Black Pepper Free Apple-Sage Sweet Potato Crostini
These little bites are the kind of appetizer that disappears from the platter before you even get a chance to sit down. Roasted sweet potato rounds stand in for bread, getting golden and caramelized in a hot oven with coconut oil, sea salt, and a whisper of turmeric — no cracker or toast required. The topping is where things really shine: diced apple sautéed with shallot, Ceylon cinnamon, ginger, and fresh sage, finished with a splash of apple cider vinegar and a drizzle of honey for that perfect sweet-savory balance. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of black pepper, so there's no need to audit labels or swap anything out — the recipe just works as written. That matters more than it might seem, since pepper hides in a surprising number of spice blends, seasoning mixes, and even pre-made sauces that would otherwise seem like safe shortcuts. A garnish of whole sage leaves and a pinch of flaky sea salt pulls the whole thing together with a little elegance. Whether you're serving these at a holiday gathering or just treating yourself to something special on a weeknight, they deliver serious flavor without a single compromise.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the sweet potato rounds
- 2 large sweet potatoes (about 1 ½ lb total), scrubbed
- 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
For the apple-sage topping
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 medium apples (such as honeycrisp or fuji), peeled, cored, and cut into ¼-inch dice
- 1 small shallot, finely minced
- 2 tbsp fresh sage leaves, thinly sliced, plus small whole leaves for garnish
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ceylon cinnamon
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
For serving
- flaky sea salt, for finishing (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 2
Slice the sweet potatoes crosswise into rounds about 1/3-inch thick — you should get roughly 18 rounds total. Arrange them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Brush both sides with the 2 tbsp melted coconut oil, then sprinkle evenly with the 1/2 tsp fine sea salt and 1/4 tsp turmeric.
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