Sweet Potato, Carrot and Dried Fruit Casserole Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

Sweet Potato, Carrot and Dried Fruit Casserole Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
4(201)
Notes
Read community notes

This dish is inspired by several tsimmes recipes in Joan Nathan’s “Jewish Cooking in America.” Tsimmes, a Yiddish word that means “fuss,” doesn’t have to be fussy at all. Sometimes the dish contains meat (and is fussier than this one), but sometimes it’s just fruit and vegetables. Warning: You may find yourself eating this for breakfast.

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Ingredients

Yield:Serves eight

  • 6medium carrots about 1½ pounds, peeled and cut in ¾-inch dice
  • 3medium sweet potatoes about 2¼ pounds, peeled and cut in ¾-inch dice
  • 2Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut in medium dice
  • ¼pound pitted prunes, cut in half
  • ¼pound pitted apricots, quartered
  • 2tablespoons mild honey, like clover
  • ½teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Salt to taste about ½ teaspoon
  • 1cup fresh orange juice
  • 1tablespoon unsalted butter

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

171 calories; 2 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 39 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 22 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 205 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Sweet Potato, Carrot and Dried Fruit Casserole Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter or oil a 3-quart baking dish.

  2. Step

    2

    Place the carrots and sweet potatoes in a steamer set above 1 inch of boiling water, and steam for five to 10 minutes, until just tender. Drain and toss with the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Combine well, and scrape into the prepared baking dish. Place in the oven, and bake 40 to 50 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until the sweet potatoes and carrots are thoroughly tender. Dot the top with butter, and bake another 10 minutes until the top is lightly browned. Remove from the heat, and serve hot or warm.

Tips

  • Sweet potatoes may be labeled as yams. Look for dark orange flesh.
  • Advance preparation: You can assemble this dish several hours before baking. You can bake it a day or two ahead of serving; reheat it in a medium oven.

Ratings

4

out of 5

201

user ratings

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Tracey A.

I made this for a Thanksgiving potluck and it was hugely successful! Everyone loved it!
I made a few minor modifications:
1-1/4 lbs carrots, (Weighed on a kitchen scale)
2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4" dice
2 granny smith apples unpeeled, cored and cut into medium dice
I used dried fruit, weighed on my kitchen scale and didn't use the honey (I actually forgot it but think it was a good omission.)
I used salted butter because that's what I had.

Sara Coles

I had to quadruple the recipe, but when I took it to a Passover Seder for 35 guests, they all raved about it...I guess it's a keeper!

Sheila

I peeled 3 Granny Smith apples but could use any baking apple. The dried pitted apricots were expensive in time & $ but did not contribute to end product: find an alternative. Possibly dried cranberries, no cutting. 4 med size oranges made 1 cp of fresh orange juice. Followed recipe quantities, rounding up & produce 5 qts. when cooked it became 2.5 qts. of finished product. Used freshly grated nutmeg but need more spices. Useful for buffet. Can be made a day ahead & reheat.

Anat

Carrots take longer to cook. Place them alone in steamer for as long as it takes to tender. There was too much liquid and dish wasn't ready after 50 minutes...still plenty of liquid.
Where did I go wrong?

Jo Ann

I needed a vegetarian side dish to bring to a large gathering at a local synagogue, and this recipe caught my eye. So glad I made it! It was delicious and healthy, and would also make an excellent addition to Thanksgiving dinner. I did substitute dried cranberries, instead of the prunes, and although I used butter to grease the casserole dish, I elected not to dot any on the finished product. It didn't need it. I ate leftovers cold for lunch the next day--excellent!

Gretchen

This is so good! To answer a few other people's Qs: you use dried apricots, not fresh, and I think you probably leave the lid OFF. That's what I did, since one reviewer said the dish had too much excess liquid; with no lid, the juices evaporated just enough that the dish was moist but not runny.I used 1 tsp. of honey instead of 2 T., and it seemed just right. Next time will make it vegan by using agave and omitting the butter.

David C

This was a huge Thanksgiving day hit. Played with the proportions a bit (more dried fruit, including some diced dried mango, plus some other old gift basket fruit I had left over from the previous holiday season). The key was to prepare everything the night before, except the apples, and let it all macerate in the oj. The day of, I caramelized the apples in the butter & mixed it all together before baking. The maceration created a delicious sauce & the result was a smashing success.

Tolke

I steamed the vegetables in an instant pot and the sweet potato fell apart. Next time I will try pressure cooking for just a minute or two. But even when the sweet potato disintegrated, this dish was still delicious.

debbiesue52

Overall, a very successful recipe. I made it with purple sweet potatoes. The color was gorgeous. I steamed the diced carrots and sweet potatoes in my InstantPot for 4 minutes and followed the rest of the recipe as written. It was an enjoyable and colorful addition to our Thanksgiving dinner.

Jo Ann

I needed a vegetarian side dish to bring to a large gathering at a local synagogue, and this recipe caught my eye. So glad I made it! It was delicious and healthy, and would also make an excellent addition to Thanksgiving dinner. I did substitute dried cranberries, instead of the prunes, and although I used butter to grease the casserole dish, I elected not to dot any on the finished product. It didn't need it. I ate leftovers cold for lunch the next day--excellent!

Gretchen

This is so good! To answer a few other people's Qs: you use dried apricots, not fresh, and I think you probably leave the lid OFF. That's what I did, since one reviewer said the dish had too much excess liquid; with no lid, the juices evaporated just enough that the dish was moist but not runny.I used 1 tsp. of honey instead of 2 T., and it seemed just right. Next time will make it vegan by using agave and omitting the butter.

Erika

Perhaps a stupid question, but I’ll take my chances. Do you use dried apricots or fresh apricots? Thanks!

