Sweet potato & spinach bake
Cooking time
Prep: 15 mins Cook: 1 hrSkill level
EasyServings
Serves 4If you're after some substantial comfort food on a budget then this vegetarian bake is just the thing. Add lamb chops for the meat eaters
Nutrition and extra info
Additional info
- Vegetarian
Nutrition per serving
- kcalories
- 383
- protein
- 9g
- carbs
- 48g
- fat
- 19g
- saturates
- 11g
- fibre
- 7g
- sugar
- 15g
- salt
- 0.61g
Ingredients
- 300ml single cream (or double cream for a really creamy texture)
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 2 sprigs thyme or rosemary
- 250g bag frozen spinach
- freshly grated nutmeg
- butter, for greasing
- 850g sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (about 3mm thick)
- 25g grated hard cheese, such as cheddar, Parmesan or veggie alternative
Make it non-veggie
- 2 lamb chops
- few sprigs thyme or rosemary
- 1 tsp olive oil per portion
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Method
- Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the cream, garlic and herb sprigs into a small saucepan and slowly bring to just below boiling. Turn off the heat, season and leave to infuse.
- Put the spinach into a colander, pour over a kettle of boiling water and leave to drain for a few mins. Then squeeze out as much water as possible. Season with salt, pepper and freshly grated nutmeg.
- Grease an ovenproof dish generously with butter and spread half the sweet potato slices across the bottom. Top with a layer of spinach, then the remaining potato. Pour over the cream mixture, through a sieve to remove the garlic and herbs, then sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 45-55 mins until golden and tender.
- Meanwhile, if you’re serving the chops, heat a griddle or frying pan and finely chop the leaves from the herb sprig. Rub over the chops with the oil and some seasoning, then griddle or fry for 3-4 mins on each side or until cooked to your liking. Leave bake, and chops if serving, to rest for 5 mins, then serve with a big green salad.
Recipe from Good Food magazine, February 2011
Comments, questions and tips
Comments
1st time I made this was with single cream and fresh spinach, didn't get enough water out of the spinach so it curdled a little but it was still good. Made it a 2nd time with double cream (dried rosemary) fresh spinach again but poured two lots of boiled water over it and squeezed the water out well - it was much better. Both times I have been amazed by the lovely flavour and have never tried anything else like it. Rich and indulgent, comforting and moreish. Its not often I right reviews but just had to tell you how good this is. Very impressed with the good food website - I've tried quite a few recipes and its really helped to add variety to our meal times.
Superb little recipe this one. I have a Son who can be picky with food but ate this without a whimper. As tried by others, I also changed from cream to creme fraiche and it turned out very well. Only thing I would change is increase the spinach content to 350g. Sprinkled low fat mature cheddar on top (quite a bit more than on the recipe) which also worked. Served this with lamb chops but it could accompany so many other options whether red or white meat. This one's a keeper!
This is without a doubt the best recipe I have ever made or tasted. I have eaten it in a number of ways with salad, as a side to chicken kiev with some lemon couscous and also as part of a roast, it literally never fails to please! definitely one for when you have people coming over - easy crowd pleaser!
Flavours were lovely but ended up with a bit too much liquid at the bottom, even though I cooked it for an hour. I used half double cream and half milk so maybe that was it? Added 2 large leeks as didn't have enough spinach, as well as garlic and chilli. Oh and I didn't bother messing about with infusing the cream. Used 50g of feta but will try cheddar next time.
Have made this dozens of times and absolutely love it. I use fresh spinach and (although it's not terribly good for you!) double cream. I don't think it serves 4, probably 3 at a push (it's very more-ish!). No vegetarians in our household but we love this on its own.
I love that you can prep the dish, set up the sweet potatoes and spinach (and grate the cheese separately) and then leave it in the fridge all day and just do the cream part in the evening- simple. One of my absolute favourites from BBC GoodFood!
