Saratoga Sweet Potato Ginger Puree 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.

ORANGE GINGER SWEET POTATO PUREE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Wash and dry potatoes, and prick skins with a fork in several places. Bake until potatoes are tender, about 1 hour.
• Peel potatoes, and discard skin; transfer flesh to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Remove, and discard any stringy fibers from paddle. Scrape sides with rubber spatula.
• Combine butter and brown sugar; mix about 30 seconds. Add remaining ingredients; mix until combined. Serve immediately.

SWEET POTATO PURéE WITH GINGER AND CIDER

Steps:

• Place potatoes in large pot; add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until potatoes are very tender, about 40 minutes. Drain; cool. Peel; cut into large chunks. Transfer to processor.
• Bring cider to boil in heavy medium saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until cider is reduced to 1 cup, about 30 minutes. Transfer cider, ginger, and butter to processor with potatoes; process until very smooth. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Transfer puree to heavy medium saucepan. Cover; chill. Stir over medium heat to rewarm before serving.)

GINGERED SWEET POTATO PURéE

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch pieces. In a small saucepan boil potatoes in salted water to cover 15 minutes, or until very tender, and drain well in a colander.
• In a food processor purée hot potatoes with milk, butter, and gingerroot until smooth and season with salt and pepper.

GINGERED SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• In a small skillet, melt butter with oil over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, salt, ginger and pepper. Add the sweet potato wedges; toss to coat. Cover and cook over low heat for 20-30 minutes or until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.

SWEET POTATO PUREE WITH GINGER AND CHILES

Steps:

• Place the sweet potatoes in a large saucepan and add enough water to cover by about 2 inches. Add a generous amount of salt and bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat slightly and cook until the sweet potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a large skillet until foamy. Add the ginger and chile and sauté over medium heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Drain the sweet potatoes, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Place the sweet potatoes in a large bowl and use a potato masher to turn the sweet potatoes into fine bits. Add 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid and continue mashing until the sweet potatoes form a fairly smooth puree. Add the remaining cooking liquid as needed to work the sweet potatoes into a smooth puree.
• Set the skillet back over medium-high heat. When the ginger and chile start to sizzle, add the sweet potato puree and cook, stirring contsantly, just until the ginger, chiles, and butter have been evenly incorporated into the sweet potatoes, about 1 minute. Stir in the cilantro and salt to taste and serve immediately.

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.