South African Sweet Potatoes

 

South African Sweet Potatoes

The Best Sweet Potatoes Ever, reminiscent of what my grandmother used to prepare! Candied Sweet Potatoes rank among the finest side dishes, featuring a subtle hint of cinnamon.

Without a doubt, this is the ULTIMATE Sweet Potato side dish available! There is no mashing involved here; instead, we have candied cubes of Sweet Potatoes.

This dish is a classic Boerekos recipe, which essentially refers to traditional South African cuisine.

My grandmother frequently prepared this dish, and it has always been one of my all-time favorites.

Regrettably, I never managed to obtain my grandmother's recipe, as it resided solely in her memory—just like all her recipes did.

I have attempted to recreate something similar for years, but it has never quite matched the taste I recall from my childhood.

Years ago, when I purchased the cookbook Seasonal Menus by Annette Human, this recipe was among the first that captured my attention. As the saying goes, there was no turning back from that point.

It is precisely as I remember my grandmother's sweet potatoes! I prepare this dish frequently, as it is an instant favorite among everyone.

When my children were young, they genuinely believed it was dessert served alongside their meal!

Additional side dish recipes you may find appealing:

• Bacon Peas
• Orange Juice Glazed Carrots
• Cheesy Buttermilk Potato Casserole

Notes:

Cooking times may vary based on the size of your Sweet Potato cubes—I typically cut mine into approximately 20mm x 20mm (just under an inch square).

ingredients

• 4 sweet potatoes, skinned, and thick-sliced
• 1 cup brown sugar, divided
• 2 cinnamon sticks, divided
• 4 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided
• salt, to taste

directions

In a heavy Dutch oven, layer half the butter, sweet potato slices, sugar, salt and cinnamon sticks. Repeat layers again starting with the butter until done. Do not add water. Place the lid on the pot and put on the stove over a low heat for about 2 1/2 hours. Cool. Enjoy the  South African Sweet Potatoes recipes !!!

 South African Sweet Potatoes Video :

SWEET POTATO BAKE RECIPE

BAKED SWEET POTATO RECIPE

Discover the art of baking sweet potatoes with these helpful tips and tricks! Savor them with butter, salt, and pepper, or try one of my favorite recipes for baked sweet potatoes.

As the air turns crisp in the fall, I find myself yearning for two things: a comforting bowl of soup and a large, fluffy baked sweet potato. Both options are warm, cozy, and nutritious. While preparing butternut squash soup is one of my cherished Sunday rituals, a baked sweet potato serves as my reliable weeknight meal. They are remarkably simple to prepare, as your oven handles 95% of the cooking. While they are baking, you have the freedom to engage in other activities! You can prepare the other elements of your meal, complete your work tasks for the day, or spend quality time with family or friends. Once they are done baking, remove them from the oven, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy a delicious baked sweet potato dinner!

How to Bake Sweet Potatoes

For many years, I believed I did not enjoy sweet potatoes. During my childhood, I only experienced them in casserole form, drenched in marshmallows and brown sugar. However, I have discovered that I truly love sweet potatoes, provided they are prepared correctly! I prefer mine to be fluffy, with caramelized edges and a crispy skin. Here’s my method:

Begin by preheating the oven to 425°F and lining a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

Use a fork to create holes in the sweet potatoes, then place them on the baking sheet.

Roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the skin has puffed up and they can be easily pierced with a fork.

The key point to remember is that I DO NOT wrap them in foil. If you do, the flesh of the sweet potato will cook, but the skin will become excessively moist and nearly slimy. To achieve a delicious, puffed-up crispy skin and caramelization on the exterior of each baked potato, place them directly on the baking sheet without any covering!

If you find yourself pressed for time, you can roast sweet potato halves in just 30 minutes. Begin by slicing the potatoes in half lengthwise, applying olive oil, and seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook them with the cut side facing up until they are lightly browned and tender.

Oven Baked Sweet Potato Recipes

While a classic baked sweet potato topped with butter, salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of chives is delightful, the possibilities for baked sweet potato recipes extend far beyond that. To create a complete meal, I enjoy stuffing the sweet potato with a savory vegetable filling and a delicious sauce. You can discover my four favorite fillings for stuffed sweet potatoes here, or simply click the image below.

When serving your oven baked sweet potatoes as a side dish, consider pairing them with your preferred protein or a vegetarian chili. For toppings, you might opt for butter, Greek yogurt, or sour cream, or experiment with a dollop of cilantro lime dressing, tzatziki, chipotle sauce, pesto, guacamole, or a drizzle of tahini sauce.

Should you have any leftover baked sweet potatoes, be sure to save the soft flesh for another culinary creation. I often blend it into the frosting of my vegan chocolate cake, convert it into a rich Alfredo sauce, use it as a binding agent in quesadillas, or incorporate it into hummus!

