Cheese And Yams: A Tasty Pairing Guide

Sweet potatoes are a versatile ingredient, and can be cooked in a variety of ways, including baking, roasting, and microwaving. They pair well with a range of cheeses, including mozzarella, parmesan, fontina, cheddar, and gouda. For a sweet and savoury combination, try topping roasted sweet potatoes with gooey cheese. Alternatively, get creative and make sweet potato skins loaded with cheddar cheese and black beans, or double-baked sweet potatoes with bacon and cheddar.

Sweet potatoes with mozzarella and parmesan

This delicious recipe combines the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes with the savoury, salty flavours of mozzarella and parmesan cheese. It's a simple dish to make and is perfect as a side or a snack.

Ingredients:

• 4 small or medium-sized sweet potatoes, halved lengthwise
• 1 pinch coarse salt, to taste
• 1 pinch cracked pepper, to taste
• 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, or dried thyme or rosemary
• 1/4 cup butter, softened at room temperature
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 220°C/425°F.
• Brush the potatoes with garlic butter and season with salt and pepper.
• Place the potatoes cut-side down on a lightly greased baking sheet and bake until golden brown and tender (around 20-30 minutes).
• Remove from the oven and flip the potatoes so they are cut-side up.
• Sprinkle the mozzarella, parmesan, and herbs over the potatoes.
• Change the oven setting to broil on low or medium heat. Broil for about 2 minutes, until the cheese is golden and melted.
• Serve warm, with an extra sprinkle of salt and pepper if desired.

Tips:

• You can use other types of cheese if you prefer, such as gouda, gruyere, Swiss, or cheddar.
• If you want to add more butter, you can double the amount; it will be our little secret!
• You can also experiment with different herbs and spices, such as dried thyme or rosemary.

Cheddar, gouda, gruyere, swiss, or fontina cheese

Yams and sweet potatoes are often used interchangeably, so I have included information about both in this response.

Cheddar

Mashed sweet potatoes with cheddar is a simple dish that can be served as a side. To make this, sweet potatoes are boiled, mashed with milk and butter, seasoned, and mixed with grated cheddar. The mixture is then transferred to a greased baking dish, sprinkled with more cheese, and broiled until golden brown.

Gouda

Gouda is a good cheese to use if you want to make cheesy garlic sweet potatoes. To make this dish, sweet potatoes are roasted, halved, and topped with garlic butter. They are then sprinkled with grated gouda (or another cheese of your choice) and herbs such as parsley, thyme, or rosemary.

Gruyere

Gruyere can be used to make a yam gratin. To make this dish, yams are sliced and layered in a baking dish with shredded gruyere. The dish is then baked in the oven until the yams are tender.

Swiss

Swiss cheese can be used in a similar way to gouda, as a topping for roasted sweet potatoes.

Fontina

Fontina is a creamy, sweet, and pungent cheese with flavours of butter and roasted nuts. It is traditionally made from unpasteurised milk and has a semi-hard, smooth texture with small holes. Fontina is produced in Italy, as well as in Denmark and Sweden. The Danish and Swedish versions are characterised by their waxed rinds.

Cheesy roasted sweet potatoes

A delicious and indulgent side dish or snack, cheesy roasted sweet potatoes are a tasty alternative to the traditional sweet potato and marshmallow combination. This recipe is simple to make and can be adapted to your taste, with a variety of cheeses and herbs to choose from.

Ingredients

• Sweet potatoes (small or medium-sized)
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, fontina, gouda, gruyere, swiss, cheddar, or a combination)
• Butter (optional)
• Garlic (optional)
• Fresh or dried herbs (parsley, thyme, or rosemary)

Method

• Preheat your oven to 220°C/425°F.
• Halve the sweet potatoes lengthwise and trim the ends.
• Brush the potatoes with olive oil or garlic butter and season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange the potatoes cut-side down on a baking sheet and roast until golden brown and tender (about 18-30 minutes, depending on your oven).
• Remove from the oven and flip the potatoes so they are cut-side up.
• Top with your choice of cheese and fresh or dried herbs.
• Broil on low or medium heat until the cheese is golden and melted (about 2-3 minutes).
• Sprinkle with additional salt and pepper, if desired, and serve warm.

