Mashed Spiced Sweet Potatoes
Everyone has a recipe like this, but this is the best one. Mashed sweet potatoes spiked with pumpkin pie-type spices are wonderful alongside collards and grilled tofu.
3 pounds sweet potatoes
1/2 teaspoon
salt 1/2 teaspoon
ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon
ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon
ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon
ground ginger 2 tablespoons
pure maple syrup 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil or other light vegetable oil (but not olive oil)
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Place the sweet potatoes directly on an oven rack (no tray is needed and no need to poke holes in them). Depending on the size of the sweet potatoes, the cooking time will vary. An average-size sweet potato takes about 45 minutes but large ones can take longer, sometimes up to 75 minutes if they are the giant kind.
Once you can easily poke through the potatoes in the center, they are done. Remove from the oven and split them lengthwise; leave them opened to speed up cooling.
When still warm but not too hot to handle, scoop out the sweet potatoes with a spoon and place in a large bowl. Discard the skins.
Add the remaining ingredients and mash everything with a strong fork. Serve warm.
