Sunday, May 3, 2009

Quick Roasted Sweet Potatoes/Yam

When I wanted to make quick roasted sweet potatoes/yams, I just went along with my inspiration and it brought rave reviews. Everyone just adores them and they disappear quickly. Simply marvelous and satisfying, they are to live for :)!

A quick note for those who might find the names confusing - sweet potatoes with moist orange flesh are marketed as yams in the U.S. to differentiate them from the drier cream colored ones and both belong to the genus Ipomoea batatas; albeit different types. They are in the same family as the morning glory (Convolvulaceae). They are not true yams at all.

Sweet potatoes/yams are a nutritious addition to any type of diet and provide an amazing 120 percent of Daily Value for Vitamin A and 30 percent of Vitamin C (based on a 2000 calorie diet). They also have a lower glycemic index than regular potatoes.

Roasted sweet potatoes are also great made with a sprinkle of red chile flakes or ground red pepper (cayenne) instead of/in addition to the black pepper and herbs such as thyme and rosemary.

7 servings
Each serving has: 134 Calories; 4 g Fat; 23 g Carbohydrates; 4 g Fiber; and 2 g Protein

Ingredients:

2 lbs Organic Sweet Potatoes/Yams
Sea Salt to taste
Freshly ground Black Pepper to taste
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Method:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet lightly with oil or cooking spray; too much oil will cause it to burn and the smoke alarms will go off :D.

Scrub and wash the sweet potatoes/yams. It is not necessary to peel them. Slice into thick slices and place directly on the prepared baking sheet.

Spread the veggies in a single layer. Sprinkle the salt and several grinds of pepper over them. Drizzle the olive oil.

Place the pan on the lowest rack in the oven and roast for 10 minutes. Flip over the veggies and bake for an additional 5 to 7 minutes.

Ovens vary so check to make sure the veggies are done to your specification and adjust temperature and cooking time.

Serve hot immediately; they are also good warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Geetha,
You have some wonderful recipes here. I am going to try them out and leave you a message once I am done. Thanks for sharing.
Bea

Geetha said...

Hi Bea,
Thank you for your message. My mother always said sharing makes everything twice as good :). I am glad you find the recipes interesting. I would love to hear your comments when you try out the recipes. I will look forward to them. - G

tina said...

Periamma, this recipe sounds great. We have been baking whole sweet potatoes or microwaving with a wrap. I'll try it this way too!

Geetha said...

Hi Tina, Try it and let me know how you like it. Bon appetit!

tina said...

Hi Periamma, I tried this recipe yesterday and we both liked it a lot. I also sprinkled some lime juice to make it 'chatpata'!

Geetha said...

Tina, I am glad you liked the sweet potatoes; lime juice is a splendid idea! Try them with a sprinkle of Chat Masala in addition to the lime - mmm delicious - just like the street vendors prepare them :P. Happy snacking!