Crunchy Sweet Potato Gratin

My comforting Sweet Potato Gratin comes with a Crunchy Parmesan Crumble Topping. This simple yet elegant sweet potato recipe comes together in just 30 minutes and makes for the perfect side dish.

Forget your sweet potato casserole and try this sweet potato gratin because I promise you, it will have you look at French food in a different way!

French food is quite underrated. Since I grew up living in Paris, I have soft spot in my heart for French cuisine. 

If you love sweet potatoes, love Parmesan and butter..well you’re at the right place! Before we get into the details of this sweet potato recipe, I need to urge you to watch the recipe video below. 

This is my favorite way to cook sweet potatoes, and I’ve been teaching it at the cooking school for years! 

Now let’s talk about the recipe!

SWEET POTATO RECIPE 

The contrast of sweet and salty, soft and crunchy, paired with the herbs and parmesan cheese takes the humble Sweet Potato to a whole new level. 

It takes 20 minutes to whip up this Sweet Potato Gratin but it’s so utterly delicious! Like sweet potatoes are taken to a gourmet level!

It’s almost like eating a sweet potato dessert, only it’s a simple side dish. I often pair this side dish with a simple roast chicken, like this easiest garlic herb roast chicken. Or with a steak, like this perfect grilled steak with lemon rosemary butter .

Also make it for Thanksgiving and try my Succulent Dry Brined Turkey Breast recipe as the main dish. 

While we are used to sweet potatoes loaded with sugars and nuts, which is super terrific too! The buttery crust which makes the “au gratin’ here tastes so good, you won’t be missing the sugars!

To make this recipe, you’ll need to first cook the sweet potatoes.

The trick is cooking the sweet potatoes on the stove, in a pot, covered over low heat with no water added.

How to Cook Sweet Potatoes?

My favorite trick to cooking tender sweet potatoes on the stove without adding water! Likewise, you can use this trick to cook butternut squash or regular potatoes.

• The recipe starts by sautéing shallots and fresh rosemary in butter. Feel free to use garlic, spices and any other herb to your taste. Likewise, feel free to use olive oil.
• You want to cut and dice your sweet potatoes into equal size chunks – 1 inch or so.
• Add the sweet potatoes to the pot.
• Finally, cover the pot and lower the heat and wait for them to soften up and retain their nutritional value.

This produces tender and flavorful sweet potatoes, perfect texture and gorgeous color!

Assemble the Gratin:

You probably noticed from the video and photos that I prefer the final texture of the sweet potatoes chunk.  So I keep the cooked sweet potatoes as they are.

However, I noticed form my cooking classes that some prefer them mashed, so pick your favorite way to serve these.

If you like mashed sweet potato gratin, simple mash the sweet potatoes once they’ve cooked and proceed with the recipe.

I love serving these in individual ramekins. You can similarly make this recipe into a large casserole dish. 

Crumble the topping over the cooked sweet potatoes and place under your broiler for a few minutes. 

It will come out golden and crispy and perfect!

Super easy, and super satisfying!! 

PS–I wasn’t a sweet potato lover until I had my first baby. She LOVED sweet potatoes so much that she forced me into giving them a second chance. I would say this sweet potato gratin was one of those sweet potato recipes that had me fall head over heels for them!

SWEET POTATO GRATIN TIPS

• Cooking the sweet potatoes in the skillet without water or boiling intensifies the flavor so much.
• You can however use leftover roast potatoes for this recipe.
• Other veggies you can substitute are squash, potatoes, broccoli, zucchini or tomatoes for the summer!
• The Gratin or Au Gratin is fancy for crunchy in french 🙂 So don’t feel intimidated to make this!
• The crunchy topping can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• To make this a vegan sweet potato recipe : Simply swap the butter for olive oil, or coconut oil, and use vegan parmesan cheese.
• To make the gratins ahead of time, you can assemble them and broil just before serving.
• Likewise, you can prepare the whole gratin advance and warm in a 350 degree oven for 8 minutes before serving.
• Use NUTS for an extra crunch in the topping : walnut, pecans, pistachios or hazelnut pair so well here!
• You can make this gratin recipe into a large 2 quart dish, simply adjust broiling time.
• Always keep an eye on the broiler because it can brown quickly!
• To make this a One Dish Gratin: Alternatively, you may skip cooking the sweet potatoes. Simply assemble the whole dish and roast in the oven to roast at 425 degrees for about 30-35 minutes.

