Hearty Maple Sausage and Sweet Potato Medley

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sweet potato bake

What’s up, Hungry People!

Around this time of year, sweet potatoes are in high demand. Well, maybe not officially, but it sure feels like everyone is craving them more often during the holiday season. Personally, I can’t resist the deliciousness of sweet potatoes and find myself enjoying them year-round.

sweet potato sausage breakfast bowl

Today, I’m taking a break from the traditional sweet potato dishes like roasted potatoes or the classic pecan and marshmallow toppings. Instead, I’m going to show you a unique way to enjoy sweet potatoes: a mouthwatering maple sausage and sweet potato bake.

This dish is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Plus, you have the option of making a casserole-style bake or individual servings—whatever suits your fancy! If you’re short on time, canned sweet potatoes work just fine. But if you prefer a more hands-on approach, go ahead and chop your own sweet potatoes. It’s totally worth the effort!

ingredients for sweet potato bowls

Here’s What You Need

  • Sweet potato: Provides a hearty and sweet base for the dish.
  • Maple sausage: Adds savory flavor and richness to the sweet potato mixture.
  • Maple syrup: Enhances the sweetness and adds a hint of maple flavor.
  • Garlic: Infuses the dish with a delicious savory taste.
  • Onion: Adds depth of flavor and aroma to the sweet potato mixture.
  • Yellow squash: Adds texture, color, and a light flavor to the dish.
  • Goat cheese: Brings creaminess and tanginess to the final dish.
  • Sage: Provides an earthy and herbaceous note to the sweet potato mixture.
  • Rosemary: Adds a fragrant and aromatic element to the dish.
  • Paprika: Contributes a subtle smokiness and adds depth of flavor.
  • Olive oil: Helps to cook and flavor the ingredients.

Let’s Cook!

Begin by sautéing the onions, garlic, spices, and sweet potatoes until they become tender. You’ll know they’re ready when the sweet potatoes are just beginning to mash with a gentle press.

While we don’t want to mash them completely for this recipe, it’s always an interesting option to consider!

sweet potatoes in skillet

The Sausage Adventure

In a separate pan, fry the maple sausage until it reaches a delightful crispiness. Then, toss the sausage into the pan with the sweet potatoes.

cooked sausage

This combination is a match made in food heaven, trust me! Once everything is well mixed, remove the pan from the heat and transfer the contents to a large bowl.

mixing bowl with sweet potato filling

Squash Slicing 101

Now, let’s talk about the squash. I used a mandolin slicer to achieve thin slices, around 1/16 of an inch thick. If you don’t have a mandolin slicer, don’t worry! Just carefully slice the squash as thinly as possible with a sharp knife. Once you have your squash ready, give them a good toss in a tablespoon of olive oil, making sure they are nicely coated.

squash in ramekin

Building Flavorful Layers

It’s time to assemble this flavorful dish! If you’re going for individual servings, grab some ramekins. If you prefer the casserole route, go ahead and use a baking dish. For the ramekins, arrange the squash slices along the bottoms, creating a solid foundation for the bake. If you’re using a casserole dish, arrange the squash in neat rows.

filled ramekins

Now, spoon the sautéed sweet potato mixture into the ramekins, carefully pressing the slices of squash against the edges, creating a beautiful border between the sweet potato and the ramekin. This adds both flavor and visual appeal to the dish!

Time to Bake and Melt

Pop your creation into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tops of the sweet potatoes are just starting to turn a lovely golden brown. At this point, sprinkle some creamy goat cheese on top of the sweet potatoes. It’s a game-changer, my friends! Return the bake to the oven and let it bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the goat cheese has melted and turned slightly golden.

Tips for Making Maple Sausage Breakfast Bowls

  • Precook the sweet potatoes: If you want to speed up the cooking process, consider precooking the sweet potatoes slightly by microwaving or boiling them for a few minutes before adding them to the skillet. This ensures that they cook through evenly in the oven.
  • Adjust sweetness: If you prefer a sweeter dish, you can increase the amount of maple syrup. Conversely, if you want a more savory flavor, you can reduce the amount of maple syrup or omit it altogether.
  • Sausage substitution: If you don’t have maple sausage, you can use regular breakfast sausage or experiment with other types of sausage, such as spicy or Italian sausage, to add a different flavor profile to the dish.
  • Choosing the right squash: Yellow squash works well in this recipe, but you can also use zucchini or other varieties of summer squash for a similar effect.
  • Uniform slicing: To ensure even cooking, try to slice the squash uniformly using a mandolin slicer or a sharp knife. This helps in achieving consistent texture and doneness throughout the bake.
  • Experiment with cheese: While goat cheese pairs wonderfully with the flavors in this dish, feel free to try other cheeses like feta, cheddar, or even mozzarella to personalize the taste according to your preferences.
  • Herb variations: If you don’t have sage or rosemary on hand, you can substitute them with other herbs like thyme, oregano, or even a dried herb blend to add a different aromatic element.
  • Browning the cheese: If the goat cheese is not browning to your liking, you can switch the oven to broil for the last couple of minutes to achieve a nicely melted and golden-brown cheese topping. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning.
  • Serving suggestions: This dish can be enjoyed on its own as a main course or served as a side dish alongside roasted meats or poultry. Consider garnishing with fresh herbs or a drizzle of balsamic reduction for added visual appeal.
  • Make it vegetarian: For a vegetarian version, you can omit the sausage or replace it with vegetarian sausage crumbles or cooked lentils for a protein-rich alternative.
sweet potatoes with sausage and goat cheese

Your maple sausage and sweet potato bake is now complete! The aroma filling your kitchen is simply delightful. Serve it up while it’s hot, and let the flavors dance on your taste buds. This dish is perfect for any time of day and will surely satisfy your craving for something unique, flavorful, and oh-so-good!

goat-cheese-sweet-potato

Maple Sausage & Sweet Potato Bake

The Starving Chef
A comforting and versatile casserole featuring savory maple sausage, tender sweet potatoes, and layers of sliced squash, topped with creamy goat cheese and aromatic herbs.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Cooling Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Fall, For One
Cuisine Fall Foods
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups sweet potato chopped
  • 8 oz maple sausage (breakfast links)
  • cup maple syrup
  • cup garlic minced
  • cup onion chopped
  • 2 yellow squash thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons goat cheese
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon sage
  • 2 sprigs rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté the onions, garlic, and chopped sweet potatoes until the potatoes have softened. Add the sage, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  • Transfer the sweet potato mixture into a bowl. Stir in the fresh rosemary.
  • In another skillet, fry the sausage until cooked through. Then roughly chop it and let it cool for a few minutes. Stir the sausage into the sweet potato mixture.
  • Thinly slice the squash with a mandolin slicer. Toss the squash in about a tablespoon of olive oil until completely covered. Arrange the squash on the bottoms of each ramekin or on the bottom of the casserole dish.
  • Spoon the sweet potato mixture on top of the squash-lined baking dish. Press slices of squash between the sweet potato and the edges of the ramekin or dish.
  • Place the ramekins in the preheated oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the tops of the sweet potatoes are just beginning to brown. Add a tablespoon of goat cheese to the top of each dish, then return to the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the goat cheese is browned and melting.
  • Let the ramekins cool for at least 10-15 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh rosemary, serve, and enjoy!
Keyword goat cheese, sausage, sweet potato
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