Orange food is so autumnal, don’t you think? I love it; I’m a sucker for the season. And yet, all too often, this stuff is so utterly predictable: you’ve got your candied sweet potatoes, your pumpkin pie…a butternut squash soup, maybe, if you’re ever so gourmet. But what about something spicier, something with a little snap to it? And maybe, just maybe, in the midst of that traditional, time-destroying holiday dinner insanity, something that’s even quick and easy into the bargain? They’re called sweet potato fries, my friends, and they will revolutionize your use of the yam.
I know that a lot of places make crispy, decadently fatty sweet potato fries; the campus grille at my alma mater specialized in this particular variety and they were a late night finals-time favorite. But since most of us probably don’t have an industrial tank of veggie oil and a deep-fryer just hanging out in our kitchens (or, let’s face it, the real need to dunk a fresh and nutritious food item in all that flub-inducing fat), I’m going to suggest an alternative, innovative, and infinitely healthier version. If you’ve got the itch to get creative with your holiday party potluck offering this year, give these babies a shot: pile on the spice, pick up or whip up some basic raita for dipping, and enjoy a new twist on a classic fall favorite.
Ingredients:
2-3 sweet potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise and sliced into spears
1-2 tbsp. olive oil (or olive oil spray, if preferred)
½ tbsp. coriander
2/3 tbsp. cumin
1 tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. cayenne
1 tsp. garam masala
salt and pepper to taste
Recipe:
So simple: Pre-heat the oven to about 375 degrees and lightly grease a cookie sheet. Toss prepared sweet potato spears with olive oil in a large bowl. Add spices and toss to coat (this works best when you just use your hands). Spread spears on the cookie sheet and bake for about 10 minutes, then get a spatula and flip ‘em over; bake another 10 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Remove, add any additional seasoning you like, and serve.
by Lauren Westerfield