ENJOY!!

SWEET POTATO RECIPES

One Pot Quinoa Sweet Potato Salad

Quinoa Sweet Potato Lentil Soup

Salmon Asparagus Sweet Potato Nicoise

Baked Eggs in Sweet Potato Crusts

Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup

4.86 from 14 votes

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Sweet Potato Gratin

My comforting Sweet Potato Gratin comes with a Crunchy Parmesan Crumble Topping. This simple yet elegant sweet potato recipe comes together in just 30 minutes and makes for the perfect side dish.

Course Appetizer, lunch, side

Cuisine American, French

Keyword How to cook sweet potatoes, Sweet Potato casserole, sweet potato gratin, Sweet potato recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 382 kcal

Author Mahy

Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes

• 2 medium sweet potatoes , washed, peeled and diced up to ½ inch pieces
• 2 tablespoon butter or olive oil (for vegan)
• 1 large shallot or 2 green onions
• 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary
• 1 pinch salt and pepper

Gratin Topping

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (skip if vegan)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley minced
• 4 Tablespoons butter or extra virgin olive oil(for vegan)
• 1/4 cup crushed walnuts pistachios, pecans or hazelnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat the broiler and set the rack on the second top shelf of the oven allowing 6-inch distance from the heating element.

2. Heat a large deep skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter. Add the shallots and sauté over medium heat until tender.

3. Add in the sweet potatoes and season well, then add the rosemary and toss everything well with the butter. Lower the heat to medium-low and cover the skillet.

4. Cook until the sweet potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes. Remove from the heat.

5. In a small bowl, mix the flour, parmesan parsley and season with salt and pepper. Then gently rub in the butter with your fingers until the mixture crumbles up with pieces of butter.
6. Divide the sweet potatoes among 8 ramekins (or you can make this into one large gratin dish-2 quart capacity) and divide the crumbly flour mixture evenly on top of each ramekin. Divide and drizzle olive oil on top of each ramekin.
7. Place the ramekins on a foil lined cookie sheet and broil 3-4 minutes until the tops are golden and crunchy.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

SWEET POTATO GRATIN TIPS

• Cooking the sweet potatoes in the skillet without water or boiling intensifies the flavor so much.
• You can however use leftover roast potatoes for this recipe.
• Other veggies you can substitute are squash, potatoes, broccoli, zucchini or tomatoes for the summer!
• The Gratin or Au Gratin is fancy for crunchy in french 🙂 So don't feel intimidated to make this!
• The crunchy topping can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• To make this a vegan sweet potato recipe : Simply swap the butter for olive oil, or coconut oil, and use vegan parmesan cheese.
• To make the gratins ahead of time, you can assemble them and broil just before serving.
• Likewise, you can prepare the whole gratin advance and warm in a 350 degree oven for 8 minutes before serving.
• Use NUTS for an extra crunch in the topping : walnut, pecans, pistachios or hazelnut pair so well here!
• You can make this gratin recipe into a large 2 quart dish, simply adjust broiling time.
• Always keep an eye on the broiler because it can brown quickly!

Nutrition Facts

Sweet Potato Gratin

Amount Per Serving

Calories 382 Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Fat 24g37%

Saturated Fat 12g75%

Cholesterol 49mg16%

Sodium 324mg14%

Potassium 462mg13%

Carbohydrates 37g12%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 16773IU335%

Vitamin C 6mg7%

Calcium 121mg12%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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