PALEO MASHED SWEET POTATOES IN ORANGE CUPS

My favorite recipes are the ones that I grew up eating and that have special memories attached to them. This recipe is one that my family made every year throughout the holidays, and it is one that reminds me of all of those special times we spent together.
If you put a scoop of mashed sweet potatoes in front of me as a child I wouldn't touch them, but something about having them served in an orange turned them into a delicious (and nutritious) treat that I was excited to eat. Fast forward to adulthood, and the same thing applies to my own children, who now demand their mashed sweet potatoes be served in orange cups (ah payback....).
For a little extra fun, you can carve shapes into the oranges to suite whatever the occasion might be (jack-o-lantern, Christmas tree, birthday balloons, funny face….you get the idea). Whether you carve them or serve them plain, these make a great side dish that both adults and kids will love.
If you put a scoop of mashed sweet potatoes in front of me as a child I wouldn't touch them, but something about having them served in an orange turned them into a delicious (and nutritious) treat that I was excited to eat. Fast forward to adulthood, and the same thing applies to my own children, who now demand their mashed sweet potatoes be served in orange cups (ah payback....).
For a little extra fun, you can carve shapes into the oranges to suite whatever the occasion might be (jack-o-lantern, Christmas tree, birthday balloons, funny face….you get the idea). Whether you carve them or serve them plain, these make a great side dish that both adults and kids will love.
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Ingredients:
- 3 pounds yams or sweet potatoes
- 3 tablespoons raw honey
- 5 tablespoons ghee
- 1 teaspoons grated orange zest
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt (or more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- 5 or 6 large oranges
- ½ cup chopped raw pecans or almonds (optional)
Equipment:
- Zester
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring Cups
- Baking sheet or Roasting pan
- Cutting board
- Kitchen knife
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400F
2. Pierce each sweet potatoes or yams a few times with a fork. Bake in a roasting pan for 45 to 60 minutes or until tender.
3. While your potatoes are baking, cut a very thin slice from bottom of each orange to make it sit flat (make sure not to pierce through to the flesh). Cut a thick slice from the top of the oranges. Scoop out pulp and reserve for another use (orange juice anyone?). Carve the oranges with whatever shapes you like (optional…but not really because this is the fun part!)
4. Once your potatoes are done, remove them from the oven and cut in half lengthwise. Hold them with a towel and scoop out the pulp into a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the raw honey, ghee, orange zest, sea salt, ground black pepper and allspice and blend with a hand mixer until smooth (about one minute). Taste and add additional seasonings if desired.
5. Place the orange cups on a plate and spoon the potato mixture into each orange until it is almost full. Top with some chopped raw pecans or almonds if desired and serve.
- 3 pounds yams or sweet potatoes
- 3 tablespoons raw honey
- 5 tablespoons ghee
- 1 teaspoons grated orange zest
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt (or more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- 5 or 6 large oranges
- ½ cup chopped raw pecans or almonds (optional)
Equipment:
- Zester
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring Cups
- Baking sheet or Roasting pan
- Cutting board
- Kitchen knife
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 400F
2. Pierce each sweet potatoes or yams a few times with a fork. Bake in a roasting pan for 45 to 60 minutes or until tender.
3. While your potatoes are baking, cut a very thin slice from bottom of each orange to make it sit flat (make sure not to pierce through to the flesh). Cut a thick slice from the top of the oranges. Scoop out pulp and reserve for another use (orange juice anyone?). Carve the oranges with whatever shapes you like (optional…but not really because this is the fun part!)
4. Once your potatoes are done, remove them from the oven and cut in half lengthwise. Hold them with a towel and scoop out the pulp into a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the raw honey, ghee, orange zest, sea salt, ground black pepper and allspice and blend with a hand mixer until smooth (about one minute). Taste and add additional seasonings if desired.
5. Place the orange cups on a plate and spoon the potato mixture into each orange until it is almost full. Top with some chopped raw pecans or almonds if desired and serve.