Description
A delightful Thanksgiving side dish featuring roasted sweet potatoes coated with a warm blend of cinnamon, paprika, and maple syrup, topped with crunchy pecans and fragrant thyme for a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 2 large sweet potatoes
Seasoning and Coating
- ⅓ cup melted unsalted butter
- 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon (divided: 1 teaspoon for coating, 0.5 teaspoon for pecan mixture)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Maple Pecan Topping
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon thyme
Instructions
- Prepare Sweet Potatoes: Clean and slice the sweet potatoes into ½-inch thick rounds, leaving the skin on or peeling them according to preference.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 380°F (200°C) to prepare for roasting.
- Season Sweet Potatoes: In a bowl or ziplock bag, combine the melted butter, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, salt, pepper, and paprika. Toss the sweet potato slices thoroughly in this mixture to ensure even coating.
- Arrange and Roast: Lay the seasoned sweet potato slices on a baking tray in a single layer with a little space between each slice to avoid steaming. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the potatoes are tender and firm.
- Prepare Maple Pecan Mixture: While the potatoes roast, mix together the maple syrup (⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons), chopped pecans, remaining 0.5 teaspoon cinnamon, and thyme in a bowl.
- Add Topping and Finish Roasting: Remove the baking tray from the oven. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the maple pecan mixture onto each sweet potato slice. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes or until caramelized edges appear.
- Serve: Serve warm as is or optionally garnish with feta cheese for a creamy contrast.
Notes
- You can keep the sweet potato skin on for extra texture and nutrients or peel if you prefer a smoother texture.
- Do not overcrowd the baking tray to ensure the sweet potatoes roast properly and do not steam.
- Baking times may vary depending on the thickness of your slices and your oven’s exact temperature.
- Consider adding a sprinkle of feta cheese before serving to add a savory richness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
