Love sweet potatoes, but want to jazz them up a bit? This Twice Baked Sweet Potato recipe uses the bold flavors of mascarpone, garlic, and oregano to complement the classic, sweet tuber.
While most people are making sweet version of this dish with marshmallows and brown sugar streusel toppings, I wanted to go the savory route.
Yams vs Sweet Potatoes
Here goes the question someone will undoubtedly ask: are yams and sweet potatoes the same thing? Long story short, the answer is NO.
Although they look similar, they are very different and chances are you’ve probably never had a real yam.
For the in-depth explanation, I suggest you check out what Alton Brown has to say about the subject. This will make for a great dinner conversation, especially the part about, “man yams.
If you want the Cliff Notes version, here goes: both are root vegetables that come from a flowering plant. However, yams are long, cylindrical, and have an almost bark-like exterior. They are also drier and more starchy in terms of texture.
Sweet potatoes, on the other hand, have tapered ends and skin similar to the potatoes we all know and love. The skin and flesh color of these can all vary based on the specific type of sweet potato we are talking about and they are not just the orange/copper colored variety you immediately envision.
Health Benefits
Sweet potatoes also popular on the health front. They are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Anti-oxidants are something they also tout. And may (I repeat may) have cancer-fighting properties, boost the immune system, and support healthy vision.
Now those are all things I can get behind. The fact that they are naturally delicious as all get out is just a bonus. And while they are not a low-carb vegetable, they help you to feel full and are great to include in your weekly diet.
A lot of people will skip the skin in a twice baked potato, but I urge you to think again. Not only does it have great texture, because it is baked, it is also holding onto a bunch of fiber and potassium.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
This Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe makes use of the orange-flesh variety of sweet potato, but feel free to try it with other sweet potato varieties if that is what your grocery store is carrying or if you want to try it with something different yourself.
In addition to sweet potatoes, you’ll need:
- Garlic
- Mascarpone cheese (or cream cheese)
- Gruyere cheese
- Butter
- Seasonings: Kosher salt, oregano
- Toppings: Chives and Maldon Salt
Next you’ll bake the sweet potatoes just like you would a regular twiced baked. Cut them in half and scoop out the flesh. The biggest difference here is that sweet potato skins are a little thinner and more delicate than other potato varieties, so be gentle and know they will be a little floppy.
Combine the flesh with cheese, butter and seasonings, whipping well. Then scoop back into the skins. Bake again and top with chives!
Did You Know SweetPotato is One Word?
Did you know that sweetpotato is actually one word? Most people still use two, so we do as well, but in 1989 this nun (not an adjective) was officially changed to one word to help standout against it’s very commonly confused cousin the yam.
And as we know, sweet potatoes are not yams! You’ve likely never even had a yam in your lifetime because they aren’t grown in the US. So bring up this little bit of trivia at your table tonight.
Serve Them With
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes can be served as a side dish or entree. Sweet savory and just plain delicious, it is no wonder they go fast. With 300 calories a serving, they are a winning recipe!
Pair them with an Instant Pot Whole Chicken, King Ranch Chicken, Crock Pot Pork Loin or even Chicken Kiev.
More potato recipes:
- Cast Iron Sweet Potatoes with Honey and Cinnamon
- Sweet Potato Cornbread
- Rosemary Parmesan Sweet Potato Stacks
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Hash Browns
- Cinnamon Sugar Sweet Potato Fries
- Potatoes O’Brien
Apple Spiced Stuffed Sweet Potato Recipe
Twice Baked Potato Casserole Recipe
Sweet Potato Souffle (Marshmallow & Pecan Topping)
Twice Baked Sweet Potato Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1/2 cup mascarpone
- 1/2 cup gruyere , finely shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 tablespoons butter , softened
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons chives , chopped for garnish
- Maldon sea salt , for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pierce both potatoes several times with a potato nail or serving fork (something long). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Place potatoes on the rimmed baking sheet and cook for 40-45 minutes. Potatoes should be soft to the touch. Remove and allow to cool until you are able to handle them.
- Sweet potato skins are not nearly as hearty as other types of potatoes, so be gentle. Cut them in half and spoon out cooked flesh to a large mixing bowl.
- Blend with mascarpone, gruyere cheese, kosher salt, butter, and dried oregano.
- Spoon mixture back into potato skins.
- Coat a small, high sided baking dish with cooking spray. Place filled sweet potatoes into the dish. Try to make them fit snug so they don’t fall over.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
- Remove and allow to cool slightly before serving. Top with chives and Maldon sea salt.
- Your opinion means a lot to us. Please come back and leave us a comment to let us know if you made any modifications and how the recipe turned out!
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!
I really enjoyed the flavors in this recipe! I didn’t have marscapone or gruyere but used cream cheese and Grumpy Goat goat cheese. The flavors just layered beautifully. I think I might use less oregano next time to allow the other flavors to shine. Thank you! This recipe was a great savory option for sweet potatoes!
That sounds lovely and so glad you enjoyed them!
I love sweet potatoes and this is a really different way to make them. It sounds delicious
Goodness this recipe for sweet potatoes looks delish! I never thought of using a lemon yogurt sauce. Will add this to the to do list.
that sounds like a healthy way to eat the sweet potatoes. It looks like a new recipe I’ll be adding this week to our thanksgiving menu.
I think the lemon sauce is a great idea to balance the sweetness of the yams. Pinned, YUM’d and SU’d
Thanks, KC!
That’s a nifty twist on a classic. I’ve never added yogurt to sweet potatoes before!
My father loves sweet potatoes. I am going to forward this recipe to him. Yum.
What a great way to make sweet potatoes. My FIL is coming for dinner tonight and he loves them. I’ve already got the menu planned…but next time!