Recipes
South Africa

Sweet Potato Mash with Chilli Butter

Creamy mashed sweet potato topped with a punchy chilli-garlic butter.

Ingredients

  • 2–3 large sweet potatoes
  • 2 tbsp butter (or vegan butter)
  • 1 red chilli, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • 1 tbsp lime or lemon juice
  • Salt & pepper

Method

  1. 1

    Peel and chop sweet potatoes. Boil or roast until soft.

  2. 2

    Melt butter in a small pan. Add chopped chilli and grated garlic. Cook gently for 1 minute. Add lime juice.

  3. 3

    Mash sweet potatoes with salt and pepper. Pour chilli butter over and mix gently.

  4. 4

    Garnish with coriander or chilli flakes.

Swaps & variations

  • Add smoked paprika
  • Add coconut cream for richness
  • Add coriander for freshness
  • Add honey or maple syrup for sweetness

Storing & freezing

Refrigerate 3–4 days. Freeze mashed sweet potato 2–3 months.

Grow it yourself

  • Sweet Potatoes: Plant slips in spring after frost; prefer loose, sandy, warm soil; water moderately; vines spread widely
  • Chillies: Need full sun and warmth; start seedlings indoors; water consistently
  • Garlic: Plant in late autumn; mulch to regulate soil temperature
  • Neem spray controls whiteflies on sweet potato leaves
  • Plant basil and marigolds nearby to deter pests
  • Use straw mulch to discourage soil insects
  • Hand-pick caterpillars on sweet potato vines
  • Sweet Potatoes: Harvest when leaves yellow and vines die back; handle gently; cure 1–2 weeks in warm dry place
  • Chillies: Pick red for heat, green for milder flavour
  • Garlic: Harvest when tops brown; cure before storing

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