Trepidatious Cook

no such thing as a stupid question, recipes should be very precise so questions don't arise

Leslie Oster

Do you bake this covered or uncovered???

Gina Ruben

Did you try this and what did you do about the cover?

dk

This is a great recipe. Also very forgiving. I used more dried fruits (1/3 LB), cinnamon (2 tsp), and apples (3 medium), but less butter (3/4 tbsp?) and honey (1 tbsp). I made the dish a day before without the butter. It tasted great. I'd sprayed some coconut oil on the baking dish though. Next day before the Thanksgiving dinner, I reheated the dish with the butter on the top as the recipe required, but that did not add much to the flavor. I might just skip the butter next time.

Anat

Carrots take longer to cook. Place them alone in steamer for as long as it takes to tender. There was too much liquid and dish wasn't ready after 50 minutes...still plenty of liquid.
Where did I go wrong?

irene

substitute cranberries
increase recipe for 11 people.

Sheila

I peeled 3 Granny Smith apples but could use any baking apple. The dried pitted apricots were expensive in time & $ but did not contribute to end product: find an alternative. Possibly dried cranberries, no cutting. 4 med size oranges made 1 cp of fresh orange juice. Followed recipe quantities, rounding up & produce 5 qts. when cooked it became 2.5 qts. of finished product. Used freshly grated nutmeg but need more spices. Useful for buffet. Can be made a day ahead & reheat.

Tracey A.

I made this for a Thanksgiving potluck and it was hugely successful! Everyone loved it!
I made a few minor modifications:
1-1/4 lbs carrots, (Weighed on a kitchen scale)
2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4" dice
2 granny smith apples unpeeled, cored and cut into medium dice
I used dried fruit, weighed on my kitchen scale and didn't use the honey (I actually forgot it but think it was a good omission.)
I used salted butter because that's what I had.

Sara Coles

I had to quadruple the recipe, but when I took it to a Passover Seder for 35 guests, they all raved about it...I guess it's a keeper!

Private notes are only visible to you.

Sweet Potato, Carrot and Dried Fruit Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make sweet potato casserole not watery? ›

Eggs and cream help stabilize the dish and prevent it from becoming too runny (a common complaint with many sweet potato casserole recipes). Make it as smooth or chunky as you like!

Why do you put eggs in sweet potato casserole? ›

A really good sweet potato casserole filling should be light and moist, not dense. If it's dense, then you may not have added an often overlooked ingredient—an egg. An egg adds lift, structure and volume and makes the filling more custard-like.

What's the difference between yams and sweet potato casserole? ›

Yams and sweet potatoes differ in flavor and appearance, and they are not related. Sweet potatoes are in the morning glory family, while yams belong to the lily family. Yams aren't as sweet as sweet potatoes, and they are starchier and drier. Their texture and flavor are more similar to potatoes or yuca.

How to make tzimas? ›

In a medium bowl, combine the orange zest, orange juice, water, honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, Kosher salt, and black pepper. Place the vegetable mixture into the prepared pan or baking dish, and pour the liquid over the vegetables. Cover with foil or top with a lid and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.

How do you add moisture to a dry casserole? ›

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

How do you rehydrate dried sweet potatoes? ›

Dehydrated sweet potatoes can be fully rehydrated in just a few minutes when added to boiling hot water. Include them in soups, stews, burrito bowls, pasta, curries, or any other meal that is going to be cooked for a little bit in liquid.

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

How many sweet potatoes is 4 cups? ›

For cooking purposes, 1 pound of sweet potatoes equals about three medium whole, 2 cups mashed or 3½ to 4 cups chopped.

Can diabetic eat sweet potatoes? ›

You can still eat sweet potatoes if you have diabetes, assures Huff. The fiber content in sweet potatoes, especially if you consume them with the skin on, can help reduce spikes in your blood sugar. Plus, how you cook your sweet potatoes can also help reduce the extent to which your blood sugar rises.

What variety of sweet potato is best for casserole? ›

Jewel. With copper skin and deep-orange flesh that's moist and tender when cooked, the jewel is a go-to potato for traditional baking and casseroles.

Are canned yams as good as fresh sweet potatoes? ›

The curing process makes the sweet potato sweeter and improves the cooking quality. Canned or frozen sweet potatoes may be substituted for the fresh form in any recipe calling for cooked sweet potatoes as the starting point.

Are sweet potatoes healthier than regular potatoes? ›

Sweet potatoes are often touted as being healthier than white potatoes, but in reality, both types can be highly nutritious. While regular and sweet potatoes are comparable in their calorie, protein, and carb content, white potatoes provide more potassium, whereas sweet potatoes are incredibly high in vitamin A.

How to make Aaruul at home? ›

Aaruul is made by mixing cheese curds with sugar and wild berries and cutting the curds into different shapes and patterns. Milk aaruul is made of curds that are boiled in fresh milk and then sliced and dried.

How do you fix a watery casserole? ›

Make a cornstarch slurry for a fast and easy thickener.

Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness. Then, let the casserole finish baking.

How do you remove excess water from sweet potatoes? ›

Freezing sweet potatoes drives excess water out of the potato, resulting in an interior with more concentrated flavor. Freezing also lowers the starting temperature of the potato, allowing more time for amylase enzymes to convert starch to sweet-tasting maltose.

How do you keep sweet potato mash from getting watery? ›

Add some instant mashed potato flakes to the hot mashed potatoes, stir in well, and cover, the consistency should firm up.

How do you thicken runny scalloped potatoes? ›

Instant potato flakes are an excellent thickening agent made from real potatoes that have been cooked, mashed, and then dried. When added to watery scalloped potatoes, they absorb excess moisture and thicken the sauce, improving the overall consistency.

References

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