A quick and easy method for roasting sweet potatoes. Makes a stunning presentation.
SUPER NUTRITIOUS SWEET POTATOES
Sweet potatoes are delicious and have gorgeous color but there are other even more compelling reasons to love them. Sweet potatoes are rich in:
• vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene),
• vitamin B6,
• vitamin C, and
• potassium
They’re also high in fiber and antioxidants which promote gut health. In addition, they have anti-inflammatory properties and are low on the glycemic index which means that despite their sweetness, they release sugar into the bloodstream slowly – an important attribute as rapid spikes in blood sugar levels are linked to obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. So, as you can see there’s a lot to love about sweet potatoes but I’m going to bet you’ll love them even more once you try this recipe for Cast Iron Roasted Sweet Potatoes.
SWEET POTATOES – FROM CASUAL TO FANCY
This recipe for Cast Iron Roasted Sweet Potatoes is incredibly simple so there wasn’t much recipe “development” involved but I wanted to come up with a way to make the appearance of the finished dish more interesting. I initially thought about grill marks but then I tried making crosshatch marks on the surface of the sweet potatoes with the tip of a knife and I just loved the way it looked after roasting. The crosshatching allows for a bit more of the cinnamon, salt, and coconut oil to seep into the potato, but the technique is mostly for appearance so you can skip it if you’re pressed for time. It’d be great to serve them this way for entertaining though, as it dresses up the potatoes and makes them look a little fancy.
TIPS AND TOPPINGS
Here are a few tips for making Cast Iron Roasted Sweet Potatoes:
- Knife – Use the pointed tip of a knife to make shallow crosshatch marks on the surface of the sweet potatoes; you don’t have to go very deep. Hold the sweet potatoes firmly but keep your hands out of the way and form the lines slowly and carefully.
- Sweet Potato Skin – Since the skin on sweet potatoes is edible, and totally delicious, wash the potatoes thoroughly before starting the recipe.
- Double or triple the recipe – To double or triple the recipe, use a standard size half sheet pan instead of a cast iron pan. The sheet pan will produce similar results to the cast iron pan.
- Make ahead – Cast Iron Roasted Sweet Potatoes can be made ahead of time and then reheated in a 400-degree oven for about 20 minutes. They keep well in the fridge, tightly wrapped, for up to two days.
Cast Iron Roasted Sweet Potatoes are delicious as is. The coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt create awesome flavor synergy, but if you want to take it up a notch, serve them with one of these toppings:
- A big pad of butter
- Butter with maple syrup and chopped pecans
- Sour cream and chives
- Crème fraiche or Greek yogurt
- Blue cheese, walnuts, and honey
- Mini marshmallows and coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
MORE SWEET POTATO RECIPES
Looking for other ways to enjoy sweet potatoes? Check out these recipes: Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon and Pecans, Coconut Crusted Sweet Potato Fries, Herbed Sweet Potato Biscuits, Sweet Potato Cauliflower Cakes with Dairy-Free Cashew Sour Cream, Spicy Cinnamon Sweet Potato Brownies, Sweet Potato Flax Crackers, Sweet Potato Stuffed Peaches, Sweet Potato Black Bean Avocado Salsa, and Turkey Sweet Potato, and Black Bean Chili with Chipotle and Chorizo.
If you make Cast Iron Roasted Sweet Potatoes don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me over on Instagram @QueenofMyKitchen. I’d love to see your creation!
ONE LAST THING – A RECIPE RESOURCE
Have you heard about Yummly? Yummly is a website that allows you to search over 2 million recipes, food related articles, and videos and save them to your personalized recipe box. It’s a fantastic resource for anyone who likes to cook. Here are links to Yummly and to my Yummly publisher page. As you’re perusing recipes on my website be sure to use the social media sharing Yum button (on the side and bottom of each post) to add recipes to your Yummly recipe box.
Cast Iron Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 sweet potatoes skin on, about 12 ounces each, sliced in half lengthwise
- 2 teaspoons olive oil or melted coconut oil
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place a clean, dry, 12-inch round cast iron pan on the bottom rack and heat the empty pan for 20 min.
- Optional step - while the cast iron pan is heating up, make crosshatch marks on the surface of each sweet potato half with the tip of a knife.
- Coat the bottom of the heated pan with oil and brush the remaining oil on the cut/flat side of the sweet potatoes. Sprinkle salt and cinnamon on top. Place the potatoes in the heated pan cut/flat side down.
- Roast 30-40 minutes or until the potatoes can be pierced with a toothpick.
Notes
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Superb recipe! I modified it only slightly: I used a higher smoke point oil (Avocado oil) and added cloves to the cinnamon. Excellent flavor and cooked to perfection in 30 minutes. Served with a dollop of sour cream, sharp white cheddar, and cantina salsa — paired with a glass of dry Italian white wine. Nice light dinner on a humid-warm Pacific North West evening. ~Cheers
So glad you like it!