I have been fascinated with Hasselback potatoes for years now. I think I first saw them on Pinterest. I had not run into them in the practical food world, only online, and I knew I eventually needed to make them when I conjured up a special recipe deserved of their unique style. Well my friends today is that day! I’m delighted to share Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Creamed Chipotle Turkey. Smoky, slightly spicy sour cream turkey and chipotle, perfect with the slices of the Hasselbeck-style sweet potato.
I will confess I have spent much of my life avoiding sweet potatoes. Traumatized by the Thanksgiving table of my childhood, when the ‘orange juice potato’ casserole with the little marshmallows was firmly deposited on the buffet followed by emphatic looks from my hosting relatives, leaving me to be sure I would not escape without a minimum of one heaping scoop on my plate. This was of course the classic sweet potato with marshmallow casserole, which my little mind decided was white potatoes mashed with orange juice, leaving them the dense color and sweetness we all know of a sweet potato.
The moment that got me over the hump was a nontraditional Thanksgiving dish of my own: Chipotle Sweet Potato Gratin. I fell head over heels in love and realized sweet potatoes never were supposed to be married to marshmallows (at least in my mouth), which only intensifies their organic dense sweetness, but to something zippy, spicy and smoky like a chipotle chile pepper which would showcase their best qualities. I love the combination of complimentary flavors like these as each component comes out tasting like a winner.
I wonder if you are looking at these pictures thinking to yourself ‘wait! This poor girl doesn’t even know what a sweet potato is; these are white!’. As I stood in front of the potato display at my grocery store, looking over the multiple sweet potato and yam options, I spotted this New Jersey Sweet Potato. I was attracted to its more uniform shape and lighter coloration. I also have a no-vegetable-left-behind mentality and love the chance to try something new.
In researching a bit, I learned they are an heirloom variety which have been resurrected, finding their perfect growing climate to be New Jersey. Instead of the jewel-tone orange of most sweet potatoes, their flesh is a yellowish color much more like a Yukon potato. They are said to be a bit less sweet than other sweet potatoes as well, however they definitely taste like a sweet potato.
This coincidental choice turned out to be fortuitous since my children, like me when I was their age, have a bit of a sweet potato aversion. These sweet potatoes however presented themselves as a friendlier liaison into the world of the sweeter tubers. The traditional potato appearance in the coloring coaxed them into trying the dish and actually loving it! These Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Creamed Chipotle Turkey can be made with any sweet potato of course but since this type was new to me I wanted to share my new found knowledge!
This is not a dainty recipe as you can see but one to dig in and eat in your own style. I prefer to mix a bit of the crumbled ground turkey chipotle mixture on individual slices eating them almost like a type of nachos. The addition of jalapeno slices, scallion slices, and bacon bits allows different flavors in each bite too!
This Hasselback Sweet Potato with Creamed Chipotle Turkey recipe is my second contribution as the Naturally Gluten-Free Fanatic for Food Fanatic.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
That sounds ah-mazing. Wow. I am always looking for new ways to serve sweet potatoes and I think these would be a huge hit!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
That looks delicious! I’ve been eating sweet potatoes all my life, but I’ve never tried them like this before. Thanks.
Brandy says
This looks like a meal to make for the family, I rarely cook sweet potatoes as I just never grew up eating them but I hear they are really good for you so certainly worth giving this recipe a try!
Colleen Cayes says
I think ALL potatoes should be cooked this way – I love the way you sliced them before baking, and garlic butter should have been genetically encoded into vegetables anyway. This is so simple and yummy and intriguing looking in its presentation, wow.
Pam says
I lov Hasselbeck potatoes! It’s probably my favorite way to cook them. This looks delicious.
Debbie Denny says
That looks so fabulous. I love this recipe and. I like finding new ways to fix sweet potatoes.
Marcie W. says
I have never had savory sweet potatoes but I would be totally willing to try a recipe like this. They offer some amazing nutritional benefits too.
Kristi says
For some reason sweet potatoes have always seemed like a difficult thing and I have avoided them. Just recently I have decided to try to find a way to make them that my family would like so will add your recipe to the “must try” menu rotation.
Toni Dash says
My issue with sweet potatoes and most winter squash is that it’s naturally so sweet that when it’s prepared, like with brown sugar, to only make it sweeter, it’s over the top for me. I like these because the flavor combination offsets that sweetness making it in balance and good!
Liz Mays says
My kids were never into that classic sweet potato recipe either. I know they’d love this one though!
Crystal says
There are 2 foods that I just will not eat. One of those is celery and the other one is sweet potatoes. I have tried sweet potatoes in various forms but just can’t acquire the taste. These do look really good….if I liked sweet potatoes!
Toni Dash says
I hear you, I do. As I wrote I’ve never liked sweet potatoes either. The trick to me is pairing them with spicy, smoky flavors. Then the sweetness is kept in check and the combination is sophisticated and interesting. I’ve had years of eating sweet potatoes in such a way that they wouldn’t touch my tongue after entering my mouth before hitting my throat! I really do understand.
Chantal says
I wish I knew how amazing sweet potatoes were when I was a kid. This is such a yummy looking recipe, going to try it out for sure!
Toni Dash says
I was too busy hating them for them to have a chance to catch my attention in a good way!
Ora Lee Gurr says
The Hasselback sweet potatoes look so tasty! Of course, I like sweet potatoes, so I’m an easy sell. The amazing thing is all the good stuff you added to make a wonderful meal looks just as appealing. The turkey and bacon sound good, too.
Rosey says
Meat and potatoes revisited. What’s not to love about this recipe! Very nice.
Crystal says
That’s my favorite way to prepare potatoes right now. I love how the toppings mix in between all of the layers. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Seattle Travel Blogger says
I agree with you about trying to avoid sweet potatoes.
But, this recipe looks to convert, very nice-looking dish.
Joyce Brewer (@MommyTalkShow) says
My husband can turn a sweet potato into a meal.
I’ve never seen potatoes sliced like this. Thanks for the inspiration.
Veronica says
I love sweet potatoes. I love to bake them like that in the oven with just olive oil drizzled over it
Toni Dash says
You are definitely ahead of the game liking sweet potatoes Veronica! You’d love these.
Raijean says
wow, that looks delicious. I’ve never had creamed chipotle turkey so this should taste amazing.
Christie says
I’ve never tried to cut my sweet potatoes this way before. I love the idea of a spicy turkey topping!
Nicole Escat says
Mouth watering! I’ve never tried to eat turkey but it looks delicious and tasty.
latoicha says
This looks like an amazing dish! I love sweet potatoes, so I would love to try this!