Sweet Potato Rounds With Whipped Cottage Cheese & Hot Honey
45 min
|
intermediate
|
gluten-free,
Mediterranean diet,
vegetarian
Recipe by Eunice
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 20 min | 25 min | 45 min |
Introduction
These sweet potato rounds with whipped cottage cheese and hot honey are a fun, restaurant-style twist on simple roasted veggies.
They balance creamy, tangy cottage cheese with crispy edges, smoky spice, and a sweet-heat drizzle that keeps everyone going back for more.
Serve them as an easy appetizer, a holiday side dish, or a game-day snack that feels special but stays totally doable.
Ingredients (4 servings)
Ingredients for Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients for Whipped Cottage Cheese
Ingredients for Fried Garlic Topping
Ingredients for Hot Honey Drizzle
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How to Make Sweet Potato Rounds With Whipped Cottage Cheese & Hot Honey
-
Prepare and season the sweet potatoes
Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
Peel the sweet potatoes and slice them into 1/2-inch thick rounds, keeping the slices as even as possible.
Add the rounds to a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle on smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
Toss until every slice is glossy and coated in spices, so they roast evenly and do not dry out.
-
Roast the sweet potato rounds
Arrange the slices in a single layer on the sheet pan, leaving a little space between each piece.
Roast for 12 to 15 minutes, then flip each round and roast for another 8 to 10 minutes.
The rounds are done when the centers are tender and the edges look lightly caramelized and crisp.
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Make the whipped cottage cheese
Add the cottage cheese, olive oil, lemon zest, honey, and a pinch of salt to a blender.
Blend on high until completely smooth and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed for an even texture.
Taste and adjust the salt or honey, then refrigerate the whipped cottage cheese while the potatoes finish roasting.
-
Fry the garlic topping
Add the olive oil to a small skillet and warm it over low heat until it shimmers.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook slowly, stirring often, until golden and fragrant, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Immediately transfer the garlic and oil to a heatproof bowl so the bits stop cooking and do not burn.
-
Mix the hot honey drizzle
In a small bowl, stir together the honey, apple cider vinegar, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt.
Let the mixture sit for a few minutes so the chili flakes can infuse the honey with heat.
-
Assemble and serve
Spread a generous spoonful of whipped cottage cheese on each warm sweet potato round or onto a serving platter.
Top with fried garlic and some of its fragrant oil, then drizzle everything lightly with the hot honey.
Finish with an extra pinch of sea salt if you like, and serve right away while warm.
Substitutions
- Use ricotta instead of cottage cheese
- Swap the cottage cheese for whole-milk ricotta if you prefer a milder, slightly sweeter dairy base. The topping will be ultra smooth and creamy, with a flavor that leans more Italian appetizer than snack board.
- Use Greek yogurt for a tangier, lighter base
- Use thick whole-milk Greek yogurt in place of cottage cheese for a tangier, higher-protein whipped layer. The texture stays creamy but a bit looser, and the flavor balances the sweet potatoes and honey nicely.
- Try plantain rounds instead of sweet potatoes
- For a fun twist, roast 1/2-inch slices of ripe but firm plantain in place of the sweet potatoes. You get a similar sweetness with a hint of tropical flavor and a slightly chewier, caramelized edge.
Tips
- Slice as evenly as you can
- Even thickness helps the sweet potato rounds cook at the same rate so none burn before others are tender.
- Dry the sweet potatoes before seasoning
- If the slices look damp after peeling and cutting, pat them dry so the oil and spices stick better.
- Keep the garlic heat low and steady
- Minced garlic burns fast, so keep the skillet on low heat and move the garlic around frequently. If it darkens too quickly, lift the pan off the burner for a few seconds to cool it slightly.
- Blend the cottage cheese long enough
- Run the blender longer than you think so the curds break down into a silky, cloudlike texture. Stopping too soon leaves a grainy feel that is less pleasant against the smooth sweet potatoes.
- Serve the components at different temperatures
- Cold whipped cottage cheese against hot, just-roasted sweet potatoes gives a really nice contrast in texture and flavor. Keep the cottage cheese chilled until assembly, and plate the potatoes straight from the oven.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 325 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 8 | g |
| Total Fat | 19 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 30 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- How do I know when the sweet potatoes are fully cooked but not dry?
- Test a center slice with a fork; it should slide in easily without the round falling apart. The surface should look lightly blistered and browned, not pale or deeply dark in spots.
- My whipped cottage cheese tastes grainy. What went wrong?
- Most likely it just needs more blending time, especially if your cottage cheese has larger curds. Blend longer on high or switch to a food processor, which can smooth thick mixtures very efficiently.
- Can I make any parts of this recipe ahead of time?
- Yes, you can blend the cottage cheese and fry the garlic up to one day in advance. Store both in airtight containers in the fridge, then rewarm the garlic oil gently before serving.
- How can I tone down the heat in the hot honey?
- Use fewer red pepper flakes and let the honey sit for less time before drizzling. You can also add a little extra plain honey after tasting, which softens the overall spice level.
- What is the best way to reheat leftover sweet potato rounds?
- Reheat the rounds on a sheet pan in a 375°F oven until warmed through and edges crisp again. Avoid the microwave, which softens the slices and makes them lose that nice roasted texture.
Serving Suggestions
This colorful platter brings together sweet, salty, tangy, and spicy flavors in every single bite.
For a full spread, serve these rounds beside crisp salad greens and a bright citrusy cocktail or sparkling water.
Reviews
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ghde: Really tasty combo and the whipped cottage cheese was perfect, but I wasn’t sure if the fried garlic should be drained off the oil or spooned on with the oil for topping.
: Happy it was a tasty combo and that the whipped cottage cheese worked well! For the topping, spoon the fried garlic on with just a little of the infused oil for flavor, but drain most of the oil so the rounds stay crisp.
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Mary, Chicago, IL: Turned out amazing, perfect sweet heat!
: So happy they hit that sweet-heat balance for you, Mary! 😊
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