Skip to main content

Sweet Potato Purée with Smoked Paprika

Transform a traditional holiday side into something bold and beautiful using smoked paprika (hot or sweet) and cayenne. This dish couldn’t be simpler to prepare, requiring just a handful of ingredients and yielding a result that’s sweet, savory, and delicious.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 8 servings

Ingredients

3 pounds sweet potatoes
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and softened
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon sweet or hot smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/8 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put the oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 400°F.

    Step 2

    Prick each potato once with a fork, then bake potatoes in a foil-lined shallow baking pan until tender, about 1 hour. When cool enough to handle, peel, then cut away any dark spots. Purée the potatoes with the butter, cream, paprika, salt, and cayenne in a food processor until smooth.

  2. do ahead

    Step 3

    The PURÉE can be made 1 day ahead and chilled in an airtight container. Reheat in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally.

The Epicurious Cookbook
Read More
This chicken salad nails it—creamy, herby, and endlessly riffable.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Like crispy gnocchi caprese and raspberry—brown butter skillet cake.
Like hot honey chicken with peaches and a dirty martini spritz.
The secret to flavorful, never-greasy eggplant parm? Brine the eggplant first.
Just as great with coffee for breakfast as it is with amaro for dessert.
Nutty, protein-packed, and batchable—perfect for hectic mornings.