Basil Pesto and Bacon Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

• 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 cups chicken broth, or as needed to cover
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 5 slices uncured bacon, diced
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup roasted almonds
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, or more to taste
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 3/4 cup milk

Directions

Place sweet potatoes into a saucepan, cover with chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until sweet potatoes are tender enough to pierce easily with a fork, about 10 minutes. Drain and return potatoes to pan; add butter and cover pan.

Cook and stir bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and crisp, about 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels to blot grease.

Process basil and almonds in a food processor until pulverized, about 30 seconds, and slowly drizzle olive oil into the running food processor until thick, 1 to 2 minutes. Add lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to basil mixture and pulse several times to combine to make the pesto.

Beat sweet potatoes in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, slowly adding milk, until potatoes are fluffy and smooth. Alternatively, mash sweet potatoes with a fork if you prefer a more chunky texture. Season to taste with more salt; stir in pesto and bacon. Serve immediately.