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    Home » Recipes » Vegetarian Side Dishes

    Oct 22, 2021 by Becca Heyes · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

    Creamy Sweet Potato Gratin

    131 shares
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    Total time: 1 hour 55 minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    5 from 2 votes
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    This creamy sweet potato gratin is ultra luxurious, with buttered leeks and a hint of smoked paprika. Perfect for a special occasion!

    A portion of creamy sweet potato gratin in a bowl with a cheesy topping.

    Have you ever cooked something that barely even makes it to the dinner table, because you just can't stop nibbling it straight from the dish? That was me with this creamy sweet potato gratin. It. Is. Incredible.

    A luxurious creamy sweet potato gratin in a baking dish with a scoop removed.

    What is a gratin?

    A gratin (pronounced gra-tan) is any type of bake that's cooked in a shallow dish, topped with some sort of crispy topping, such as breadcrumbs or cheese.

    You can 'gratinate' pretty much anything, but potatoes are one of the most common ingredients to find in a gratin.

    Potato gratin has all sorts of names, depending on the exact cooking method, and whereabouts in the world you are:

    • scalloped potatoes
    • potatoes au gratin
    • funeral potatoes
    • gratin dauphinois
    • dauphinois potatoes
    • potato bake

    Whatever you call it, the end result is pretty much the same: creamy potatoes, baked in the oven with a crispy topping.

    And it is wonderful.

    A portion of sweet potato gratin in a bowl with a spoon.

    Sweet potato gratin

    I'll admit, sweet potato isn't usually my favourite vegetable. I'll take a regular French fry over a sweet potato one any day of the week.

    But this sweet potato gratin... wow. It's definitely converted me to the wonders of sweet potato.

    Thin slices of sweet potato are baked in a creamy, cheesy sauce - with garlicky buttered leeks, just because. The potato absorbs the sauce and becomes soft and creamy, and I also added my favourite spice of all time, smoked paprika, which brings some depth. The flavour is just incredible.

    The finished dish doesn't feel overly sweet, as the flavour of the sweet potato is perfectly balanced by the salty cheese, as well as the smokiness of the paprika.

    A bowlful of creamy sweet potato gratin with buttered leeks and a crispy topping.

    How to make sweet potato gratin

    Step 1: Make the buttered leeks

    The recipe begins by sautéing some leeks with butter and garlic. I wanted to add something extra to the sweet potato bake, but still wanted the potatoes to be the stars of the show, so these leeks are perfect.

    They bring heaps of flavour to the dish, without taking over completely.

    Just cook them over a medium heat for about 5-10 minutes, until they're beautifully soft, but not too browned.

    Buttered leeks cooking in a frying pan.

    Step 2: Thinly slice sweet potato

    Peel your sweet potato, and cut it into nice thin slices.

    You could use a mandoline if you have one (using its thickest setting - we don't quite want paper thin here), but I actually sliced mine by hand. It didn't take long, and it was quite easy to cut slices that were only 2 or 3 millimetres thick.

    Sweet potato, leeks and parmesan cheese in a baking dish.

    Step 3: Begin layering

    The sweet potato bake is constructed by layering up the slices of sweet potato with the buttered leeks and some grated parmesan cheese (a vegetarian version, of course!).

    To help the sweet potato cook, don't overlap them too much - lay them out in single layers, with just a small amount of leeks and cheese. This way, you end up with lots of thin layers, with a little bit of cream in between each layer to cook the potato.

    I seem to be a fan of layered dishes lately - there was a similar layering process in my cheesy eggplant bake, which was equally spectacular. Layering something with cheese is never a bad idea.

    Sweet potato with cream and leeks in a baking dish.

    Step 4: Pour over the cream sauce

    The sauce for this sweet potato gratin is simply cream, salt and pepper, dried thyme, and smoked paprika. The paprika really does bring something special to the dish, so I'd recommend not skipping it.

    You only need a small drizzle of cream in between each layer of potato - it doesn't need to be drenched.

    Carry on layering until you've used all the ingredients.

    Uncooked sweet potato gratin in a baking dish.

    Step 5: Bake

    Cover the dish (I used a baking dish that had a lid, but you could use kitchen foil if you don't have a lid), and pop it in the oven.

    It does take a while to bake, as the sweet potato needs time to soften up in the cream. But believe me - it's worth the wait.

    The end result is irresistibly creamy with the salty cheese coming through in every bite. And the crispy bit on top is just the icing on the cake.

    Crispy sweet potato gratin in a baking dish.

    How to serve sweet potato gratin

    There's no denying that this sweet potato gratin is a decadent dish. I certainly wouldn't cook something this rich on a daily basis, and a fairly small portion goes a long way.

    So personally, I'd save this dish for a special occasion - it would make your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner absolutely unforgettable, for example.

    Or, cook it as part of a family lunch on a cosy Sunday, alongside some plainer vegetable side dishes.

    Creamy sweet potato bake in a dish with a scoop being removed.

    Can you use regular potatoes instead?

    If you're not a sweet potato fan, you can swap them out for regular potatoes. I'd actually recommend giving the sweet potatoes a try, as the hint of sweetness is absolutely incredible in the finished dish, even if it's not usually your thing.

    But if regular potatoes are all you have on hand, you can use them instead.