Variations and Tips

• You can experiment with different types of cheese, such as gouda, gruyere, swiss, or cheddar.
• For an extra indulgent dish, add butter and garlic to the sweet potatoes before roasting.
• If you prefer a sweeter version, try adding crushed pineapple, chopped toasted pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon, or nutmeg.
• For a quicker option, you can microwave the sweet potatoes instead of roasting them. Poke holes in the potatoes and microwave in 2-minute bursts until tender, about 8-10 minutes.
• Cheesy roasted sweet potatoes go well with a variety of main courses, such as roasted meats or a side salad.

Double-baked sweet potatoes with cheese, bacon and herbs

This recipe is a delicious side dish or snack, perfect for Thanksgiving or any meal. The sweet potatoes are roasted, packed with cheese, bacon, and herbs, and then baked again to create a sweet and savoury treat.

Ingredients:

• 4 medium sweet potatoes
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup milk or cream
• 4 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled (optional)
• 2 tablespoons chives or scallions, chopped
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Wash the sweet potatoes and pierce them with a fork or knife. Drizzle with olive oil and add a pinch of salt.
• Bake the potatoes until they are very tender, which should take around 45-50 minutes. You can also microwave them in 2-minute bursts until tender, which will take about 8-10 minutes.
• Let the potatoes cool for a few minutes, then use a sharp knife to slice off the top of each potato.
• Scoop out the potato flesh into a bowl, leaving a thin shell. Add the butter, milk or cream, cheese, bacon, chives or scallions, and season with salt and pepper. Stir well to combine.
• Scoop the filling back into the potato shells and sprinkle with grated cheese, if desired.
• Place the potatoes under the broiler for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and the potatoes are slightly browned. Alternatively, bake at 500 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes.
• Serve warm and enjoy!

Tips and Variations:

• You can make these in advance and store them in the fridge. When ready to serve, bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes until warmed through and slightly crispy.
• Get creative with your fillings! Try adding caramelized onions, sage, rosemary, or other herbs and spices.
• For a vegetarian option, omit the bacon or substitute with your favourite plant-based alternative.
• If you're short on time, you can microwave the potatoes instead of baking them.

Sweet potato skins with cheese

Sweet potatoes are a versatile ingredient that can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes. They pair well with a variety of cheeses, including mozzarella, parmesan, fontina, gouda, gruyere, swiss, and cheddar. Here is a recipe for sweet potato skins with cheese, inspired by the idea of loaded potato skins.

Ingredients:

• 4 small/medium sweet potatoes, halved lengthwise
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup grated cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or a mix)
• Chives or scallions, chopped (optional)
• Bacon, crumbled (optional)

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 350-425°F.
• Wash the sweet potatoes and pat them dry. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet, cut-side down, and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until tender and golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes until they are easy to handle.
• Carefully scoop out the flesh of the sweet potatoes, leaving some flesh intact to form the skins.
• In a bowl, mix the scooped-out flesh with your desired fillings. You can use bacon, caramelized onions, herbs such as sage or rosemary, and any other ingredients of your choice.
• Scoop the filling back into the sweet potato skins and top with grated cheese.
• Place the loaded sweet potato skins under the broiler for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and golden. Alternatively, bake at 400-500°F for about 10 minutes.
• Serve warm and enjoy!

You can get creative with the fillings and toppings for your sweet potato skins. Try adding scallions, chives, or other herbs for extra flavour and colour. You can even experiment with different types of cheese to find your favourite combination. Enjoy these sweet potato skins as a side dish, snack, or a meal on their own!

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