Sweet baked sweet potatoes are a delicious side dish and go well with many other dishes. Baked sweet potato is perfect for novice cooks because it's easy to make, but it can also be made into a variety of dishes by expert chefs because it works well with both sweet and spicy ingredients. Here are a few ways to bake it, along with some suggestions to make it taste different.
Ingredients
- 250 gr sweet potato for each serving
- 1 tablespoon (13 g) oil
- Your choice of seasoning
Step
Method 1 of 2: Baking Diced Sweet Potatoes
Step 1. Buy sweet potatoes
When buying sweet potatoes, keep in mind that there are usually two kinds of sweet potatoes for sale: "yellow sweet potatoes" which have a bright orange flesh, and "white sweet potatoes" which have light yellow flesh. White sweet potato is a type of sweet potato that contains more carbohydrates, this sweet potato is usually used in cooking.
Garnet sweet potatoes with bright orange flesh and a sweet taste when cooked are the right choice for roasting them in pieces
Step 2. Peel the sweet potato, if desired
The skin of the sweet potato is edible, but it may feel tough and stringy, so if you are paying attention to the texture, it is better to peel the skin.
Step 3. Cut the sweet potato into chunks of uniform size
The most important thing is to try to make even cuts, as this will ensure that the sweet potatoes cook evenly.
- The thick peg-shaped cut is the most commonly used cut, but there are no rules about the shape of the sweet potato. Many people like fried sweet potatoes cut into small lengths.
- Small cubes will give a stronger caramel flavor, because the surface that is exposed to heat is more extensive. Smaller pegs can be crunchy if they are cooked longer at a lower temperature.
Step 4. Transfer the sweet potato pieces to a large bowl and season
Add seasoning to either accentuate the sweetness, or give sweet potatoes a savory taste.
- If you want to emphasize the sweetness of the sweet potato, sprinkle it with cinnamon or allspice and mix with the grated rind and the juice of one orange (for four servings). You can even add honey, brown sugar, sweet chili sauce, or a similar sauce, but sweet potatoes should be cooked at a slightly lower temperature and checked more often so that the sugar you give them doesn't burn.
- If you want to emphasize the savory taste of sweet potatoes, add a clove of finely chopped garlic and a teaspoon of a mixture of thyme and rosemary.
Step 5. Coat the seasoned sweet potato with oil
Stir so that all parts are evenly coated. Stirring will ensure that the entire surface of the sweet potato looks pretty and caramelizes during baking.
Step 6. Select your grill pan and cover it with aluminum foil
If you have a nonstick grill pan or a metal casserole style baking sheet, then this option is perfect for you.
- Make sure that they are large enough to fit most of the sweet potato pieces without overlapping each other. That way, the sweet potato browning process will be better.
- Sweet potatoes contain a lot of sugar and water, so they can easily stick to an unlined baking sheet.
Step 7. Transfer the sweet potatoes to the grill pan
Remember that you need a pan that is wide enough so that hot air can swirl around each piece of sweet potato. (which are about 1 cm or so in between). If they are too tight, the sweet potatoes can become soggy and cook unevenly. However, if it is too loose, then the sweet potato can become dry and hard.
Step 8. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes
After the first 15 minutes, flip the sweet potato over and move it around the pan so that it cooks evenly, and gives off a pretty, even color.
Step 9. Season again
Not all seasonings have to be added before baking. Lighter, fresher seasonings should be added after cooking. For example:
- 1 teaspoon (16 g) balsamic vinegar (or salad dressing) and salt and pepper, add just before serving.
- Slices of fresh basil or parsley, chili pepper, and a little lemon juice.
Step 10. Serve and enjoy
Serve warm, with other foods, or add to other recipes.
Apart from serving them baked, roasted sweet potatoes can also be used in a variety of dishes: mashed and stuffed into soups, stuffed into vegetables or chicken, served with thick meat sauce, or stew dishes, or eaten cold or warm with salads
Method 2 of 2: Baking Whole Sweet Potatoes
Step 1. Buy sweet potatoes
When buying sweet potatoes, keep in mind that there are usually two types of sweet potatoes sold: "yellow sweet potatoes" which have a bright orange flesh, and "white sweet potatoes" which have light yellow flesh. White sweet potato is a type of sweet potato that contains more carbohydrates, this sweet potato is usually used in cooking.
- Covington sweet potatoes, which have a bright orange flesh and a sweet taste when cooked, are a great choice for roasting whole.
- White sweet potatoes are very suitable for soups and stews that do not make the sweet taste of sweet potatoes the main component of cooking.
Step 2. Wash the sweet potatoes
Use a small brush to remove dirt from the surface of the sweet potato. Also make sure to remove the rotten parts of the sweet potato with a small knife
Step 3. Pierce the sweet potato several times with a knife or fork
That way, steam can escape easily while the sweet potato is roasting, and the sweet potato will not crack.
Step 4. Define your baking sheet and line it with aluminum foil
If you have a nonstick grill pan, or a metal casserole style pan, this option is perfect.
Sweet potatoes contain a lot of sugar and water, so they are likely to stick to an unlined baking sheet
Step 5. Preheat the oven to about 180 C
Sweet potatoes can be cooked in a variety of temperatures, so if you're cooking other foods, cook them with the sweet potatoes at the same time and adjust the temperature, just adjust your cooking time as well.
Step 6. Place the sweet potato on a baking sheet and put it in the oven
If you are cooking at 180 C, bake for about 1 hour. Check the sweet potato for doneness after about 45 minutes. Prick the surface with a fork. If it can be pierced easily, it means the sweet potato is ripe.
Step 7. Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and serve
Baked sweet potatoes can be served like baked potatoes, sliced open, greased with butter, then sprinkled with salt and pepper. You can also peel the skin off (after it has cooled down) and pound it with some additional spices.
To make it even sweeter, try adding a little brown sugar and cinnamon along with a little butter. These spices will make your mashed sweet potatoes a delicious and interesting side dish
Tips
- For an easy and quick way to cook sweet potatoes, read How to cook sweet potatoes in the microwave.
- Sweet potatoes are very rich in nutrients. When added to food, sweet potatoes provide beta carotene and antioxidants.
