The Wimpy Vegetarian

Whole Foods + Vegetarian + Meal Plans

Sweet Potato Skins with Caramelized Onions

51 Comments

Savory sweet potato skins packed with cheese and caramelized onions.

vegetarian snack, appetizer, sweet potato skins with cheese and red onions, The Wimpy Vegetarian

I get interested in all the football hoopla when my home team does really, really well. And just to qualify that statement, well enough to go to the Super Bowl. Yes, I’m one of those fans. Kind of like the sports equivalent to people who go to church only on Easter and Christmas.

I can go years without watching a game, or even thinking much about it all, but once my boys head to the Divisional Playoffs, I tune in as if I’d been there all along, tossing around football lingo I don’t begin to understand.

It’s not long before my near total ignorance is revealed. Like the time I asked why on earth some guy, clearly yelling at the top of his lungs in the stands, was waving what looked to be a white picket fence in front of him. I made no sense to me. My stepson, Kevin, rolled his eyes and said, “defense”. OK, I didn’t actually see him roll his eyes, but I’m still sure it happened even if he was only thinking it.

It’s surprising I don’t understand the game better. Both of my parents were huge fans, avidly watching multiple television sets showing different games every weekend (waaaaay before DVR or this thing Kevin has called RedZone that switches your TV to any game that gets within the 20 yard line.) To this day, I still don’t know much more than the object of the game, and (now) that waving a white picket fence in the stands means you’re rooting for the defense, but I love the sound of a game playing in the background – probably something from my childhood. And I love the parties and food that go with it. That’s something I do know about.

And now for the recipe, but first you’ve got to tell me who you’re rooting for. My boys (the Niners) lost to the Seahawks last weekend, so I’m not sure who I’ll be rooting for. But I’m thinking about making a sign of a white picket fence to wave around, or at least use for serving these sweet potato skins.

Wimpy Tips

Bacon is the obvious choice here. Just slice a couple of bacon strips into half-inch pieces and fry up, nice and crispy. Sprinkle on top, replacing the pepitas with bacon crumbles.

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Sweet Potato Skins with Cheese and Caramelized Onions

There are two camps of thought on potato skins. Some folks scoop out most of the potato, mix it with some yummy stuff, spoon it back into the skins and bake. The other camps says no, no, no, that only a shallow scrape of potato is removed and the potato is topped with all kinds of yummy stuff and baked. I like both. This potato skin falls cleanly in the first camp. Soon, I'll post skins for the second camp! The cook time estimated above assumes the potatoes are baked in the microwave.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time40 mins
Servings: 4 potato skins
Author: Susan Pridmore

Ingredients

  • 2 sweet potatoes 1 cup when mashed
  • 1 tablespoon creme fraîche
  • 3 tablespoons Humboldt Fog cheese or your favorite
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon chopped chives
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper
  • Toasted pepitas

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400˚ F.
  • Bake the sweet potatoes in the microwave or conventional oven until soft. Slice in half lengthwise and cool. Scoop out the sweet potato, leaving the skin intact, and leaving enough potato attached to the skin to allow the skin to sit upright on a plate. I scooped out most of the potato for a little more than one cup.
  • Stir in the creme fraîche, cheese, salt and chives until fairly smooth.
  • Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion and sauté until lightly caramelized, about 15 minutes. Add the pepper and stir the onions into the sweet potato mixture.
  • Spoon the sweet potato mixture back into the skins.
  • Bake for 20 minutes.
  • Top with toasted pepitas and serve whole or sliced into one-inch bite-sized sections.

Notes

This appetizer is perfect for parties because you can roast the potatoes and make the potato filling ahead. Just store separately and assemble before the party and bake. Serve warm, fresh from the oven.

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Comments

  3. apuginthekitchen says

    I’m not a sports fan, however if a local team makes the cut I may watch the game. Like you I am sorely ignorant, maybe happily ignorant of the game and symbolism. I would not have known what that picket fence meant either. Your potato skins sound delicious! Perfect game day food!

    Reply

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian says

      So glad I’m not the only one. Myles now tells me that there was a sign with a ‘d’ on it next to the picket fence. But I never saw it, and not sure that would really have cleared it up for me LOL.

      Reply

  5. Katie says

    Ummmm so is it bad to admit I don’t have the slightest clue who is actually playing in the game this year? I do care about the food though…haha! These potato skins sound seriously amazing; I do love a sweet potato!!!

    Reply

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian says

      I usually have no clue who’s playing, and only do this year since SF made it all the way to the division finals (see how I tucked that in so I could sound like what I’m talking about?). Earlier this year I had no idea the World Series was even being played, let alone who was in the finals.

      Reply

  8. Alice // Hip Foodie Mom says

    I love that you made SWEET potato skins! We will be a divided household on Super Bowl Sunday. . we moved here to Madison from Seattle so you’d think my husband would be rooting for the Seahawks but my hubby is a huge Peyton Manning fan so he’s all for Denver! We’ll see!!!

    Reply

  12. Carnivorous Maximus says

    Whatever you do, do not mention to those watching the game that sweet potato skins aren’t just tasty, they are also healthy.

    Reply

  21. Susan says

    So pretty and yes I bet the addition of bacon makes this even more delicious than it already sounds. Plus I love the pop of color sweet potatoes provides on the table, as opposed to white potatoes.

    Reply

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian says

      It’s a goat cheese made by Cypress Grove (one of my favorite cheese makers) that’s very subtle and slightly tangy. It’s soooo good on drizzled with honey, but usually we just spread it on crackers.

      Reply

  23. Mary @ Fit and Fed says

    Love the healthier switch from white potatoes to sweet potatoes and the toasted pepitas. I saw that game too, and I’m not a regular football fan either. But as you say, when your home team has a chance to go to the Superbowl, you’re probably going to watch. It was quite a brutal game, don’t think I could be a regular fan because of that, didn’t enjoy seeing all the replays of that poor ’49er’s knee getting blown out. But it certainly was an exciting game. And I will need that game day food since it’s my town’s team that is going to the Superbowl. Though I did see that tickets to the ballet are half off on that afternoon here….

    Reply

    • The Wimpy Vegetarian says

      Oh my gosh yes, Mary. I really didn’t need to see that guy’s knee twisted in such a painful way and then snapped. Why do they do that? My husband’s an ER doctor and even he winced. Congrats that your team is going to the SB! I like both teams, entirely because I like both cities, so I’ll likely just root for the underdog, whoever that is.

      Reply

  25. laurasmess says

    Yumm! These look wonderful Susan! I am in love with sweet potatoes and I get excited about any new recipes with sweet potatoes as the ‘star ingredient’. These skins look divine. Easy to eat and truly delicious! I haven’t heard of Gallo wine but I’ll have to look out for it. Merlot is a gorgeously mellow and delicious drop, great choice 🙂 xx

    Reply

  26. Rachel @ Bakerita says

    For a vast majority of my childhood, right after my parents got divorced, whenever I would stay with my dad all I would eat is TGI Friday’s frozen potato skins. They were my FAVORITE, and before my dad learned a little more about nutrition, those were my go-to meal. To this day, I still love potato skins and they always hold such good memories. Love that these are homemade and with sweet potatoes (so much better than the frozen boxed crap), and they really are perfect Superbowl food!! Yummy 🙂 Pinned!!

    Reply

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