    Generally, regular potatoes take a little longer to cook than sweet potatoes, so it may need a bit more time in the oven. Make sure you slice your potatoes super thin, to help them along, and cover the dish tightly so the topping doesn't burn while it's baking.

    Alternatively, you could boil the sliced potatoes for a few minutes before layering your dish, just to give them a head start.

    Can I prepare this sweet potato bake in advance?

    Absolutely! Just layer everything up, and leave it in the fridge until you're ready to bake.

    A portion of creamy sweet potato bake in a bowl.

    Creamy Sweet Potato Gratin

    This creamy sweet potato gratin is ultra luxurious, with buttered leeks and a hint of smoked paprika. Perfect for a special occasion!

    If you've cooked this recipe, don't forget to leave a star rating!

    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Comment
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 284kcal
    Author: Becca Heyes

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 large leek, quartered lengthwise then sliced
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 600 g (~ 1 ⅓ lb) sweet potato (1 large or 2 small)
    • 500 ml (~ 2 cups) single cream
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 100 g (~ 3 ½ oz) vegetarian parmesan-style cheese, finely grated

    Instructions

    • Melt the butter in a frying pan, and add the sliced leek and minced garlic. Cook over a medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes, until the leek is very soft but not overly browned.
    • Peel the sweet potato, and cut it into thin slices (ideally 2-3mm).
    • Transfer the cream into a jug, and add the smoked paprika, salt and pepper, and dried thyme. Mix thoroughly to combine.
    • Pour about a tablespoon of the cream mixture into the bottom of a baking dish (mine measured approximately 8 x 8 inches), and spread it around. This helps to stop the potato sticking to the bottom of the dish.
    • Now begin layering your ingredients. Add a single layer of sweet potato slices, scatter a few buttered leeks on top, and a light sprinkling of finely grated parmesan. Drizzle over a little more of the cream mixture. Repeat these layers until you've used all of the ingredients. Finish the dish by pouring any remaining cream on top, and scattering over any remaining cheese.
    • Add a lid to the dish, or cover tightly with some kitchen foil. Bake at 190°C (Gas Mark 5 / 375°F) until the sweet potato is soft, and offers no resistance when you insert a sharp knife. My bake took about 1 hour 25 minutes, but the exact time will depend on exactly how thinly you sliced your potatoes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 portion - Calories: 284 kcal - Carbohydrates: 28.1 g - Protein: 10.3 g - Fat: 15.5 g - Saturated Fat: 9.7 g - Cholesterol: 48 mg - Sodium: 630 mg - Potassium: 632 mg - Fiber: 3.9 g - Sugar: 7.3 g - Calcium: 259 mg - Iron: 4 mg

    Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.

    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @EasyCheesyVeg or tag #EasyCheesyVegetarian!

    Love potato bake? This cheese and tomato potato bake is worth a try too:

    More Vegetarian Side Dishes

    • Roasted Frozen Green Beans (with Feta and Lemon)
    • Easy Tarka Dal (Vegan Red Lentil Curry)
    • Creamy Cowboy Caviar (with Avocado Dressing)
    • Easy Homemade Parmentier Potatoes
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    Comments

    1. Cynthia Sjogren says

      November 14, 2021 at 3:45 pm

      This was delicious! I used coconut cream and vegan Parmesan. I had a small bit leftover which was great on toast for breakfast! Thanks for the great recipe!5 stars

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        December 03, 2021 at 1:07 pm

        Thanks Cynthia, really glad you enjoyed it :)

        Reply
    2. Annabel Smyth says

      October 22, 2021 at 5:53 pm

      I am sure I've had something similar made with grated carrot, rather than sweet potatoes.... I never did get the recipe (a friend cooked it when we went there for a meal), but it was delicious!

      Reply
      • Becca @ Easy Cheesy Vegetarian says

        November 09, 2021 at 8:35 am

        That sounds good too!

        Reply
    3. Lizzie B says

      April 09, 2013 at 7:31 am

      Anything with potato (and sweet potato) in it and I'm sold. And paprika just so happens to be one of my favourite spices so something tells me I need to give this a try asap! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Anonymous says

      April 08, 2013 at 12:15 am

      Well I made it for dinner tonight. I will let you know if it tastes good. :)

      Reply
    5. Rosie @ Blueberry Kitchen says

      April 07, 2013 at 10:56 pm

      This looks so delicious, I can't wait to try this recipe!

      Reply
    6. Katherine - Real Food Runner says

      April 06, 2013 at 10:21 pm

      this looks SO delicious!

      Reply
    7. LittleMonsterx14 says

      April 06, 2013 at 9:13 pm

      brilliant! this looks great!

      Reply
    8. Happy Valley Chow says

      April 06, 2013 at 3:35 pm

      Mmmmm this looks soo good! Great job, can't wait to try!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Becca! I've been a vegetarian for 20+ years, and unlike most of my other childhood pursuits, I actually stuck with it! I love cooking vegetarian food that's full of flavour, but doesn't take a lot of effort to make.

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    Hi, I'm Becca! I've been a vegetarian for 20+ years, and unlike most of my other childhood pursuits, I actually stuck with it! I love cooking vegetarian food that's full of flavour, but doesn't take a lot of effort to make.

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