Simple Sweet Potatoes

Here’s an idea for a simple sweet potato side dish that is equally pleasing to kids as it is to adults.

Sweet potatoes
Olive oil
Kosher salt & pepper (to taste)
Cinnamon (optional)
Cumin (optional)
Chili Powder (optional)

There are two methods, one which is quick and the other that you can use on a day when you’ve got time on your hands (and want your kitchen to smell delish). This weekend, we opted for the quick preparation.

Quick Method: Poke the sweet potato(es) a couple times with a fork, then microwave 6-8 minutes (skin on), until tender. Slice, about 1 inch thick. At this point, you can simply serve them (particularly handy for kids who like their food plain). Or, you can keep going… For my kids: I drizzled the sweet potato slices with a little olive oil, and sprinkled them with kosher salt, pepper, and cinnamon. On ours, I also sprinkled some cumin and chili powder, in addition to the cinnamon. Then I grilled the sweet potato slices so they got some nice grill marks and a slightly crispy outer layer.

The longer preparation method would be to slice the (raw) sweet potatoes into chunks, drizzle with olive oil and your choice of spices, and then roast them in the oven at 425 for approximately 25 minutes, or until tender.

Either way, it’s a nutrient-rich (high in fiber, protein, and vitamins A, C, iron, and calcium) side dish that many kids and adults enjoy, and that you can feel great about giving your family.