MASHED SWEET POTATOES WITH CARMELIZED ONIONS, MARSCAPONE CHEESE AND PANCETTA

MASHED SWEET POTATOES WITH CARMELIZED ONIONS, MARSCAPONE CHEESE AND PANCETTA image

Yield 4 people

Number Of Ingredients 8

2lbs bright-orangesweet potatoes, peeled,cut into 2 inch pieces(about 3 medium)
2tablespoonsolive oil
4ouncespancetta, finely diced
1mediumonion, coarsely chopped
1tablespoonred wine vinegar
1/4cupmascarpone cheese or cream cheese(2 oz)
3/4teaspoonsalt
1/4teaspoonfresh ground pepper

Steps:

- Boil sweet potatoes in large saucepan of boiling salted water over medium-high heat 15-20 minutes or until very tender. - Drain sweet potatoes; return to saucepan. - Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add pancetta; cook 2-3 minutes or until pancetta begins to brown. - Add onion; cook 15-20 minutes or until onions are caramelized, stirring frequently. Adjust heat, if necessary, to prevent onions from browning too quickly. - Add vinegar; stir, scraping up browned bits from bottom of skillet. - Over very low heat, mash sweet potatoes. - Add mascarpone, salt and pepper. - Stir in onion mixture. Note:you can use bacon if you don't have pancetta available. Just cook the bacon in a medium pot of boiling water 1 minute. Drain and rinse until cool. Blanching helps remove some of the smoky flavor from the bacon.