I’m always on the outlook for hundred-year-old winter vegetable recipes, so I was thrilled to find a recipe for Spiced Sweet Potato Balls.
The outside of the Spiced Sweet Potato balls were crisp and browned, while the inside was nutty, rich, and spicy with the warm blend of nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. The balls contained ground nuts, which added a nice texture and flavor dimension when combined with sweet potatoes.
Here’s the original recipe:
And, here’s the recipe updated for modern cooks:
Spiced Sweet Potato Balls
3 large sweet potatoes (approximately 3 1/2 cups mashed)
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup nuts, ground (I used walnuts.)
flour
shortening
Place whole sweet potatoes in a large saucepan; cover with water and bring to a boil on high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender (30-45 minutes). Remove from heat and drain. Remove the skins from the potatoes then mash until smooth; mix in butter, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. Add ground nuts, and stir to combine. Shape into 1-inch balls, then gently roll in flour.
Melt 1/2 inch of shortening in a large skillet. Slip the sweet potato balls into the hot shortening, then gently roll the balls with a fork until all sides are a light brown. Remove from heat and drain on paper towels.
Cook’s note: The mashed sweet potato mixture is very sticky. The key to success with this recipe is shaping the balls, and then gently rolling the balls in the flour while continuing to shape.
A Hundred Years Ago 
I can believe that these are wonderful! Sweet potatoes are used in so many ways. I have deep fried them like potato fries and they are good that way too.
Sweet potatoes are a surprisingly versatile vegetable.
These look dangerously tasty! 🙂
They’re yummy.
The sweet potato balls look marvelous. I won’t cook them, because we avoid fried foods. However, I am seriously thinking of putting them on my menu to dream about tonight.
Anne, you may already do this, but see my comment down below. I avoid fried foods, too, and it works pretty well.
Sweet dreams. 🙂
This is almost exactly the dish I make as a casserole. I whip cooked sweet potatoes with the same spices, a little butter, and some chopped pecans, then put them in a buttered casserole, topped with a little brown sugar or maple syrup and more chopped pecans. It’s just wonderful, and has been deemed an acceptable substitute for marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes.
The way you make this dish sounds wonderful – and much healthier than either frying them or adding marshmallows.
That’s exactly what I served on Thanksgiving day!
I love most recipes with sweet potatoes- sounds wonderful!
Sweet potatoes have a nice flavor, and work well in a variety of recipes.
I’m going to die by eating way too many of these, I’m calling it now.
They are delicious. 🙂
Sounds like a delicious side And a perfect food for this cold season. 🙂
Sometimes I think that some people tend forget about sweet potatoes once the holidays are over, but to me they seem like a wonderful winter vegetable.
These sound yummy. I’m surprised I’ve not seen something like that before…thanks for sharing, I can’t wait to give them a try.
I think that you’d enjoy them. I never heard of them either until I saw the recipe in an old magazine. I think that making various kinds of vegetable balls and croquettes was more popular a hundred years ago than what it is now.
I think you are right, Sheryl.
These are close to a dish my daughter and I make called Kogumajan. It’s a Korean side dish, made with sweet potato slices (par boiled first), coated in egg and flour, and then pan fried. What makes these out of this world is the dipping sauce. These look great as well.
This recipe does sound quite similar to Kogumajan. The dipping sauce would add a nice touch.
Yum! These sound delicious.
They are yummy. 🙂
Mmmmmmm. Would be delicious with a chipotle dip as well. Drooling over here…
Chipolte dip would be great with these.
Looks wonderful!
They are very nice. 🙂
Those look dangerously delicious.
I think that you’d enjoy them.
These look delicious, love anything with sweet potatoes!
Sweet potatoes are a wonderful vegetable that can be served so many different ways.
I made your special lovely sweet potato recipe & loved it so much! I served it with chicken breast & a nice mixed salad! Divine! xxx
mmm. . . The sweet potato balls would be wonderful served with chicken and a mixed salad.
Ooh yes!
Hi Sheryl, I just wanted to let you know that I am taking a break from my photo blog. I started a new knitting blog and that is where you can find me if you are interested. I will be following with my new blog the next time I sign in – laurasknittingjournal.wordpress.com
Thanks for letting me know. I’ll miss your photos, but look forward to exploring your new blog.
Thanks, I am having some kind of tech problem posting to new blog, wordpress is checking it out, so I am back with photo blog tomorrow 🙂
What a bummer! I’m keep my fingers crossed that the tech issues get resolved soon. In my meantime, I’ll continue to enjoy your old blog.
Truly a southern recipe- includes sweet potatoes and frying food! have made sweet potato almost everyday and this a new recipe for me. Thanks for sharing!
I always enjoy finding very old recipes that seem new and fresh.
Me too! I look through old cookbooks for “new” recipes.