Roast Sweet Potatoes

Rich and sweet, roasted sweet potatoes are a lovely side dish and a great base for many other dishes. They are perfect for novice cooks because they are easy to make but experienced cooks can still appreciate their versatility, as they pair well with both sweet and spicy ingredients.[1] Here are some methods for roasting them, along with a few suggestions for varying their flavor.

Ingredients

  • 8.8 oz (250g) sweet potato per serving
  • 1 tablespoon (13g) oil
  • Seasonings of your choice

Steps

Roasting Diced Sweet Potatoes

  1. Purchase sweet potatoes. When buying sweet potatoes remember that they can be called both "sweet potatoes" and "yams" in the grocery store. Usually those called "yams" are have bright orange flesh and are sweet when roasted, while those called "sweet potato" are a starchier variety that has light yellow flesh.[2]
    • Garnet sweet potatoes, with their bright orange flesh and sweetness when cooked, are a great choice for roasting in pieces.
  2. Peel the sweet potato, if desired. The skin is edible, but can be rough and fibrous, so if you are concerned with texture you should peel the skin off.[3]
  3. Slice the sweet potatoes into even sized portions. The most important thing is to aim to make them all the same size. This will ensure that they'll cook evenly.
    • Thick wedges are a common shape, but there are no strict shape requirements. Many people enjoy making sweet potato fries by roasting sweet potato that has been cut into a thick julienne.
    • Small cubes will take a more caramelized flavor, as you will have more surface area exposed to the heat of the over. Thinner wedges can become crisp if cooked longer at a lower temperature.
  4. Transfer sweet potato pieces into a large bowl and season. Add seasonings to either highlight the sweetness of the sweet potato or the savoriness of the sweet potato.
    • If you want to highlight the sweetness of the sweet potato dust them lightly with cinnamon or allspice and then mix them with the zest and juice of one orange (for four portion sized amounts). You can even add honey, brown sugar, sweet chili sauce or a similar glaze but they require a slightly lower temperature and more frequent checking to ensure the sugars don't burn.
    • If you want to highlight the savoriness of the sweet potato, add one clove of crushed garlic and one teaspoon of a combination of thyme and rosemary.
  5. Cover the seasoned sweet potatoes with oil. Stir well to ensure that all pieces are coated evenly. Doing this will assure that their surface becomes nice and caramelized during the roasting process.
  6. Select your roasting tray and cover it in foil. If you have access to a good reliable non stick baking tray or metal casserole style pan, these are ideal.
    • Make sure it is large enough that most of the pieces are spread out and not on top of each other. This will allow for more browning of each piece.
    • Sweet potatoes contain a lot of sugar and water, so they're liable to stick to unlined trays.
  7. Transfer sweet potatoes to the roasting tray. Remember that you need a baking tray which is large enough so the hot air can circulate around the separate pieces of potato (approx 1cm or 1/2 inch or a little more is fine). If they are too densely packed, they may go soggy and cook unevenly, but too far apart may make them become dry and leathery.
  8. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes. After the first 15 minutes, turn them and move them around the tray so they roast evenly and develop a nice, even colour.
  9. Season again! Not all seasonings should go on before roasting. Lighter and fresher flavors should be added after cooking. For instance:
    • 1 tablespoon (16 g) balsamic vinegar (or salad dressing) and salt and pepper, added just before serving.
    • Chopped fresh parsley or basil, chili and a sprinkling of lemon juice.
  10. Serve and enjoy! Serve while still warm, along with other meal items, or add to another recipe.
    • Apart from serving them as they are, roasted sweet potatoes can also be used in in a variety ways: mashed and added into soups, stuffed in other vegetables or chicken, served with a rich gravy sauce or a stew, or used cold or warm in salads.

Roasting Whole Sweet Potatoes

  1. Buy sweet potatoes. When shopping for sweet potatoes remember that they can be called both "sweet potatoes" and "yams." Usually those called "yams" are the variety that have bright orange flesh. These are sweet when cooked. Those usually called "sweet potato," which are white on the inside, are a starchier variety that has light yellow flesh.[2]
    • Covington sweet potatoes, with their bright orange flesh and sweetness when cooked, are a great choice for roasting whole.[4]
    • The white variety of sweet potatoes are great in stews and soups, applications where sweetness is not of central concern.
  2. Wash the sweet potatoes. Use a small scrub brush to remove any dirt from the surface. Be sure to also remove any spots on the sweet potato that have gone bad with a small paring knife.
  3. Stab the sweet potato several times with a knife or fork. This will allow steam to escape easily while it is roasted, assuring that the sweet potato does not burst open.
  4. Select your roasting tray and cover it in foil. If you have access to a good reliable non stick baking tray or metal casserole style pan, these are ideal.
    • Sweet potatoes contain a lot of sugar and water, so they're likely to stick to unlined trays.
  5. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (about 180ºC). Sweet potatoes can stand up to a variety of temperatures, so if you are cooking something else, go ahead and put the potatoes in at a different temperature, just make sure to adjust your cooking time.
  6. Place sweet potatoes on your roasting tray and put in the oven. If cooking at 350ºF, roast for about an hour. Check on the potatoes after about 45 minutes. Puncture the surface of the sweet potato with a fork. If it punctures easily, your sweet potato is done.
  7. Remove the sweet potatoes from oven and serve. Roasted whole sweet potatoes can be served just like a baked russet potato, simply sliced open with a pat of butter and salt and pepper. You can also peel the skins off (once they've cooled a bit) and mash them up with any number of seasonings.
    • In order to amp up the sweetness of mashed sweet potatoes, try adding just a touch of brown sugar and cinnamon, along with a pat of butter. This will make your mashed sweet potatoes into a delectable and snazzy side dish.



Tips

  • For a quick and easy method of cooking sweet potatoes, consider cooking a sweet potato in the microwave.
  • Sweet potatoes are chock full of nutrients. Adding them to your meals can add beta-carotene and anti-oxidants to your diet.[5]

Warnings

  • As sweet potatoes contain a lot of sugar, they will brown more quickly than other vegetables. Keeping an eye on them will prevent them from burning.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.thekitchn.com/good-question-y-14970
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-s-1-91893
  3. ↑ http://www.thekitchn.com/the-great-orange-taters-sweet-potatoes-ingredient-spotlight-181032
  4. ↑ http://www.ncsweetpotatoes.com/sweet-potatoes-101/sweet-potato-varieties/
  5. ↑ http://articles.mercola.com/sweet-potato.aspx
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