Baked sweet potatoes filled with savory sausage, apples, onions, and herbs for a balanced meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Sweet Potatoes
01 - 4 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed
→ Filling
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 pound sweet or mild Italian sausage, casings removed
04 - 1 medium onion, finely diced
05 - 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
08 - 1 teaspoon dried sage
09 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Topping
10 - 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional)
11 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
# Method:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Pierce the sweet potatoes several times with a fork. Place them on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 45 to 50 minutes until fork-tender.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and fully cooked, about 6 to 8 minutes.
04 - Add diced onion to the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Stir in apples and garlic, cooking for an additional 3 to 4 minutes until apples soften slightly.
05 - Mix in dried thyme, sage, salt, and pepper. Remove the skillet from heat.
06 - Allow sweet potatoes to cool sufficiently. Slice each lengthwise and gently scoop out the flesh, leaving a 1/4-inch border intact. Reserve the scooped flesh.
07 - Mash the reserved sweet potato flesh and incorporate it into the sausage and apple mixture.
08 - Fill each sweet potato shell with the prepared mixture. If desired, sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.
09 - Return the stuffed sweet potatoes to the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted.
10 - Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired and serve warm.
