With the holiday season now upon us, what you're going to serve at your festive gatherings is probably looming in your mind. Side dishes, in my opinion, are the best part about the celebratory feasts. While they're delicious, most sides are loaded with calories due to the copious amounts of cream and butter used (among other calorie offenders). And though it is the holidays and the word "diet" shouldn't dare be uttered until January 1st, making some of your favorite dishes a little lighter will definitely help your peace of mind when going for those extra helpings. So try these easy to prepare, lightened up sides in at your next feast with plenty of flavor and significantly less calories than the standard holiday fare. Your pants will thank you.
The following is a lighter version of the typical heavy, calorie-laden sweet potato casseroles so often seen at holiday feasts. The butter is optional (I just add it to get a hint of the flavor) and the brown sugar can be replaced with agave nectar, which is just as sweet but has a low glycemic index and fewer calories.
Ginger-Coconut Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled (optional) and diced into 2-inch pieces
1/2 can lite coconut milk
1-inch knob of fresh ginger, grated (1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (optional)
3 tablespoons brown sugar or agave nectar
3/4 cup shredded, sweetened coconut
Salt and pepper, to taste
This article appears in Nov 11-17, 2010.