Do you have any cherished baked sweet potato recipes?

If you appreciate this baked sweet potato recipe…

Consider trying these four variations of stuffed sweet potatoes (as shown above), baked sweet potato fries, sweet potato tacos, twice baked sweet potatoes, or this sweet potato casserole next!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 c. mashed sweet potatoes
• 1 c. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 stick of butter
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1 tbsp. vanilla

TOPPING:

• 1/3 stick butter
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 c. flour

INSTRUCTIONS
Mix the above ingredients together and pour into 11 x 13 dish. Make topping of 1/3 stick butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour.
Sprinkle over first mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. The baked sweet potato recipe is ready to serve...nice one !
baked-apples-and-sweet-potatoes

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

 

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds sweet potatoes (about 2 medium-large or 3 medium)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Optional spices: freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper and/or garlic powder

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit with racks in the lower and upper thirds of the oven (make sure the top rack is about 6″ from the heat source and no closer). Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper so the fries don’t get stuck to the pans.

Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into fry-shaped pieces about ¼″ wide and ¼″ thick. Try to cut them into similarly sized pieces so the fries will bake evenly. Transfer half of the uncooked fries to one baking sheet, and the other half to the other baking sheet.

Sprinkle the sweet potato fries with the cornstarch (use 1 ½ teaspoons per pan) and salt (¼ teaspoon per pan). Toss until the fries are lightly coated in powder. Drizzle the olive oil over the fries (1 tablespoon per pan) and toss until the fries are lightly and evenly coated in oil, and no powdery spots remain (use your fingers to rub visible cornstarch into the fries as necessary).

Arrange your fries in a single layer and don’t overcrowd; otherwise they will never crisp up. Bake for 20 minutes, then flip the fries so they can cook on all sides.

Bake for 10 to 18 more minutes, or until the fries are crispy. You’ll know they’re almost done when the surface of the fries change from shiny orange to a more matte, puffed up texture. Keep an eye on them, as they can turn from crisp to burnt quickly. Sometimes the lower pan will be done a few minutes before the top pan. Don’t worry if the edges are a little bit brown; they will taste more caramelized than burnt.

If desired, toss the baked fries with seasonings, to taste. I like to use lots of freshly ground black pepper, and a scant ¼ teaspoon each cayenne pepper and garlic powder. Serve warm! Cool. Enjoy the Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries recipes !!!

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries Video :

CURRY ROASTED SWEET POTATOES

 

CURRY ROASTED SWEET POTATOES

POTATOES Ingredients

• 4 sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp Garam Masala
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 2 tsp salt

POTATOES Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F.

Place the cubed sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl.

Pour over the oil and spices. Transfer to a large sheetpan.

Place in the oven and roast for 30-45 minutes, turning half way, until the sweet potatoes are soft and starting to caramelize.

Remove from the oven and serve. Cool. Enjoy the  CURRY ROASTED SWEET POTATOES recipes !!!

 CURRY ROASTED SWEET POTATOES VIDEOS :

SWEET POTATO BAKE

SWEET POTATO BAKE 

BAKED SWEET POTATO RECIPE INGREDIENTS

• 3 c. mashed sweet potatoes
• 1/2 c. melted butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 c. sugar
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 c. evaporated milk

Combine all the above and put in 2-quart casserole. TOPPING:

• 1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 1/2 tbsp. butter
• 1/4 c. flour

BAKED SWEET POTATO RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS 

Combine and mix until crumbly. Sprinkle on top of first mixture, top with pecans. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes...enjoy the baked sweet potato recipe ! baked-sweet-potatoes.recipe

SWEET POTATO BAKE VIDEO :

BAKED SWEET POTATOES

BAKED SWEET POTATOES 

BAKED SWEET POTATO RECIPE INGREDIENTS

• 4 med. sweet potatoes, cooked, peeled and sliced
• 1/4 c. melted shortening
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 1 tbsp. grated orange rind
• 1/4 c. orange juice
• 1/4 c. bourbon
• 1/4 tsp. ginger

BAKED SWEET POTATO RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS 

Bake 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool. Enjoy the BAKED SWEET POTATOES recipes !!!

BAKED SWEET POTATOES VIDEO :

CRISPY SWEET POTATO BAKE

CRISPY SWEET POTATO BAKE 

BAKED SWEET POTATO RECIPE INGREDIENTS

• 3 c. mashed sweet potatoes
• 1/2 c. butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
• 1/2 c. milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1/3 c. all purpose flour
• 1/3 c. butter
• 1 c. chopped pecans

BAKED SWEET POTATO RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS 

Beat together first 5 ingredients. Mix and pour into casserole dish. Top with mixture of remaining ingredients. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot. Cool. Enjoy the CRISPY SWEET POTATO BAKE recipes !!

CRISPY SWEET POTATO BAKE VIDEO :