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The Spruce / Julia Estrada
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving) | |
---|---|
1074 | Calories |
116g | Fat |
11g | Carbs |
1g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 4 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 1074 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 116g | 149% |
Saturated Fat 11g | 54% |
Cholesterol 15mg | 5% |
Sodium 95mg | 4% |
Total Carbohydrate 11g | 4% |
Dietary Fiber 2g | 6% |
Protein 1g | |
Calcium 19mg | 1% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
One of the easiest ways to cook sweet potatoes is to bake them in the oven. There's no need to wrap them individually in foil, either. The whole potatoes bake perfectly fine laying on a piece of foil for a super easy side dish.
After baking, butter is added to the sweet potatoes and they're seasoned. You can choose to go simple with salt and pepper, savory with paprika, or top with cinnamon sugar for a sweetly-spiced flavor. The options don't stop there—there are more ways you can dress up this easy side dish so it suits any family dinner.
Unlike white potatoes, sweet potatoes are firm and somewhat grainy. They're closer in texture to butternut squash or a turnip than a white potato, which is why they take a bit longer to cook. Also, their skins can be tough and lumpy. Give them a good scrubbing to make sure the skin is clean and crisps in the oven.
Ingredients
- 4 medium sweet potatoes (uniform in size)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (or olive oil)
- 2 tablespoons butter (or to taste)
- Salt (to taste)
- Ground black pepper (to taste)
- Optional: paprika or cinnamon sugar
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce / Julia Estrada
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Preheat the oven to 425 F. Line a baking pan with foil.
The Spruce / Julia Estrada
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Scrub the sweet potatoes thoroughly, dry, and prick each one in several places with a fork to aerate. Rub vegetable oil all over each potato.The Spruce / Julia Estrada
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Arrange the potatoes on the foil and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until they are fork-tender.Â
The Spruce / Julia Estrada
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Cut a 1 1/2-inch "X" in the center of each baked sweet potato. Using a clean dish rag or pot holder to protect your hands, hold a potato on each side and press upwards until the filling "bursts" up through the cuts.
The Spruce / Julia Estrada
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Top with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Season with paprika or a mixture of cinnamon and sugar, if desired.
The Spruce / Julia Estrada
Tips
- Try to find sweet potatoes that are uniform in size so they will bake evenly. The skin should be firm and smooth with no wrinkles or dark spots. Store raw sweet potatoes in a cool, dark place.
- To make the cinnamon sugar, combine 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar with 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Blend well.
Recipe Variations
- Top the finished sweet potatoes with shredded Swiss cheese and cooked crumbled bacon. Put them on a foil-lined baking sheet and place them under the broiler just until the cheese has melted.
- Sprinkle the sweet potatoes with cinnamon sugar and put a few miniature marshmallows on each one. Place them on a foil-lined baking sheet and place them under the broiler for a few minutes to brown the marshmallows.
- Alternatively, after sprinkling each buttered sweet potato lightly with cinnamon sugar, drizzle a teaspoon or two of maple syrup or honey on top.
- To give the potatoes a different flavor, use coconut oil instead of butter and sprinkle with a teaspoon each of curry powder and cumin. Replace the sugar with brown sugar.
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