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Sweet Potato Mash with Chilli Butter

South African

Sweet Potato Mash with Chilli Butter

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

~294 kcalper serving~6g protein~42g carbs~12g fat

Estimated. Worked out from the ingredients using the UK food composition tables, so treat it as a guide rather than a measurement. A typical recipe lands within about a quarter of the true figure. Makes about 2.

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

Cooking Steps

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

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

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

  4. Garnish with coriander or chilli flakes.

Optional Enhancements

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

Plant & Growing Tips

  • 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

Natural Pest Control

  • 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

Harvest

  • 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

Storing & Freezing

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

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