Sweet Potato Balls Rolled in Pecans: A Holiday Favorite

Preview: These Sweet Potato Balls are mashed sweet potatoes formed into balls and covered with chopped pecans, then baked–an impressive side dish, for sure.

When certain produce like sweet potatoes go on sale, how do you resist buying too many? I can’t. Then I find myself with an overabundance of sweet potatoes and few ideas for how to prepare them.

Several years ago, my friend Debbie came to the rescue with her Baked Sweet Potato Balls recipe. So now I’m sharing my version of her recipe.

Sweet Potato Balls with a Pecan Crust are seasoned, mashed sweet potatoes formed into balls, rolled in a spicy egg white mixture, then coated with pecans. Make these a tradition on your Thanksgiving menu.

What makes these Sweet Potato Balls special?

The technique for cooking the sweet potatoes comes from the Nov-Dec 2018 issue of Cooks Country. It’s a simple task on top of the stove that results in a rich, concentrated sweet potato flavor.

Marshmallows seem to find their way into many sweet potato casseroles served around the holidays, but I finally decided to say “no” to vegetable desserts.

Instead, I use a little bit of Swerve (but you can use sugar or your favorite sweetener) to get the slightly “sweet” flavor in the sweet and spicy pecan coating. The “spicy” notes come from Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and cayenne.

Can this sweet potato recipe be made ahead?

Admittedly, these sweet potato balls are a little trouble. But, luckily, you can do most of the work ahead of time.

Prepare balls and bake at your convenience. When cool, wrap sweet potato balls well and freeze. Allow to thaw and reheat in the oven before serving.

How to make Sweet Potato Balls:

More Sweet Potato Recipes

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White potatoes and sweet potatoes are cooked together, mashed separately, then swirled together to make an interesting and tasty side dish.

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Ham Salad Sandwich Spread

Make ham salad with leftover ham, hard-boiled eggs, pickle relish, and mayo. Basil make this recipe especially memorable. Serve on rolls, in sandwiches, or my favorite, oven-baked sweet potato chips. This recipe is easily cut in half if you don't have a pound of ham.

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Spicy Pecan-Crusted Sweet Potato Balls Recipe

These mashed sweet potatoes are formed into balls, rolled in a spicy egg white mixture, and then rolled in chopped pecans. They are a delicious make-ahead alternative to marshmallow, butter, and sugar-laden sweet potato casseroles.

Paula Rhodes

4.5 from 6 votes

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Prep Time 50 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 1 hr 10 mins

Course Vegetables and Side Dishes

Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

• 2 pounds sweet potatoes - fresh
• 6 tablespoons water
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Dash of cayenne pepper

Egg White Coating

• 2 egg whites - from large eggs
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar - granulated
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne
• 2 cups finely chopped pecans
• 3 tablespoons butter - melted

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Instructions

 

• Peel and cut sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch slices. Place in a covered pot with 6 tablespoons water. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until potatoes are soft. Usually takes 20-25 minutes.
• Mash with a fork or potato masher. (Do not use a mixer, food processor, or immersion blender as they will cause sweet potatoes to be too soft.)
• Season with salt and cayenne.
• Preheat oven to 400˚ F. Prepare a cookie sheet by covering it with parchment paper, a silicone mat, or grease it well.
• Mix egg whites, water, sugar, and salt with a fork until frothy. Add Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and cayenne. Mix well.
• Spread chopped pecans on a piece of wax paper or a plate.
• Make sweet potato balls using a spring-loaded ice cream scoop. I like balls between 1/8 to 1/4 cup size. (Surgical gloves are really helpful here.) Drop balls one at a time into the egg white mixture with a slotted spoon making sure the whole ball gets coated. Then cover each ball with finely-chopped pecans.
• Place on a prepared cookie sheet. Brush with melted butter.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until nuts become toasty and balls are heated through.

Notes

• If you have any of the egg white mixture left over, here’s an idea. Add a tablespoon of melted butter to the mixture and stir. Add more pecans–maybe 1/2 cup. Pour onto a greased or silicone mat-covered baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until toasty. These are so good crumbled over a salad. Or…. you could just eat them straight up like I do.
• The nutritional estimates on this recipe may be a little high because you will probably have a little bit of the egg mixture and butter left over after making the balls.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 341kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 5gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 564mgPotassium: 527mgFiber: 6gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 16376IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 58mgIron: 1mg

Keyword celebrations, Christmas, holiday vegetables, pecans, Thanksgiving

Cuisine American

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Updated May 2020