Description
This Scalloped Sweet Potatoes recipe features thinly sliced sweet potatoes baked in a creamy cheese sauce made with sharp cheddar, Parmesan, and aromatic seasonings. Topped with breadcrumbs and fresh thyme, this casserole is rich, comforting, and perfect as a hearty side dish for any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
Topping
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to get it ready for baking the casserole.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Grease a baking dish thoroughly with a little butter to prevent sticking and to add flavor.
- Melt Butter: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter slowly to avoid burning.
- Sauté Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, enhancing the sauce’s aroma.
- Make Roux: Stir in the all-purpose flour and cook for about 1 minute, allowing it to form a roux that will thicken the sauce.
- Add Milk and Cream: Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream carefully to ensure the mixture is smooth without lumps.
- Season Sauce: Add salt, ground black pepper, and ground nutmeg to the sauce, combining the flavors well.
- Thicken Sauce: Continue whisking the sauce for 4-5 minutes until it thickens slightly and coats the whisk.
- Add Cheese: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in cheddar and Parmesan cheeses until melted smoothly into the sauce.
- Layer Potatoes: Place half of the sweet potato slices evenly in the greased baking dish as the first layer.
- Pour Sauce: Pour half of the cheese sauce over the sweet potatoes, spreading it evenly to cover the slices.
- Add Thyme: Sprinkle half of the chopped fresh thyme leaves over the sauced potatoes to add fragrance and flavor.
- Repeat Layers: Repeat with the remaining sweet potatoes, cheese sauce, and thyme to create a second layer.
- Top with Breadcrumbs: Evenly sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top of the layered casserole for a crispy topping.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes to cook the potatoes gently.
- Remove Foil and Finish Baking: Remove the foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and the topping is golden brown and crisp.
- Cool and Serve: Take the dish out of the oven and let it cool slightly before serving to set the layers and enhance flavors.
Notes
- For a smoother sauce, ensure to whisk constantly when adding milk and cream.
- Fresh thyme can be substituted with dried thyme, but use about 1 teaspoon dried.
- Breadcrumb topping can be replaced with crushed crackers for extra texture.
- Adjust seasoning to taste before layering the potatoes.
- Allow the dish to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking for easier slicing and serving.
