Potatoes au gratin is a typically rich dish made with generous amounts of butter and cheese. But you can make a lighter version of this dish using sweet potatoes and removing most of the fat. Sweet potatoes provide an abundance of vitamin A, with 380 percent daily value in a 1/2-cup serving. This serving size also provides 3 g of fiber and 35 percent daily value of vitamin C, with only 90 calories. Make sweet potatoes au gratin with spices that complement the vegetable for an interesting and delicious dish without all the fat.
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and grease your baking dish with 2 tbsp. of olive or canola oil.
Step 2
Peel and cut 3 to 4 lbs. of sweet potatoes into thin slices, then put them into the baking dish.
Step 3
Heat 2 cups of low-fat or soy milk with 1 pressed garlic clove, 1 tbsp. salt, 2 tsp. whole fresh thyme leaves, 1 tsp. ground black pepper and 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg over medium heat until it starts to boil, then pour the mixture over the sweet potatoes.
Step 4
Cover the dish with foil and bake it for around 50 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender.
Tips and Warnings
- Some recipes add cream after the dish is cooked for a more creamy texture. If you want this texture, add 1 cup of boiled buttermilk once the sweet potatoes are cooked, then bake the dish for another 25 minutes without a cover. Buttermilk adds thickness, flavor and creaminess but only contains 98 calories, 2.2 g of fat and 1.3 g of saturated fat in a 1 cup serving.
Things You'll Need
- 13- by 9- by 2-inch glass baking dish
- 3 to 4 lbs. sweet potatoes
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 2 cups low-fat milk
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tbsp. salt
- 2 tsp. fresh thyme
- 1 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
- Aluminum foil
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