by Margaret S Garrett - Published 6 months ago

Sweet Potato Dish: Fall's Best Recipe

Fall is almost here, which means it's time for roasted root vegetables, one of my favorite seasonal foods! While simple baked sweet potato fries are delicious, these ones from Helene Henderson of the Malibu Farm restaurants take things to the next level. Get ready for the ultimate version of this classic side dish.

This recipe, from her cookbook "Malibu Farm Sunrise to Sunset," pairs baked sweet potato pieces with a tangy tahini sauce and pomegranate seeds. Sweet potatoes are naturally packed with vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B6, magnesium, and potassium. The pomegranate seeds add antioxidants, while tahini provides healthy fats to balance the dish's nutrients.

Make it this weekend, bookmark it for the upcoming holiday season, or both!

Sweet Potato Fries, Baked

Ingredients

4 sweet potatoes
Olive oil
1 cup Pucker Up Tahini Sauce (recipe below)
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
½ cup pomegranate seeds (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Start by zebra-peeling the sweet potatoes. Remove half the skin in lengthwise strips with a vegetable peeler; leaving some skin helps hold the potatoes together, while too much can make them chewy. Cut the sweet potatoes into wedges, 4 to 6 wedges per half potato depending on thickness. Place the wedges on a sheet pan greased with olive oil. Don't overcrowd the pan.
Bake for about 8 minutes, or until the underside is browned and crisp. Flip the fries to brown the other side, about 5 minutes. Remove and dry the sweet potato fries on paper towels.
To serve, drizzle the sweet potatoes with the Pucker Up Tahini Sauce. Garnish with parsley and pomegranate seeds, if desired.

Tahini Sauce

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients

1/2 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
Juice from 1 lemon
1/4 cup hot water
1 garlic clove, grated
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon honey, agave, or maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

Combine the tahini and lemon juice in a small bowl. The mixture will thicken, so add the hot water to create a smoother sauce. Then, stir in the garlic, olive oil, and salt. For a sweeter sauce, add the honey, agave, or maple syrup.

You can easily make your own tahini by grinding toasted hulled sesame seeds (about 1 cup) in a food processor until fine. Add a little salt, 2 tablespoons of olive or vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame seed oil (if desired). To sweeten, add 1 tablespoon of honey, agave, or maple syrup.