How To Roast Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are one of the most versatile ingredients in the kitchen. They're amazing boiled, baked, sautéed, and fried. (ILY, sweet potato fries.) One of the easiest and most useful ways to cook sweet potatoes is to roast them. 

For perfectly roasted sweet potatoes every time, abide by these simple rules. 

1. Roast at a super high temperature. Low and slow roasting brings out the natural sugars in fruits and veggies. Since sweet potatoes bring plenty of sweetness already, we opt for higher temperature for roasting. This way, they get a nice golden char on the outside, while maintaining a custardy smooth core.

2. Cube 'em up. Unless the goal is to bake your potatoes whole, cutting them into 2.5cm cubes means a faster cook time and more surface area per bite for delicious caramelisation. Aim for equally sized potato pieces so that each piece cooks at the same rate.

3. Ditch the skin — or don't. This is totally up to you. Personally, I like the flavour and texture of sweet potato skin, but there's no harm in removing it! The only thing you'll lose is some added nutrients and fibre.

4. Flavour them. Here's where you choose your own adventure. Dried spices like cumin, chilli powder, turmeric, or curry powder all pair nicely with the sweetness of sweet potatoes. Freshly chopped hearty herbs like rosemary, thyme, or oregano work well, too. Just don't forget the salt! 

Now that you've got your perfect roasted potatoes, you can use them to bulk up your morning eggs, toss them in your salad, or use them as a topping in a killer grain bowl.

Editor's note: this page was updated on 9 July, 2021 to provide more information about the recipe.