Mashed White Sweet Potatoes

By
Cynthia Nelson
Cynthia Nelson
Cynthia Nelson
Food columnist and blogger Cynthia Nelson is the author of "Tastes Like Home: My Caribbean Cookbook." Living in Barbados, Cynthia shares her love of the diverse food of the islands.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/15/22
Tested by
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Tested by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Mashed White Sweet Potatoes

The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 cups

The white-fleshed sweet potato (boniato) is as versatile as traditional American potatoes. In the Caribbean, there is a huge variety of sweet potatoes, and people are always finding different ways to use them. Often, they are substituted for regular potatoes.

In an effort to serve a different kind of mashed potato, the white-flesh sweet potatoes were used to make this spiced mashed potato dish. Made with the addition of green onions and chile pepper to give it a little kick, this dish can be served just as you would regular mashed potatoes. It should go great with pork, chicken, and other protein main courses.

The boniato is native to the Americas, and its name means "harmless" in Spanish, probably to distinguish it from poisonous plants. It grows year-round in the Caribbean. It has purple skin and white flesh that isn't as sweet as other sweet potato varieties. It is high in vitamins A and C and in fiber, making it hearty and healthy.

There are also many varieties of spicy chile peppers native to the Caribbean, including the Scotch bonnet, Caribbean red peppers, and Trinidad scorpion peppers, that make the hottest of the hot lists. You can add milder chile pepper, of course, and adjust the amount to taste, or leave it out if you wish.

"The mashed white sweet potatoes were savory yet with a hint of sweetness, and the green onions and chile pepper were excellent additions. These would be a tasty change of pace for a holiday meal, or serve them as a side to go with meat, poultry, fish, or a plant-based protein." — Diana Rattray

bowl of mashed white sweet potatoes, Caribbean-style
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds white sweet potatoes

  • Salt, to taste

  • 3 tablespoons melted butter, salted or unsalted

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1/4 cup whole milk, warm

  • 1 chile pepper, minced

  • 1/4 cup sliced green onions, white and green parts

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Mashed white sweet potatoes ingredients

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  2. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into large pieces.

    Peel and cut sweet potatoes

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  3. In a large pot, place the potatoes, cover with water, and bring the pot to a boil over high heat.

    Cover potatoes in a pot with water

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  4. When the pot comes to a boil, salt the water, and let the sweet potatoes cook until a knife inserts easily into them, about 20 minutes.

    Let the sweet potatoes cook in a pot until a knife inserts easily into them

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  5. Drain the sweet potatoes thoroughly.

    Drain the potatoes

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  6. Add the drained potatoes back into the still-hot pot along with the butter, pepper, and milk. Mash the potatoes until they are smooth. Season with the chile pepper and salt to taste. Mix well.

    Add the drained potatoes into the pot along with the salt, butter, pepper, and milk and chile pepper

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  7. Fold in the green onions.

    Green onions added to the potatoes in the pot

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  8. Serve immediately and enjoy.

    Mashed White Sweet Potatoes

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

Tips

  • Your mashed white sweet potatoes can be part of a Caribbean feast or family dinner. A baked or roasted chicken breast with Caribbean jerk seasoning would be a good accompaniment, as would pork chops.
  • Besides enjoying them again as mashed potatoes, you can use them in a variety of ways. Top a shepherd's pie made with meat, vegetables, or lentils with the leftovers. You can also form them into potato patties adding vegetables, flour, and egg (or egg replacer), and fry them to make a great breakfast dish or appetizer to serve with dip or chutney.

Recipe Variations

  • For vegan mashed white sweet potatoes, use a milk alternative or broth, and replace the butter with vegan-friendly margarine.
  • To make the sweet potatoes richer, use half-and-half or light cream instead of milk.
  • To reduce the heat, replace the hot chile pepper with a few tablespoons of minced red bell pepper.



How to Store & Freeze

  • Refrigerate leftover mashed sweet potatoes in an airtight container and eat within four days.
  • To freeze cooked mashed sweet potatoes, transfer them to an airtight container or zip-close freezer bag. Label the container with the name and date and freeze for up to 12 months.

What does a white sweet potato taste like?

The taste of a white sweet potato is similar to the orange variety but is milder and creamier and can be used in savory or sweet dishes.

Is a sprouted sweet potato OK to eat?

Sprouted sweet potatoes are safe to eat, but you will want to scoop out the sprouts.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
298 Calories
10g Fat
50g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 298
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 12%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 24mg 8%
Sodium 740mg 32%
Total Carbohydrate 50g 18%
Dietary Fiber 8g 28%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 62mg 309%
Calcium 115mg 9%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 1162mg 25%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. USDA FoodData Central. 2021. Sweet potato, cooked, boiled, without skin. [online] Available at: <https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168484/nutrients>