Five Spice Sweet Potato Purée Food

SWEET POTATO PUREE

Steps:

• Place a steamer insert or a mesh colander in a large pot and add enough water to reach the bottom of the steamer. Place the sweet potatoes in the steamer and bring the water to a boil. Cover the pot, lower the heat, and cook over simmering water for about 25 minutes, until very tender. Check occasionally to be sure the water doesn't boil away.
• Transfer the sweet potatoes to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With the mixer on low, slowly add the half-and-half, orange zest, orange juice, cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. With the mixer still on low, add the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until incorporated. Taste for seasonings and mix until smooth. Serve hot.

SWEET AND SPICY SWEET POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat; cook and stir shallots in the hot oil until soft, about 3 minutes. Stir apples, ginger, zest from 1 lime, red pepper flakes, and cayenne pepper into the pot. Reserve lime juice. Cook and stir mixture until apples are very soft, about 15 minutes.
• Pour chicken broth into pot; add sweet potatoes and salt. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Puree soup with an immersion blender until smooth. Stir reserved lime juice into soup. Garnish with lime wedges to serve.

SWEET POTATO AND PARSNIP PUREE

Steps:

• Place the potatoes and parsnips in a 4-quart saucepan. Add water to cover. Heat over medium-high heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Drain the vegetables well in a colander.
• Place the vegetables, broth and butter into a food processor. Cover and process until the mixture is smooth. Add the brown sugar, black pepper and chopped chives. Cover and process until the mixture is just combined. Garnish with the additional chives.

FIVE-SPICE SWEET POTATO PURéE

Steps:

• Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until tender when pierced with fork, about 50 minutes. Drain well. Cool slightly and peel.
• Cut potatoes into large chunks; place in processor. Add milk, butter, ginger juice, and five-spice powder. Process until very smooth, about 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Return to pot and stir over medium heat until warmed through, about 5 minutes. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand, uncovered, at room temperature. Rewarm over medium heat, stirring frequently, before serving.)
• *A blend of cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, star anise and pepper available in the spice section of most supermarkets.

SILKY SWEET POTATO PUREE

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position; heat to 425 degrees. Place potatoes on a foil-lined pan; bake 45 to 60 minutes, until tender. Peel when cool enough to handle.
• Puree with salt and pepper in a food processor. With motor running, gradually add milks through feeder tube, then butter. Process until silken. (Can make up to 2 days ahead; store in an airtight container.) Reheat and serve.

WEANING RECIPE: SWEET POTATO PURéE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the potatoes on a baking tray and roast in the oven for around 45 mins or until a knife inserts easily into the flesh.
• Allow to cool a little, carefully peel off the skin, removing any hard bits and blitz in a food processor, with a splash of baby's milk, until smooth. You may need to scrape the sides of the bowl a few times to get a smooth consistency throughout.
• Serve one portion and divide the rest between small containers or ice cube trays and freeze.