Smoky Roasted Sweet Potato Fries + Tahini Aioli

These roasted sweet potatoes are inspired by one of my favorite dishes at an incredible restaurant here in Austin, called Suerte. They bring out smoked and roasted sweet potato halves sitting in a pool of aioli and sprinkled with sweet potato chips for a crunch. While the recipe I’ve created doesn’t quite reach the same caliber of culinary artistry, it has the same essence, but approachable and achievable to make at home.

Sweet potatoes, themselves, are such an amazing staple in vegan, vegetarian, and plant-diets, and I think most people love a good sweet potato fry. The spices, particularly the smoked paprika and cayenne, give these fries such a savory and smoky flavor with a little kick which are complimented so nicely by the slightly tangy aioli. The addition of the tahini adds a layer of complexity to the aioli, and elevates it to restaurant-level worthiness.

To make these fries extra special and fluffy on the inside, they are steamed for a few minutes before baking them in the oven. By baking them, we can get away with using just a small bit of oil to create a wonderfully crispy fry, making these a pretty wholesome side dish for burger night; or for a healthy weeknight dinner, they pair nicely with a whole grains and greens salad. You can’t beat a crispy fry with a soft, pillowy inside!

smoky sweet potato ingredients

• sweet potatoes

• olive oil

• smoked paprika

• paprika

• garlic powder

• onion powder

• cayenne

• salt

tahini aioli ingredients

• vegan or regular mayonnaise

• tahini

• lemon juice

• non-dairy milk

• garlic

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how to make the roasted smoky sweet potatoes

1. Cut the sweet potatoes into 1/4” slabs, or your desired shape.

2. Steam the sweet potatoes to create a soft, pillowy interior.

3. Toss the steamed sweet potatoes in a little bit of oil and seasonings for that perfect smoky, savory flavor.

4. Roast the sweet potatoes to create a crispy exterior.

5. Simply stir the aioli ingredients together and enjoy with the roasted sweet potatoes!

NOTE on cooking times

Steaming and baking times may vary based on the size / shape / thickness.

For steaming: You should be able to easily pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork without them breaking .

For baking: The sweet potatoes should be blistered, browned, and crispy on the outside.

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THE RECIPE

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Smoky Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Tahini Aioli

Author: MADELINE APPEL

Ingredients

Smoky Sweet Potatoes

• 2 small-medium sweet potatoes
• 1 TBS olive oil
• 1.5 tsp smoked paprika
• 1.5 tsp paprika
• 1.5 tsp garlic powder
• 1.5 tsp onion powder
• 1/8 tsp cayenne
• 1/2 - 1 tsp sea salt

Tahini Aioli

• 3 TBS vegan mayonnaise
• 2 tsp tahini
• 2 tsp non-dairy milk
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Instructions

To Prepare the Sweet Potatoes

1. Preheat your oven to 450F.
2. Scrub the sweet potatoes. Leave the skin on but cut off any weird ends, roots, or major imperfections. 
3. Slice the sweet potatoes into 1/4" thick wedges. 
4. Steam the sweet potatoes for 8-10 minutes, or until you can easily pierce them with a fork but are still firm.
5. Transfer the sweet potatoes to a large bowl and drizzle over the olive oil. Add all of the spices and toss to coat. 
6. Spread out evenly on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 35-45 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are browned and crispy on the outside.

To Prepare the Tahini Aioli

1. Stir together all of the ingredients until smooth. Serve on the side for dipping.