Sweet Potato and Fennel Gratin

This AIP and Paleo Sweet Potato and Fennel Gratin is a dairy free, grain free delight. It’s creamy, savory and sweet all at once and a delicious side dish that deserves a spot at your (holiday) table.

Fennel and Japanese Murasaki Sweet Potatoes are the perfect pair. Like, wow. I just love the way these two ingredients compliment each other. In this recipe, caramelized onions join the two for an even more spectacular flavor combination. This Sweet Potato and Fennel Gratin is actually quite simple but has such a depth of flavor that makes it seem so complex. It’s a delicious illusion and it’s sure to please.

Here are the main ingredients in this delicious Paleo Side Dish:

• fennel and yellow onion – these are the base of this dish and are cooked low and slow until they are tender and caramelized before being mixed in with the coconut milk to form the sauce for the potatoes.
• full fat, additive free coconut milk – you want to ensure that you’re using full fat here so that your “cheese” sauce is thick and creamy.
• apple cider vinegar – this is used to add the acidity to the “cheese” sauce – don’t skip it!
• dried basil, thyme, onion and garlic powder – these add a nice depth of flavor to the dish and compliment the fennel beautifully
• Japanese sweet potatoes –  Japanese Murasaki sweet potatoes have a reddish-purple skin with a white interior. Their texture is slightly dry and their flavor almost nutty. I recommend these over orange-fleshed sweet potatoes in this recipe for both the texture and the flavor! You can also use Hannah sweet potatoes here that also have a white flesh.
• Lovebird Unsweetened Cereal – I use this to form the topping and it is delightful! The collagen in this cereal results in a crumb topping that is both crispy and gelatinous and cheese like (I know that sounds contradictory but trust me). It is so good! If you want to make this dish vegan, substitute the cereal for another topping like crushed plantain chips or AIP Sourdough Breadcrumbs. You can follow the same instructions below as for the cereal to make a crumb topping using these vegan alternatives.

Here’s how you make this Paleo Sweet Potato and Fennel Gratin

1. Start by sautéing sliced onions in olive oil on medium heat until they’re caramelized – about ten minutes.
2. Add thinly sliced fennel, sea salt, thyme, basil, garlic and onion powder and a splash of water and allow the fennel to cook until tender.
3. Once fennel is tender, add in coconut milk and apple cider vinegar and bring to a simmer before adding in tapioca slurry to thicken the “cheese” sauce.
4. Immediately pour sauce over the sliced potatoes, using your hands to combine.
5. Transfer potatoes and the “cheesy” onion and fennel sauce into a large baking dish and bake in a preheated oven for an hour.
6. As it bakes, prepare crumb topping by adding cereal, sea salt and olive oil to a food processor and pulsing until the mixture makes a fine meal.
7. After an hour, remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle the crumb topping on top. Bake another 10-15 minutes. Allow to set 10 minutes before serving.

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Here are some other delicious AIP and paleo sides you might enjoy:

• Creamy Cauliflower Gratin
• Parsnip Carrot Mash
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Maple Glaze

If you tried this Sweet Potato and Fennel Gratin I would appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and short review. Also, be sure to snap a picture of the finished product and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @healmedelicious.

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