Roasted sweet potatoes are delicious and full of flavor, a perfect side dish or a base for many other preparations. They are perfect for new cooks because they are easy to cook, but even the most experienced will appreciate their versatility by accompanying them with other sweet or spicy ingredients. Here are some ways to roast them, as well as other tips for varying their taste.
Ingrediants
- 250 g of sweet potatoes for one serving
- 1 tablespoon of oil
- Aromas to taste
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Diced Potatoes
Step 1. Buy sweet potatoes
When choosing them, remember that they can also be sold under the name of "batata" or "American potato". The color of the peel varies from red to purple and the pulp is rather orange. Once cooked they are sweet. Some varieties have a white skin and are richer in starch.
The “Garnet” variety has bright orange flesh and is very sweet when cooked. For the preparation in cubes it is the most suitable
Step 2. Peel them if you want
The peel is edible but it is also rough and fibrous; if you are worried about the consistency of your dish, you may want to discard it.
Step 3. Cut the potatoes into even portions
The most important thing for this type of preparation is that all the cubes are of similar size, for a homogeneous cooking.
- The wedges are the most used form, but there are no rules on this. Many people love stick or julienne sweet potatoes.
- The small cubes take on a caramelized flavor as they have a larger surface exposed to heat. Thin wedges become crunchy when cooked for a long time and at low temperatures.
Step 4. Transfer the sliced potatoes to a large bowl and season them
Add as many flavors as you like to enhance its sweetness or to create a salty contrast.
- If you prefer to emphasize the sweet taste of the tuber, sprinkle it lightly with cinnamon, zest and juice of an orange (adjust the quantities according to the number of potatoes). You can also add honey, brown sugar, sweet chili sauce, or a similar glaze; however, remember that these ingredients must be cooked at a low temperature and checked frequently to prevent them from burning.
- If you want to add a salty touch to your dish, add a clove of crushed garlic and a teaspoon of thyme and rosemary.
Step 5. Grease the oil flavored potatoes
Stir the mixture well to make sure the seasoning is well distributed. This way you can be sure that the surface becomes crunchy and caramelized during cooking.
Step 6. Choose the pan and line it with foil
If you have a quality non-stick roasting dish or metal pan, use them because they are the best.
- Make sure the pan is large enough to accommodate all the potato pieces without overlapping, so they will all turn golden brown.
- Sweet potatoes contain a lot of sugar and water, which is why they tend to stick to uncoated pans.
Step 7. Transfer them to the baking sheet
Remember that this must be wide, so that the air can circulate between the various pieces of vegetables well spaced (at least 1 cm from each other). If the potato cubes are too close together, they will become soft and will not cook evenly; at the same time, if they are too far away, they will become dry and hard.
Step 8. Cook for 35-40 minutes
After the first 15 minutes, flip and mix the potato cubes so that they are golden on all sides and cook evenly.
Step 9. Flavor the potatoes again
Not all seasonings should be put before cooking. Lighter and fresher ones should be added at the end, such as:
- 16 ml of balsamic vinegar (or salad dressing) with salt and pepper. These should be added just before bringing the vegetables to the table.
- Fresh chopped basil or parsley, red pepper and lemon juice.
Step 10. Serve and enjoy sweet potatoes
They must be brought to the table still hot to accompany the main dish or added to other preparations.
Roasted sweet potatoes can be eaten as a side dish or used to prepare many other dishes: you can mash them and add them to soups, stew with other vegetables or chicken, served with a rich sauce or stew, or incorporated cold to salads
Method 2 of 2: Whole Potatoes
Step 1. Buy sweet potatoes
When choosing them, remember that they can also be sold under the name of "batata" or "American potato". The color of the peel varies from red to purple and the pulp is rather orange. Once cooked they are sweet. Some varieties have a white skin and are richer in starch.
- The Covington variety has bright orange flesh and is very sweet when cooked. It lends itself very well to being roasted whole.
- The white pulp varieties are more suitable for the preparation of stews and soups where sweetness is not a fundamental problem.
Step 2. Wash the tubers
Use a small vegetable brush and remove the soil from the surface. Be sure to remove any damaged areas with a small curved knife.
Step 3. Prick each potato several times with the fork or knife
In this way the steam will escape from the vegetable during cooking without causing it to burst.
Step 4. Take a baking sheet and cover it with aluminum foil
If you have an excellent quality non-stick pan or a similar pan, use these because they are ideal.
Sweet potatoes contain a lot of sugar and water so they have a tendency to stick to uncoated pans
Step 5. Preheat the oven to 180 ° C
Sweet potatoes resist different temperatures, so you can cook them with other foods that require different heat; however, it adjusts the times accordingly.
Step 6. Place the potatoes on the pan and put them in the oven
If you have set a temperature of 180 ° C, it will take about an hour. Check them after 45 minutes, prick them with a fork. If you can easily penetrate them, it means they are ready.
Step 7. Take them out of the oven and serve them
They can be presented just like the Bavarian ones in foil, opened in half and seasoned with salt, butter and pepper. You can also remove the peel (once they have cooled a little) and mash them into a puree that you can add lots of flavorings to.
To amplify the sweet flavor of a mashed potato, try adding cinnamon and brown sugar in addition to a curl of butter. This will turn it into an exciting and unforgettable side dish
Advice
- Sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients. If you put them in your diet, you will get beta-carotene and antioxidants.
- If you want a quick and easy way to cook sweet potatoes, you can try microwaving.
