Description
Cheesy sweet potato casserole blends rich flavors from Mediterranean kitchens into a comforting dish that delights taste buds. Creamy layers of spinach and melted cheese create a satisfying meal perfect for weekend gatherings or weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 large sweet potatoes
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Dairy and Cream:
- 0.5 cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
- 0.25 cup (60 milliliters) sour cream
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) butter
Seasonings and Extras:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
- 0.25 cup (40 grams) chopped green onions
Topping:
- 0.5 cup (60 grams) breadcrumbs
- 0.25 cup (25 grams) grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 375°F and prepare sweet potatoes by washing thoroughly, then creating multiple fork punctures to facilitate steam release during roasting.
- Position sweet potatoes directly on oven rack, roasting for 45-50 minutes until easily pierced with a knife, then allow to cool slightly.
- Cut roasted sweet potatoes into uniform thin rounds, arranging them in a single layer within a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Melt butter in a skillet, sauté minced garlic until aromatic, then quickly wilt spinach leaves until they reduce and maintain a vibrant green color.
- Distribute wilted spinach evenly across the sweet potato layer, ensuring complete coverage.
- Create a creamy mixture by whisking heavy cream, sour cream, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well integrated.
- Gently pour the cream mixture over spinach and sweet potato layers, allowing it to penetrate between potato rounds.
- Completely cover the surface with a generous layer of shredded cheddar cheese.
- Create a crispy topping by mixing breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, then sprinkling evenly across the cheese layer.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until cheese melts completely, becomes bubbly, and the topping turns golden brown.
- Immediately after removing from oven, garnish with freshly chopped green onions to enhance flavor and visual appeal.
- Allow casserole to rest for 10 minutes, enabling flavors to meld and settle before serving.
Notes
- Prep sweet potatoes ahead by roasting them whole, which intensifies their natural sweetness and makes peeling easier.
- Replace heavy cream with lighter alternatives like Greek yogurt or milk for a lower-fat version that maintains creamy texture.
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed nuts like almonds for a celiac-friendly or low-carb topping option.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations like gruyère or goat cheese to create unique flavor profiles that complement the sweet potatoes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 75-80 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg