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A sformato is a close cousin to the soufflé. It has all the same creamy custard-y goodness, but without the hassle of whipping egg whites or the anxiety of collapsing domes. It’s meant to be rather humble. This is also an easy dish to make gluten-free, and it works well as the first course for a fancy dinner or as a light lunch with a salad.
Like a soufflé, a sformato starts off with a bechamel sauce. We use sweet rice flour to make a gluten-free bechamel, but you can use regular all-purpose flour or a gluten-free flour mix in its place. To the bechamel base, we add silky sweet potatoes and a healthy amount of asiago cheese to make a rich and satisfying custard.
We like baking this dish individual ramekins. There’s something very satisfying and personal about scooping bites from one’s own little bowl. We’ve also made this sformato in an 8×8 baking dish and 2-liter casserole dish, and extended the cooking time by 10-15 minutes.
Take a look at the “Notes” section below for more ideas on adapting this dish!
Serves 6
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups
grated asiago cheese, loosely packed
- 1.5 pounds
(2 average-sized) sweet potatoes
- 3 cups
whole or 2% milk
- 4 tablespoons
unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing the ramekins
- 1/4 cup
sweet rice flour (or regular all-purpose flour)
- 1 teaspoon
salt
- 1 tablespoon
minced thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon
freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon
black pepper
- 2
large eggs
- 1
large yolk
Instructions
Heat the oven to 400°F. Rub the insides of six 8-ounce ramekins with butter and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the asiago cheese. Cheese should stick to the bottom and sides of the ramekin in a single layer.
Prick the sweet potatoes all over with a fork and place them on a microwave-safe plate lined with a paper towel. Microwave on high in 3-minute intervals, turning the potatoes between each interval and testing them for doneness. It should take 9-12 minutes total for the sweet potatoes to completely soften. Allow the potatoes to cool enough to handle. (Alternatively, you can wrap the potatoes in foil and roast them in a 400°F oven until soft.)
Meanwhile begin making the bechamel. Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it just barely starts to steam (or microwave to warm). Remove from heat. In another pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and stir until a thick paste is formed, 3-5 minutes. Add the milk a little at a time while whisking the butter-flour mixture. Wait to add more milk until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy again. Once all the milk is added, simmer and stir the bechamel until it starts to thicken. Remove from heat and set aside to cool to room temperature.
Peel the sweet potatoes and mash the insides in a large mixing bowl. Add one cup of the cheese (reserving the last 1/4 cup for topping), the thyme, the nutmeg, and the black pepper. Stir in the cooled bechamel sauce a little at a time to achieve a smooth pudding-like consistency. Before adding the eggs, taste the mixture and add more salt or pepper if desired. Whisk the eggs and yolks together and stir them into the sweet potato mixture.
Place all the ramekins on a baking sheet (a silpat can help keep them from slipping around). Fill the ramekins to within 1/2 inch of the top. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the tops are puffed and beginning to brown in spots. Five minutes before the end of cooking, sprinkle each sformato with a little of the reserved cheese.
Allow the sformatos to cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Leftovers can be kept refrigerated for up to a week and do well reheated for a few minutes in the microwave or a toaster oven.
Recipe Notes
• Vegetable Substitutes - Try substituting 2 cups of vegetable puree for the sweet potatoes. Squash, cauliflower, and even mushrooms work very well.
• Alternate Spices - We make a fantastic southwestern version of this dish with a few teaspoons of chili powder. Sage and rosemary are also very good in place of the thyme.
• Make it a Meal - To make the sformato more filling, you can add a spoonful of cooked sausage, crumbled bacon, or sautéed mushrooms to each ramekin before filling them.
FAQs
The simple answer is yes — potatoes are gluten-free. Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and other grains.
Are sweet potato fries gluten-free? ›
They are one of the easiest and most filling side dishes (plus they are naturally gluten-free!), so when you're feeding teens and their friends, you become pretty adept at making fries of all kinds.
