This sweet potato and swede (rutabaga) mash is a perfect balance of sweet and earthy with a great creamy texture! This wonderful and easy side dish could be a great alternative to your mashed potatoes!
Serve this creamy mash with my juicy Meat Patties in Mushroom Sauce.
A couple of weeks ago I was commissioned to develop recipes for a vegetable guide for a freelance job. The vegetables I was given were the worst kind or so I thought. Leeks, Celeriac, Beetroot and Swede or, as the latter known in the US, rutabaga.
I love vegetables but let’s be honest, some of them are just not appealing in any way you look at them, and I was asked to work with that kind! However, after spending some time brainstorming and doing research I found new and exciting ways to cook those cast-offs of the culinary world.
I cannot share the recipes with you just yet but this Sweet Potato and Swede Mash is a result of my new found knowledge of how wonderful, delicious and nutritious swede or rutabaga is!
What is swede and what does it taste like?
We all love sweet potatoes, their wonderful flavour and creamy texture pair well with almost anything. Swede is another matter. It belongs to the same family as cabbage and tastes quite bitter when eaten raw.
However, cooking transforms swede and combining it with sweet potatoes in a creamy mash truly makes swede shine.
Why eat it you might ask? Well, swede is incredibly nutritious and very low in calories. It is however high in antioxidants, vitamins A and C and a number of minerals.
Last week when I cooked Cod Roasted in Mustard Sauce, this Sweet Potato and Swede Mash was what went on the side. I cannot tell you enough what a wonderful partner this sweet tasting mash made to mustardy fish!
How do I make sweet potato and swede mash?
Peel and cube both sweet potatoes and swede and boil with some thyme for extra flavour until tender enough to mash.
Mash with plenty of butter and a touch of chopped parsley. It’s that easy and utterly delicious!
More delicious vegetable side dishes to try:
- Creamy Braised Cabbage with Bacon and Mushrooms
- Eggplant Caviar with Cracked Coriander Seeds
- Roasted Parmesan Broccoli
- Feta and Zucchini Fritters
Originally published in 09/2015. Updated and republished in 10/2019.
Sweet Potato and Swede Mash
Ingredients
- 500 g/ 1 large Swede
- 800/ 2 medium Sweet Potatoes
- 4-5 sprigs of fresh thyme leaves only
- 1 tbsp flat leaf parsley chopped
- 3 tbsp butter
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Peel both sweet potatoes and swede and cube them. Cut swede in smaller chunks than sweet potatoes as it takes longer to cook.
- Boil both vegetables in the same pot together with 1 tsp of fresh thyme leaves for 15 minutes until fork tender.
- Mash with a potato masher until smooth, add butter, chopped parsley and salt to taste and stir to combine.
Nutrition
Fal says
Can the mash be frozen?
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
Yes it can
Amy says
I have just stumbled upon your site when looking for a recipe. I usually do swede and carrot mash but I’m out of carrots! This looks like a delicious topping for tonight’s cottage pie. My mouth is watering looking at the pictures on your site, I’ll be back for more!
Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says
Thank you so much for your kind words, Amy! Enjoy and I hope you do come back! 🙂
Sue says
I am loving your recipes and Swede I love with roast lamb. Thank you
vikalinka says
My pleasure, Sue!!
Angela says
Mashed Swede and Parsnips are yummy also. Thank you for this recipe. Will make very soon
vikalinka says
I love parsnips so much, Angela!
Taren says
I had to google swede. I’d not heard of that. We call them rutabagas. I’ll have to try this!
vikalinka says
So funny but I completely get it. I have not heard of a swede until we moved to the UK and the UK audience is so mystified by a rutabaga!
Lita Watson says
Such a great dish! I ‘m a big fan of swede and i can’t wait to try it out. So can i preserve it in refrigerator for a week ?
Hannah Hossack-Lodge says
I LOVE mashed swede, I especially like to make a mixed root vegetable mash, it is so much tastier than regular mashed potato 🙂
vikalinka says
It does have so much more taste, Hannah! I completely agree!
Valya @ Valya' s Taste of Home says
Love sweet potatoes. Beautiful photos too Julia.
vikalinka says
Thank you so much, Valya! 🙂