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Sweet Potato Roast

Enjoy a savory and delightful side dish with our Sweet Potato Roast with Parsley Pesto. This recipe combines roasted sweet potatoes, seasoned with olive oil, a hint of butter, and aromatic spices, and is finished with a deliciously fresh parsley pesto topping for added flavor.

Sweet potatoes fanned out in a baking dish and topped with parsley pesto.

Step into a world of rich flavors and textures with this Sweet Potato Roast, deliciously drizzled with Parsley Pesto. This dish takes the humble sweet potato and elevates it to a festive prop, perfect for gracing your holiday table. Seasoned with a unique blend of spices and topped with a homemade pesto, this recipe will be a showstopper at any gathering!

Why We Love This Sweet Potato Side Dish

  • Easy Yet Impressive: Simple to prepare but with a presentation that wows.
  • Flavorful: Combining sweet potatoes with the exotic spice blend offers a unique taste experience.
  • Versatile Side Dish: Ideal for holiday feasts or as a gourmet addition to any meal.
Sweet Potato Roast with Parsley Pesto in an oval casserole dish with a spoon

Ingredients For Sweet Potato Roast

  • Sweet Potatoes: Thinly sliced.
  • Olive Oil & Butter: Combined for roasting the potatoes.
  • Garlic
  • Berbere Blend: An Ethiopian spice mix, it infuses the dish with warm flavors.
  • Salt & Pepper: For seasoning.
  • Italian Parsley: The main ingredient for the pesto.
  • Walnuts: Adds texture and a nutty depth to the pesto.
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil

How To Make Sweet Potato Roast

  1. Prep: Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Seasoning: Mix olive oil, butter, garlic, berbere blend, salt, and pepper. Place 2 tablespoons in a baking dish.
  3. Roast: Arrange sweet potato slices in the dish, brush with the oil mixture, cover with foil, and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil, increase oven temp to 450°F, and roast for another 15 minutes.
  4. Make the Pesto: Process parsley, walnuts, parmesan, garlic, olive oil, berbere blend, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  5. Finish: Brush roasted sweet potatoes with pesto or serve it on the side.

Recipe Tips And Variations

  • Slice Evenly: For uniform cooking, try to slice the sweet potatoes evenly. A mandolin slicer can be very helpful for this.
  • Herb Variations: While parsley is classic for the pesto, feel free to experiment with basil or cilantro for a different flavor profile.
  • Berbere Blend: Berbere, known for its spicy chili profile, balances its warmth with a blend of sweet and citrusy notes. It’s not overwhelmingly hot, but offers a subtle spice.
  • Spice Mix Substitutes: If Berbere blend is not available, experiment with other spice mixes like chili powder, garam masala, curry powder, paprika, or Cajun seasoning.
  • Spice Adjustment: Increase or decrease the amount of berbere blend to suit your taste.
  • Experiment with Nuts: Try pine nuts or almonds in the pesto for a different flavor.
  • Cheese Varieties: Swap parmesan with pecorino or Asiago cheese.
Overhead view of Sweet Potato Roast with Parsley Pesto in a casserole dish.

Serving Suggestions

Serve alongside a traditional stuffing or complement it with warm cornbread. Accompany it with this instant pot turkey breast and offer a side of cranberry sauce. Follow up with classic Thanksgiving desserts like pumpkin pie or pecan pie.

Storing

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.

Delicious Sweet Potato Recipes

Sweet potatoes fanned out in a baking dish and topped with parsley pesto.

Sweet Potato Roast

Katerina | Diethood
Sweet Potato Roast features tender, delicious roasted sweet potatoes flavored with butter, spices, and a drizzle of homemade parsley pesto.
No ratings yet
Servings : 8 Servings
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients
  

For the Sweet Potatoes
  • 4 pounds sweet potatoes, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Berbere blend
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
For the Parsley Pesto
  • 2 cups packed Italian parsley
  • ¼ cup walnuts
  • cup fancy shredded parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons Berbere blend
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

For the Sweet Potatoes
  • Preheat the oven to 375˚F.
  • Combine olive oil, melted butter, garlic, berbere blend, salt, and pepper in a small mixing bowl; stir to combine. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture into the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish. 
  • Arrange the sweet potato slices in the dish and brush the potatoes with the remaining olive oil mixture. 
  • Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and increase the oven temperature to 450˚F. Roast the potatoes for 15 minutes or until they are slightly browned.
For the Parsley Pesto
  • Meanwhile, combine parsley, walnuts, parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, berbere blend, salt, and pepper in a food processor; process until thoroughly incorporated. Taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly.
  • Brush the tops of the baked sweet potatoes with the parsley pesto, or serve the pesto on the side. 

Notes

  • Even Slices: Use a mandolin slicer to slice the sweet potatoes.
  • Herbs: You can use basil or cilantro instead of parsley for the pesto. You can also use store-bought varieties.
  • Different Nuts: Try pine nuts or almonds in the pesto for a different flavor.
  • Spice Substitutes: If you don’t want Berbere, try other spice mixes like garam masala, curry powder, paprika, or Cajun seasoning.
  • Adjust to Taste: Increase or decrease the seasoning to suit your taste.
  • Cheese: Swap parmesan with pecorino or Asiago cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 485 kcal | Carbohydrates: 48 g | Protein: 6 g | Fat: 31 g | Saturated Fat: 6 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19 g | Trans Fat: 0.1 g | Cholesterol: 11 mg | Sodium: 278 mg | Potassium: 877 mg | Fiber: 8 g | Sugar: 10 g | Vitamin A: 33558 IU | Vitamin C: 27 mg | Calcium: 143 mg | Iron: 3 mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: holiday recipes, holiday side dish, potato gratin, side dish recipe, sweet potato casserole, thanksgiving side dish
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