Savory Sweet Potato Casserole (Vegan)

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare a 9x13 baking pan with cooking spray. Line 2 large cookie sheets with foil and spray with cooking spray.(After the sweet potatoes cooked and are out of the oven, you will turn temperature up to 400°)

Step 2

Rinse and cut sweet potatoes in half lengthwise. Set on two foil-lined cookie sheets, cut sides down, and bake for about 60 minutes or until done. You will need to use two oven racks. Switch out midway so that the sweet potatoes cook evenly. The sweet potatoes are done when they give when squeezed gently. Let cool till easy to handle.

Step 3

Prepare rosemary and sage by stripping the leaves. Set aside. Dice shallots and set aside (separate from herbs)Cube/crumb sourdough bread and set aside. Zest lemon and set aside.

Step 4

Cook rosemary, sage in 6 Tablespoons of the vegan butter over medium heat, stirring often until the herbs are crisp, about 5 minutes. You will need to divide this in half. One half will go into the cooked potatoes and the other half will coat the breadcrumbs. (See instructions below.)

Step 5

When potatoes have cooled enough to handle, scoop out the flesh from potatoes and transfer to a large bowl. (Throw the skins away.) This will give you about 6 cups of cooked sweet potatoes.

Step 6

Add about half of the warmed butter and herbs to the sweet potato mixture. Set aside.

Step 7

Add cubed bread to the saucepan with the remaining herb/butter mixture. Toss to coat. Add in salt and pepper. Transfer to another small bowl (separate from potato mixture.)

Step 8

Do not clean out the saucepan. Heat the other two tablespoons of vegan butter in the same saucepan. Add in chopped shallots and saute until shallots are tender and translucent and slightly browned -about 5 minutes.

Step 9

Add in coconut milk, cornstarch, and nutritional yeast. Continue to cook for a couple of minutes or until bubbly and slightly thickened.

Step 10

Add to the potato mixture and with an immersion blender, blend until mostly smooth. If you do not have an immersion blender, add the coconut cream and shallots to a blender and blend till smooth. Then add in about half of the potato mixture and continue to blend.

Step 11

Pour blended potato mixture into the prepared 9x13 pan. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

Step 12

Take out of the oven and sprinkle seasoned bread crumbs on top. Continue to bake uncovered for another 15-20 minutes or until breadcrumbs are crisp and lightly browned. Sprinkle lemon zest on top of baked casserole. Let cool slightly before serving.