What are Hannah sweet potatoes? ›
Hannah Sweet Potato
Hannah Sweets are cream colored with fairly smooth skin. Inside, the flesh is cream-white that becomes more yellow when cooked. It offers a lightly sweet flavor with dry texture that is great mashed, roasted in pieces, or turned into fries.
What are red sweet potatoes called? ›
Red sweet potato varieties include the Diane, Vermillion, Burgundy and Garnet. Commonly referred to as “Yams”, red sweet potatoes are the most popular sweet potato west of the Rockies.
Can celiacs eat canned tomatoes? ›
Canned Tomato is gluten free. Canned Tomato should be safe for patients with celiac and other gluten-related disorders. Fig's dietitians reviewed this note on canned tomato.
Can celiacs eat canned corn? ›
Yes, corn in its natural form is gluten-free. However, be on the lookout for gluten in corn that comes in a sauce or with any other ingredients, as they could contain the protein. Regardless of the type of corn you purchase, always double check the ingredients label to make sure the product is truly gluten-free.
Can celiacs eat fries? ›
Most French fries are made with naturally gluten-free ingredients, including potatoes, oil, and salt. However, some restaurants cook them in a fryer that is used for other foods that contain gluten (like chicken tenders or nuggets).
What fries have gluten? ›
The traditional fries—which span classic-cut, crinkle-cut, smiles, and steak-cut fries—contain no gluten ingredients. The seasoned, however, all contain wheat flour as a top ingredient, and the beer batter fries also use barley.
Are McDonald's fries gluten fries? ›
The items on our menu that are free from ingredients containing gluten include our French Fries, which are cooked in dedicated fryers using a non-hydrogenated vegetable oil; Hash Browns; Fruit Bags; Carrot Sticks and Shaker Side Salad® with Balsamic Dressing; as well as some McFlurry® desserts, such as the Crunchie and ...
What are Obama potatoes? ›
The Obama is an early potato variety that harvests between 90 to 110 days. The recommended minimum planting distance is 30 cm in the rows and 55 cm between the rows (a larger distance can provide additional protection against disease).
Sweet Potatoes and Health
Sweet potatoes with orange flesh are richest in beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes with purple flesh are richer in anthocyanins. Beta-carotene and anthocyanins are naturally occurring plant “phyto” chemicals that give vegetables their bright colors.
What is the best sweet potato in the world? ›
Beaureguard. This is one of the world's most popular sweet potato varieties because it has a high yield during harvest and it's highly disease tolerant. The 'Beaureguard' was initially bred at the Louisiana State University in 1987 to help with the failing sweet potato market.
Which color sweet potato is healthiest? ›
Vitamins and minerals in sweet potatoes make them a healthy choice at mealtime. Orange sweet potatoes, for example, are one of the richest sources of beta-carotene, a carotenoid known for its eye health benefits and ability to reduce cancer risks.
What is the purple sweet potato called? ›
If you are lucky enough to find a purple sweet potato, it will probably either be a Stokes Purple® or an Okinawan sweet potato. There is a chance it may also be an Ube (pronounced OO-beh) but that is actually a yam, not a sweet potato.
What are sweet potatoes called in Africa? ›
African slaves had already been calling the 'soft' sweet potatoes 'yams' because they resembled the yams in Africa. Thus, 'soft' sweet potatoes were referred to as 'yams' to distinguish them from the 'firm' varieties.
Do canned potatoes have gluten? ›
Potatoes do not contain gluten. Potatoes have never contained gluten.
Do canned yams have gluten? ›
Description. There's Power In the Yams Discover earth's natural superfood! All natural with no additives or preservatives • Made with all natural cane sugar • Excellent source of vitamin A and beta carotene • No artificial flavors • Naturally gluten free • Non-GMO Enjoy them sliced, diced, baked or blended.
Do any canned vegetables have gluten? ›
canned with water or natural juices are likely gluten-free.
Is there gluten in canned yams? ›
None of our products contain gluten.
