Sweet Potato Purée With Goat Cheese And Truffle Oil Food

SWEET POTATO PURéE WITH GOAT CHEESE AND TRUFFLE OIL

Steps:

• Cook sweet potatoes in large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain. Transfer sweet potatoes to processor. Add cheese and process just until mixture is smooth. Add butter and truffle oil. Process just until blended. Season puree with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Stir puree in large saucepan over medium heat until heated through. Transfer puree to bowl and serve.
• *Available at Italian markets, specialty foods stores and some supermarkets nationwide.

SWEET POTATO PUREE

Steps:

• Place a steamer insert or a mesh colander in a large pot and add enough water to reach the bottom of the steamer. Place the sweet potatoes in the steamer and bring the water to a boil. Cover the pot, lower the heat, and cook over simmering water for about 25 minutes, until very tender. Check occasionally to be sure the water doesn't boil away.
• Transfer the sweet potatoes to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With the mixer on low, slowly add the half-and-half, orange zest, orange juice, cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. With the mixer still on low, add the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until incorporated. Taste for seasonings and mix until smooth. Serve hot.

SWEET POTATO AND GOATS CHEESE MASH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350F/180C.
• Place the potato, garlic and oil in a small oven proof dish and toss well. Cover and roast for 25 minutes.
• Squeeze the garlic into the potato (be careful it will be HOT!) and add the goats cheese. Mash everything together well.
• Add lemon juice and black pepper if desired.

SWEET POTATO PUREE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, cover potatoes with water. Bring to a boil; cook until tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain; puree in food processor.
• Add flavorings, if desired; puree. Maple-Butter: Add 2 tablespoons each melted butter and maple syrup. Serve puree with more butter and syrup. Orange-Ginger: Add 1/4 cup each milk and orange juice, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger. Lime-Cayenne: Add 1 tablespoon lime juice and a pinch of cayenne. Thin with a bit of cooking liquid, if needed.
• Season with salt and pepper; serve.

SILKY SWEET POTATO PUREE

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position; heat to 425 degrees. Place potatoes on a foil-lined pan; bake 45 to 60 minutes, until tender. Peel when cool enough to handle.
• Puree with salt and pepper in a food processor. With motor running, gradually add milks through feeder tube, then butter. Process until silken. (Can make up to 2 days ahead; store in an airtight container.) Reheat and serve.

SWEET POTATO & GOAT'S CHEESE RAVIOLI

Steps:

• For the filling, bake, steam or microwave the potatoes, then roughly mash. Mix with the pumpkin seeds and goat's cheese.
• For the pasta, place the flour and a pinch of salt in a food processor and crack in the eggs. Pulse until mixture forms sticky-looking crumbs. Turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured surface and bring together to form a firm dough. Knead for 5 mins until the dough feels smooth, wrap in cling film and chill for 30 mins. To make by hand, shape flour into a 'ring' on a work surface, crack eggs into the middle, then gradually work the flour into eggs using your fingers.
• Cut the pasta into quarters, then roll out each piece using a pasta machine. Dust with flour as you go and move it down a notch onto a thinner setting every second roll. Continue until you get to the penultimate setting. If you like your pasta very thin and delicate, you can go for the thinnest setting. If you don't have a machine, use a heavy rolling pin to roll the dough as thinly as possible.
• Stamp out rounds using a ravioli cutter or a 6cm biscuit cutter - work quickly so the pasta doesn't dry out. Lay the circles on a semolina-dusted surface and cover with cling film as you cut the rest.
• Place a small tsp of filling in the centre of each round. Dampen the edges with water, then sandwich another round on top. Use your fingertips to seal the edges, trying to expel all the air as you go. Lay the ravioli on a semolina-dusted tea towel to dry for a few mins.
• Cook ravioli in a large pan of gently boiling salted water for 4-5 mins. Do not use a full rolling boil as it is likely to make ravioli split. Drain, and serve with a little chilli oil, Parmesan and pumpkin seeds.

ROAST SWEET POTATO & ONION TART WITH GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and cook the onions over a low heat for 20-25 mins or until well softened and lightly browned. Add the vinegar and cranberry sauce, and simmer for 5-10 mins more, stirring until almost all the liquid has disappeared. Leave to cool.
• Meanwhile, put the sweet potatoes in a bowl and toss with the remaining oil, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper and the chilli flakes. Arrange on a baking tray and cook for 20 mins, turning halfway, until softened and lightly browned. Leave to cool.
• Reduce oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line two large baking trays with baking parchment and unroll the pastry sheets on top - trimming the edges neatly at this point will encourage a good rise. Leaving a 2cm gap around the edge, spread the onions over the pastry, then top with the sweet potatoes and goat's cheese. Brush the beaten egg around the border of the pastry and bake in the oven for 35-40 mins or until the pastry is golden and crisp, swapping the shelves after 20 mins.
• Scatter over the thyme, then cut each tart into quarters (or smaller pieces if serving more). Serve with a large leafy salad.

SWEET POTATO AND GOAT CHEESE TORTILLA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F Put the potato in a large roasting tin, season and drizzle over half the oil. Toss well.
• Put the peppers, fennel, garlic and onion in a second tin. Season, drizzle over the remaining oil and toss well. Put both tins in the oven and roast for 30-35min or until the vegetables are tender.
• Whisk together the eggs, cream and cheeses and season with plenty of coarsely ground black pepper.
• Line the base and sides of a 8in round, 3in deep cake tin with non-stick baking parchment.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F Layer the roasted vegetables in the tin with the spinach, adding a little egg mix as you go. Pour in any remaining egg mix and cook the tortilla in the centre of the oven for about 1hr 15min or until the egg is set and the top golden.
• Serve warm or cold.