of the sweet potatoes.
- Remove from the oven, unwrap and cut each sweet potato in half. The inside will be very soft. Scrape the pulp with a spoon and put it in the bowl of the food processor and process until smooth and creamy.
Draining the puree:
- Transfer the sweet potato mixture to a colander set atop a bowl. You can place a cheesecloth before adding the sweet potato pulp. Let the puree drain for a few hours. The liquid will be collected at the bottom of the bowl.
- Transfer the thick puree to a sealed container (discard the liquid) and keep it refrigerated until ready to use. It keeps for several days.
- Or keep it in the freezer for a month in a freezer-safe, airtight container. Thaw for a few hours in the fridge before using.
Notes
Sweet potatoes: try to bake similar-sized potatoes so they take about the same time.
Storing: the drained puree lasts a week in the refrigerator in a sealed or airtight container. Always taste or smell it before using it. You will find it's mildly acidic and pungent when it starts to go bad.
Freeze it in an airtight container and defrost it in the refrigerator. If you see that it has collected water after it thaws, drain it before using it.
