Spicy Sweet Potato And Bacon Casserole

Total Time: 1 hr 58 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 58 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 4 slices hearty bread, torn into large pieces
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 8 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 onion, minced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 5 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced thin
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 5 scallions, sliced thin

Recipe

• 1 adjust oven rack to the middle position; preheat oven to 425°.
• 2 pulse the bread, butter, and 1/2 cup cheese in a food processor until coarsely ground.
• 3 cook the bacon in a dutch oven over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes.
• 4 transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and pour off all but 1 tablespoon of fat.
• 5 cook the onion until softened, about 5 minutes.
• 6 add in the garlic and cayenne; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• 7 stir in the sweet potatoes, cream, buttermilk, and salt; decrease heat to med-low and cook, covered, until the potatoes are just tender, about 30 minutes.
• 8 off the heat, stir in the remaining 2 cups cheese, cooked bacon, and 4 of the scallions.
• 9 transfer the mixture to a 13 x 9 inch baking dish; top with the bread crumb mixture.
• 10 bake until the crumbs are golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• 11 cool 10 minutes, then sprinkle with the remaining scallion.
• 12 serve.