A Sweet Potato Bar Is One Of The Easiest Ways To Feed A Crowd

Feeding a crowd (whether or not it’s your loved ones on a weeknight or buddies for a weekend gathering) may be tough—or costly—nevertheless it doesn’t should be. Massive format dishes like casseroles or huge pots of pasta are a preferred resolution, however if you happen to’re on the lookout for one thing extra interactive Erin Gleeson has a genius thought up her sleeve: a candy potato bar.

Gleeson is a bestselling writer, illustrator and photographer who lately launched what she describes as a visible culinary journal. In The Forest Feast Road Trip: Simple Vegetarian Recipes Inspired by My Travels through California you’ll discover 100 vegetarian recipes, journey images and watercolor illustrations, all impressed by her household’s street journeys throughout the Golden State over the course of a 12 months and a half. “The recipes are impressed by produce we noticed rising alongside the way in which, issues we picked at farms and ranches and meals we tasted on the street,” she stated. “Among the recipes are nice for weeknights, others are excellent for entertaining and a few are simply what you want to pack for a street journey. My aim is that this guide will encourage individuals to eat extra greens, really feel inventive within the kitchen and discover a brand new place inside driving distance.”

There are recipes for a taco bar and veggie calzone bar, however the one which caught my eye was the candy potato bar. “I like serving bar-style meals for weeknight dinner with my household and likewise when entertaining,” Gleeson stated. “Riffing on the thought of a baked potato bar, I like that candy potatoes are a bit extra nutrient-rich and likewise extra colourful! I’m at all times on the lookout for methods so as to add as a lot coloration to the desk as doable; it makes meals extra enjoyable.” Her favourite toppings are cannellini beans, sautéed greens, BBQ sauce or chimichurri, and bitter cream. Her youngsters, if given the choice, go for candy toppings like Nutella (“if I’m feeling beneficiant!”) or butter and cinnamon.

So far as precise setup goes, Gleeson recommends having your buffet desk away from any partitions in order that company can entry the bar from each side—it will assist to hurry issues up. She locations the elements in an order that is sensible for individuals to construct their plates. “A stack of plates tells individuals the place to begin, potatoes subsequent, toppings final,” Gleeson stated. “You may put toppings in small bowls or in piles on a giant reducing board. I wish to put sauces in small bowls with spoons somewhat than their common containers if I’ve time.”

For decor, if Gleeson is feeling fancy she stacks cookbooks on the desk to carry bigger bowls or platters. “It creates peak on the desk and appears cute!” Gleeson stated. “And company like seeing what a few of your favourite cookbooks are.” A colourful tablecloth, a number of small vases of flowers, clusters of recent citrus and small potted vegetation are easy methods to additional beautify the desk.

Recipe excerpt from The Forest Feast Highway Journey: Easy Vegetarian Recipes Impressed by My Travels by way of California by Erin Gleeson, printed by Abrams. Textual content and images copyright © 2022 by Erin Gleeson.

Candy Potato Bar

Serves 4-6

It is a enjoyable and wholesome solution to accommodate completely different dietary preferences and may be made forward. The potatoes are gluten-free, and with the correct toppings these can simply be vegan. I eat them with savory toppings however my youngsters like them candy. Under are a few of my favourite combos for a weeknight or when entertaining. Select one or make all of them! Search for medium candy potatoes and serve one per particular person (youngsters could solely want a half).

Place the candy potatoes on a baking sheet and poke them with a knife a number of instances earlier than baking. Bake at 400 levels Fahrenheit for about 1 hour or till a fork goes in simply.

Candy

Nutella

Agave

Chopped pecans

Dried coconut chips

Spring

Asparagus, chopped & sautéed

Crème fraîche or bitter cream

Crumbled feta

Capers

Lemon zest

Pink pepper flakes

Tofu

Sautéed snow peas

Cubed marinated tofu

Chopped scallions

Chopped peanuts

Cilantro

Peanut sauce

BBQ

Cannellini beans

Diced cherry tomato

Sautéed chard

Sunflower seeds

BBQ sauce