Learn how to make perfect baked sweet potatoes with a slight hint of sweetness. Soft, fluffy and perfectly creamy on the inside with a crisp caramelized layer on top. They make a perfect side for a casual dinner or even a holiday feast. They even make a great meatless dinner paired with a bowl of soup or salad.

Steamed-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Butter and Honey

When I told my husband that I am working on a recipe for roasted sweet potatoes, he looked at me in utter disbelief, “Do people not know how to roast sweet potatoes?” Well guys even if you roughly know how to bake sweet potatoes, there is something special about this recipe that I think you need to keep in your cooking repertoire. For me it is heaven!

Of all the things you can make with sweet potatoes, a steamed and baked oven dish is the easiest and more satisfying, you will love this dish on your table. I can eat them all the day long!  Steaming and roasting the sweet potatoes will keep their food nutritious and allow the natural flavors to brighten.

Sweet potatoes are categorized as a healthy carb option, they are a good source of fibers, vitamins as well as minerals, their bright orange color indicates a wealth of nutrition including beta-carotene with its powerful antioxidant properties, which means they have the power to protect your cells from damage. Do you know that sweet potato leaves are edible? They are also a great source of numerous antioxidants. Here is a great recipe for a” sweet potato leaf stew“, check it out!

Type of sweet potatoes

There are different types of sweet potato varieties that range in colors and textures, from white and mild to deep orange and super sweet, I gravitate more to the fatter and rounder sweet potatoes with deep orange flesh, but still the long skinny ones work as well.

How to store raw sweet potatoes?

Buy sweet potatoes that are in good condition, they store longer. Make sure you don’t rinse them first, rinsing could lead to rotting, and avoid storing in the fridge, the exposure to cold temperature can cause a hard center and unpleasant taste. To increase their longevity, place in a dry dark place until you need to use them.

Do you need to peel the sweet potatoes?

No you don’t! The skin of the sweet potato is edible, and eating it can increase its nutritional value. If for any reason you don’t want to eat the skin, peel the skin upon eating, they can be easily peeled without resistance.

How to steam and Roast the sweet potaoes?

Scrub your potatoes to clean and remove any dirt or dark areas. Dry with a kitchen towel then cut in half lengthwise. In a large oven dish, pop the sweet potato halves side by side so they fit snugly in a single layer and pour the water around the potatoes, the water should come about half way up the sides of the sweet potatoes.

Brush the surface of the potato halves with the melted butter and sprinkle the sugar evenly. Loading the sweet potatoes with fat and sweetener, highlights the natural sweetness and adds brightness making it festively suited for a holiday buffet.

Covering the oven sheet, for the first 50 minutes of baking, will steam the interior of the sweet potatoes, resulting a soft creamy texture. Later you need to remove the foil, brush with honey and bake for further 15 minutes to develop a crispy caramelized top crust.

Oven temperature:

The water in the baking sheet should be at a barely visible simmer, if the water is boiling vigorously, then your oven is too hot and you should reduce its temperature. If the water evaporates before the mentioned cooking time, add more water.

Seasoning:

Add flavor to the sweet potatoes by including two cinnamon sticks to the oven sheet while cooking.  Cinnamon sticks provide flavor and an appealing scent that pervade the potatoes with a touch of sweetness. You kitchen will smell like heaven!

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Serves: 10
• Author: Hadia Zebib Khanafer

Steaming and roasting the sweet potatoes will keep their food nutritious and allow the natural flavors to brighten. How delicious!!

Ingredients:

• 1.5 kg / 3.3 lb sweet potatoes, prefrably the ones with deep orange flesh
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• Water
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3 tablespoons honey

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F. Position the rack in the center of the oven.
2. Scrub your potatoes to clean and remove any dirt or dark areas. Dry with a kitchen towel then cut in half lengthwise.
3. In a large oven dish, pop the sweet potato halves side by side so they fit snugly in a single layer and pour the water around the potatoes, the water should come about half way up the sides of the sweet potatoes.
4. Melt the butter over low heat, brush the surface of the potato halves with the melted butter and sprinkle the sugar evenly.
5. Cover the oven sheet and bake for 50 minutes, baking, will steam the interior of the sweet potatoes, resulting a soft creamy texture.
6. Remove the foil, add the cinnamon sticks to the water in the oven dish, brush the surface of the sweet potatoes with honey and bake uncovered for further 15 minutes to develop a crispy caramelized top crust. How scrumtious!

TO PIN IT

Great Sweet Potato Salads for you to enjoy!

• Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Spinach, Pomegrante and Pumpkin Seeds
• Couscous Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Fried Dates

If you make this recipe, leave a comment below or share your pictures on Facebook! I would love to see your creations!Hashtag them #Hadia’s Lebanese Cuisine